God’s Justice

When Samuel was looking for God’s choice of the man to be the first king of Israel, he had to be reminded that God doesn’t see as man sees. He always sees below the surface. More than that, He always knows the outcome; He knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). Every detail of our lives has been ‘written in His book’ from the very start (Psalm 139:16). He knows all the ups and downs that we’ll face. He knows that there may well be times that are tough as well as times that are easy. And He knows that we live in a sinful world where things are often very unfair, when we feel unjustly treated.

In today’s verse, David seems to be experiencing something of this kind. He’s waiting for God’s ‘justice’. The Hebrew word means ‘judgment’. God knows what is happening and, in due course, will make His judgment and things will be put to rights.

The word for ‘await’ always carries with it an element of hopefulness. David knows that God is faithful. That’s why he can wait patiently. When he knows God’s outcome, he will have a ‘truthful testimony’. It will be a testimony of God’s faithfulness and justice. But, in the meantime, he’s waiting.

I’m convinced that the tough times, the situations that seem so unfair, have a real part in God’s work making us more like Jesus. But they only do so if we react to them in godly ways. Sinful responses get in the way of experiencing the reality of God’s faithfulness and love when things are difficult. They tend to breed bitterness and resentment.

Peter writes about the tough times his readers were experiencing and says, ‘These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed’ (1 Peter 1:7).

Often, it’s the little things that get under our skin and really rile us. I wonder how good we are at confessing our bad reactions, asking God’s forgiveness, and forgiving those who’ve hurt us. It’s so easy to start applying our ‘justice’ rather than bringing the situation and our feelings to God and waiting for Him to deal with the situation. Paul writes: ‘If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people. Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord’’ (Romans 12:18-19).