Righteousness, justice and judgement

Transcription

1 Number SI/026 March 2013 Righteousness, justice and judgement Justice and judgement are the habitation of thy throne, mercy and truth shall go before thy face. [Ps 89:14] righteousness and judgement are the habitation of his throne. [Ps 97:2] And in mercy shall the throne be established; and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging and seeking judgement and hasting righteousness. [Is 16:5] Righteousness is a word rich in meaning, but too often, it slips into the realm of the over-familiar, like the term born again so that people gloss over the incredible depths of the concept. It is the righteousness of God that has been conferred upon us as believers by Christ s finished work on the cross [2Co 5:21] that makes us sons of God and allows us to come boldly into his presence. [Heb 4:16] But what is implied in that word, righteousness? It is not simply right-standing with God. That is merely a very first step towards the immense implications of what righteousness entails. One of the very first things we should note is that in the Old Testament, the word righteousness, [tsedeq or tsdaqah] is also translated as justice. So every time one reads the word righteousness it should automatically be associated with the concept of justice. Another striking fact is that righteousness/justice is almost always associated with judgement [mishpat] if not by actually linking the two words (119 times in the Bible), then within the context of its use. And the first time the word justice (righteousness) is used with judgement in the Old Testament is in Genesis 18:19: where the Lord says of Abraham I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him and they shall keep the way of the LORD [Yahovah] to do justice and judgement, so that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him. The Law of first mention in the Bible means that the first time a word is used, Scripture gives that word its most complete and accurate meaning not only to serve as a key in understanding the Word s Biblical concept, but also to provide a foundation for its fuller development in later parts of the Bible. In this scripture in Genesis, the way of the LORD is defined as to do justice (righteousness) and judgement, and that if Abraham and his descendants do justice and judgement, the covenant the LORD has made with Abraham can be fulfilled. So justice or righteousness and judgement become attributed to the way that the LORD acts. He is a God of justice/righteousness and judgement. Justice and judgement are the habitation (foundation) of his throne and are inextricably linked with who He is, and with His authority and power. Yet, Isaiah, the great Messianic prophet, stresses that the throne is established in mercy [chesed] a word which in the New Testament is translated grace [charis]. And when Moses asked, Now therefore, I pray, if I have found grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation is Your people. [Exo 33:13 NKJV] The LORD responded, I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. [Exo 33:19 NKJV] Names in the Bible are almost always synonymous with the character of the person they indicate who and what that person is. The LORD s name tells us what He is like, what His attributes are. And the LORD passed before (Moses) and proclaimed, The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, SWORD MINISTRIES / 1

2 longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children s children to the third and the fourth generation. [Exo 34:6-7 NKJV] There we are given the keys to righteousness, the righteousness of God that Christ has conferred upon us and that enables us to be in this world as He is. [1 Jn 4:17] God is first of all merciful and true. We know that grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. [Jn 1:17] The word translated in Exodus 34 vs 7 as goodness and as mercy is once again chesed grace or lovingkindness. So God is a God of mercy and grace, extending forgiveness to all those who will receive it. However, when mercy, grace and forgiveness are rejected, then the justice and judgement that are also God s nature must inevitably follow. There cannot be righteousness and mercy without justice and judgement, which is why the throne is established in mercy, and founded on justice and judgement. God would be unrighteous and unjust if he did not punish what is unrighteous and unjust. But it is His nature always to extend grace and mercy first. Jeremiah repeats the concept in chapter 9 vs 24: But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness [chesed - grace], judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight, says the LORD. [Jer 9:24 NKJV] (my emphasis) The Lord describes Himself as exercising lovingkindness (grace/mercy), justice and judgement as an essential part of who He is! Those who would know God, must know this. Where there is righteousness, there must inevitably be justice and judgement. And not by words or preaching of condemnation just by its very existence. Righteousness exposes and shows up what is unrighteous. So when believers joyously and rightly declare I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, they need to come to a deeper understanding of what that righteousness means and what it entails. Righteousness exposes and judges unrighteousness At the simpler level, righteousness automatically reveals and judges what is unrighteous. For instance, it judges sin. Where righteousness is, sin cannot remain. It is like light. When one switches a light on, darkness has to disappear. We know of great men of God such as Charles Finney, John G Lake and Smith Wigglesworth who had such an intense and overwhelming knowledge and awareness of their righteousness that frequently when they came into a room, people would fall on their knees and repent of their sins without their having said a word. It s one of the reasons why so often, unbelievers are uncomfortable around people who are strong in the Lord and the power of His might, full of His Spirit and love, because the righteousness that is in them is exposing and judging their sin. In the same way, our righteousness in Christ must judge sickness and disease. Christ bought and paid for our righteousness by becoming sin, becoming cursed with sickness and being judged for it. His blood forgives and redeems us. [Eph 1:7; Col 1:14; Heb 9:12] By His stripes we are healed. [Is 53:5; 1Pe 2:24] So sickness and disease on a believer are unrighteous. When a believer becomes conscious of this fact and stands on it, sickness and disease are compelled to leave. Their presence is unrighteous. Christ has already born our sickness and disease, it is unjust and unrighteousness that we should also have to carry them. John G Lake dramatically demonstrated this when he was working in South Africa among lepers ( ). People couldn t understand why he didn t become infected. He invited scientists to examine the bacillus on his own skin and when they brought the necessary magnifying equipment, they watched the bacillus die as it made contact with his skin. Righteousness judges sickness. The Law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus sets us free from the Law of sin and death. [Rom 8:2] Look at Jesus reaction when He healed the woman who had a spirit of infirmity, He was absolutely dismayed that this daughter of Abraham who had a just right to healing, that had been guaranteed by covenant (that is, the lovingkindness of God), should be left bowed under an evil spirit. [Luk 13:16] Likewise, we should be appalled and dismayed that believers are left to labour under the SWORD MINISTRIES / 2

