Sunday, July 23, 2023

Which Judgment Will You Be Part of?

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: Psalm 75

 

Psalm 75:1

At the set time that I appoint
    I will judge with equity.

(ESV)

 

Frivolous lawsuits brought before a court of law waste the court's time and can cost innocent people large sums of money, but they can also be humorous like the case of Chambers v. God in Nebraska. In the case, Chambers, a state senator, sued God for acts of terrorism against the state to protest the filing of frivolous lawsuits. The suit asked for God to cease and desist from causing floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, plagues, famines, droughts, wars, birth defects, and the like. (1) The court dismissed the case because God does not have an address, so the court was unable to issue God a summons. Chambers did have his day in court, alleging that since God is omnipresent, he is present in the courtroom, but the court still threw out the case because it could not issue God a summons. Psalm 75 reminds us that unlike human courts, God judges with equity.

 

The congregation singing this song begin with thanks to God, knowing He is near, recounting His wondrous deeds (Psalm 75:1). God then reminds us that at a set time appointed by God, God will judge with equity with this judgment occurring at a time when the earth totters along with its inhabitants with God keeping the pillars of the earth stable (Psalm 75:2-3). God then issues a warning to the boastful and wicked not to be boastful, lift themselves up, or speak with haughtiness (Psalm 75:4-5).

 

Lifting oneself up does not come from the east, west, or wilderness because it is God who executes judgment lifting one up and putting one down (Psalm 75:6-7). Asaph then refers to a cup of foaming wine in the hand of the Lord that the wicked drink completely (Psalm 75:8). This is perhaps a reference to the cup of wrath partaken in at the Passover dinner, something the wicked will have their fill of. Asaph concludes the Psalm with a declaration to forever sing the praises of the God of Jacob (Psalm 75:9). When judgment comes, the horns of the wicked will be cut off, but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up (Psalm 75:10).

 

With the knowledge of a future judgment by God lifting up the righteous and putting down the wicked, one must determine how to be on the side of the righteous. Revelation 20:11-15 is a prophecy about a future judgment, the White Throne Judgment. This judgment is to determine if one’s name is found in the Book of Life with those not found in the book thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:15). However, the Great White Throne Judgment is not a judgment of sin because sin was already judged by God on the cross where Jesus took the penalty of sin upon Himself (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:8, 6:23). Therefore, the Great White throne judgment is for those whose names have been blotted out of the book of life for not accepting God’s judgment of sin through Christ, receiving forgiveness from sin and becoming the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 3:21-22). 

 

Since the Great White throne Judgment has not occurred yet, there is still time for one to escape it through acceptance of the substitutionary death of Jesus on the cross, taking the death penalty for sin upon Himself (2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 6:23). Those choosing to accept God’s gift of salvation through Christ are those eagerly waiting for the appearance of Christ the second time not to deal with sin but to take His people home (Hebrews 9:27-28; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). If you are reading this and have not prayed to accept God’s gift of salvation through Christ, I encourage you to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge and bless everyone reading this post.

 

1. Falsani, Cathleen. You can sue God, but you can't win. huffpost.com. [Online] Huffpost, November 21, 2008. [Cited: July 22, 2023.] https://www.huffpost.com/entry/you-can-sue-god-but-you-c_b_136453.

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