Wednesday: Court Room
Image © Jeff Preston from GoodSalt.com
Read Psalm 11:4–7 and Habakkuk 2:20. What else does God do in His heavenly temple, and why is this important for us to know?
Many Psalms reveal that the Lord is not indifferent to the needs of the righteous or to the injustices that they often face. He will react to the issues that cry out for redress, and He will “ ‘justify the righteous and condemn the wicked,’ ” just as any good judge would do(Deut. 25:1, NKJV).
When God judges, the throne room becomes a courtroom, and the heavenly throne, a judgment seat. The One enthroned is the One who judges (see Ps. 9:4–8), a concept known in the ancient Near East, where kings often functioned as judges, as well.
Divine judgment involves both the wicked and the righteous. While the wicked receive a punishment similar to that received by Sodom and Gomorrah, the upright “will behold His face” (Ps. 11:6-7, NASB). The classic combination of throne room and judgment appears inDaniel 7:9–14 (a significant passage that we will study later). There again, the judgment consists of two strands: a verdict of vindication for the saints and a sentence of condemnation for God’s enemies.
In the book of Habakkuk, after Habakkuk asks God why He is silent about injustice (Habakkuk 1), God answers that that He will certainly judge (Hab. 2:1–5). While idols have no “breath” or “spirit” (Hab. 2:19), the Creator God is enthroned in His temple, the heavenly sanctuary, and He is ready to judge.
The prophetic appeal is, “ ‘Let all the earth be silent before Him’ ” (Hab. 2:20, NASB). The appropriate attitude toward God’s ruling and judging is awed silence and hushed reverence.
The place where God reveals His special presence and where He is worshiped by the heavenly beings is the same place where He is rendering righteous judgment for all humans: the sanctuary in heaven. God is just, and all our questions about justice will be answered in God’s time, not ours.
However much we cry out for justice, we so often don’t see justice in the present. Why, then, must we trust in God’s justice? Without that promise, what hope do we have?
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We must trust His judgment because it is sure and when it comes it will bring fullfilment and satisfaction something we don't have and without it we have no hope,our christian lives are pointless
There's a modern trend among Christians (even Seventh-day Adventists) to discount the biblical references to "judgment." Yet without judgment, the plan of God would be incomplete. There's something built right into the fabric of humanity that cries out for judgment. A child's cry of "That's not fair!" demonstrates that even small children have an innate sense of what is just and what is not - even though this sense may be quite skewed in their favor. 😉
When things seem so out of kilter in this world, God's Word assures us that He will set everything right in the end -- that evil will get its reward while the righteous enjoy the reward the Jesus gained for them. Those who refuse the grace of Christ will experience real "justice," while the redeemed will experience grace.
Praise God for His grace and mercy!
Hearty thanks sister Inge for your incisive comment. Blessings!
Sis Anderson I couldn't have said this any better so I reiterate your comments, and give thanks and praise to God for His mercies towards us.
There is no one just in the earth, and our sense of justice is biased , because our sinner soul didn't let to be honest and sincere. With whole reason the Lord says in Isaiah that our justice is an unclean clothe , but praise His name, because He is who knows all about us and only depending of Him we can go on His paths and do what is raight before His eyes.
God judgment is true so let all trust the justice
Is there a sanctuary in heaven or is heaven itself the sanctuary
Walter, the answer is yes! Your question is a bit like this one; "Is the Bible the Word of God, or does it contain the Word of God?". You can have an interesting discussion about the semantics but it does not always advance our faith all that much.
Heaven's geography is far less important than understanding what is going on there. Essentially God is, as always, very interested in rebuilding relationships. Judgement is really about putting things right so that we can live together with him. In that context who cares about whether it is in a building or not.
Well the word sanctuary is a human way to speak, to convay a message. The important question is: why and in which context the word is used? We use often words and expression we don't find in the Scripture. Words as the "Court Room" (Wed 2th oct). Be careful when you are reading commentaries to the Bible!
Walter to me sanctuary is a place of protection,it's a place of comfort it's where Jesus is.It's where I want to be when this life is over.Like the theif on the cross Lord remember me when you come into your Kingdom.
Even when we don't see justice we should trust and believe in God's precious promises, for God is faithful towards all his children. The Spirit of Prophecy says our focus should be placed on Jesus and not on ourselves. It is sinful to keep doubting and not believing, because this makes us to sin and it covers our souls with guilt, darkness and discouragement. Finally when we disbelieve the promises of God we make him to be a liar and dishonor our creator. The ones that believe will surely receive a precious reward for their faith, salvation, but all the unbelievers and doubters will reap what they have sown (Review and Herald, April 22, 1884). How important to trust and to live by faith not by sight, amen.
I praise God for the justice we cry out for can only be granted by Him upon His return. Our souls will then rest when our Righteous Judge shall take His stand
why must we trust in God's justice? I believe that a mind fixed on Jesus - is a mind that is content with present circumstance - believing that God is purposefully in charge of all life.