3 unrighteousness of sickness and disease, and command that righteousness be executed in their lives! Churches that teach grace and righteousness are full of testimonies of people who have stood on the righteousness that Christ has made them and watched addictions, sicknesses and disease disappear. As the awareness and revelation of Christ s righteousness in them has become rooted and has grown, the curse of bondage to habits and of physical infirmity has had to give way. Righteousness must likewise judge poverty and lack. It is not righteous that the children of Almighty God who sent His son to redeem them from the curse should suffer the consequences of the curse. Salvation encompasses not only forgiveness of sin, redemption, protection and healing, but also abundant provision. When believers come to a realisation of this truth, they can rest in the grace that righteousness confers and receive the all things that God has provided for them. He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? [Rom 8:32] Poverty and lack are unrighteous they have no place in the lives of believers. In this knowledge, new depth of meaning comes to our understanding of Paul s revelation to the Romans: [Rom 5:17] For if by one man s offence death reigned by one, much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by One, Jesus Christ. Proverbs tells us [Pro 10:2; 11;4] that righteousness delivers from death. Proverbs 12:28: In the way of righteousness is life and in the pathway thereof there is no death. The LORD s secret is with the righteous. [Pro 3:32b] The mouth of the righteous is a well of life. [Pro 10:11a] The righteous shall never be removed. [Pro 10:30a] The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life. [Pro 11:30a] The root of the righteous shall not be moved. [Pro 12:3b] In the house of the righteous is much treasure. [Pro 15:6a] The name of the LORD is a strong tower, the righteous runneth into it and is safe. [Pro 18:10] When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. [Pro 29:2 KJV] And so it continues, throughout the Old Testament, with the Psalms and Proverbs abounding in references to the blessings of righteousness: healing and health, provision, protection, justice, equity, closeness with the LORD with the underlying theme being that the righteous is a co-worker with God. We are here to establish His kingdom, which is righteousness, peace and joy. We are workers together with Him. [2Co 6:1] We speak, preach, teach and pray His Word of righteousness in order to reign and to enforce His kingdom on earth until His enemies are made His footstool. [Ps 110:1; Matt 22:44; Mar 12:36; Luk 20:43; Heb 1:13; Heb 10:13] Doing justice and judgement Righteousness is given to us by grace through faith. The righteousness of God is by faith in Jesus Christ. [Rom 3:22; Eph 2:8] In other words, as Paul repeatedly stresses in his letters, righteousness is a gift, it is not of works. We can do absolutely nothing to earn righteousness. The Lord gives it to us as we believe in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the Cross. It is completely unmerited and undeserved. Righteousness is received by faith, by believing, not by works, ie by doing. So then how does one do justice/righteousness and judgement or execute justice and judgement as the Bible so often describes it? The Word tells us in 1 Kings 10:9 that the LORD loved Israel and that is why he made David king, to do judgement and justice. To do justice and judgement is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice. [Pro 21:3] The LORD of Hosts shall be exalted in judgement and God that is holy shall be sanctified in righteousness. [Is 5:16] So God is glorified and magnified when justice/righteousness and judgement are executed. Where is righteousness most needed? The answer is simple: where unrighteousness prevails. Wherever the devil has established his kingdoms and that applies to every single walk of life, from government to education, from business to sport, from entertainment to religion. The Word is very clear on what happens to people in the absence of righteousness. Isaiah 59 verses 2-8 paint a vivid picture of what happens when there is no righteousness/justice or judgement. none calls for justice, nor any pleads for truth.. the way of peace they know not; and there is no judgement in their goings and the results are appalling: vs 9-11: Therefore is judgement far from us, neither doth SWORD MINISTRIES / 3

4 justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness. We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men. We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgement, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us. And judgement is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it and it displeased him that there was no judgement. [vs 14-15] (My emphasis) There follows one of the most resounding Messianic prophecies in the Bible, underlying the fact that Jesus Christ came to bring justice, truth, equity and judgement where none existed. And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that that there was no intercessor: therefore His Arm [Christ Jesus] brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained Him. For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon His head; and He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke. According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay, fury to His adversaries, recompence to His enemies; to the islands He will repay recompence. [Is 59:16-19] Immediately, we are given a key to doing or executing righteousness and judgement. The armour the Messiah wears when He comes to establish righteousness, justice and judgement in the earth [Jer 23:5; 33:15] is the armour Paul exhorts us to wear as we confront not flesh and blood, but satan, principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this world, spiritual wickedness in high places. [Eph 6:11-18] And how do we confront these forces? Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. (My emphasis) It is prayer armour. In the passage in Isaiah above, Jesus is shown as the warrior intercessor who executes justice and judgement. 1 Jn 4:17 says as He is so are we in this world. Jesus is described as delivering people to the uttermost because He ever lives to make intercession for them. How does He do that? Through the words and prayers we speak on earth, because He is our High Priest. In 2 Corinthians 6 vs 7, Paul exhorts us to approve ourselves as ministers of God by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left. And in Romans 1:16 he defines the power of God in a way that few believers have grasped. He says the Gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation, because in it the righteousness of God is revealed! (My emphasis). Righteousness is unequivocally equated with the power of God and the armour of God. Righteousness is the power of God that judges injustice and unrighteousness. Note well, it is not the power of man: ie man s assumptions, accusations, suspicions or assessments: righteousness is the power of God that is to be established through prayer and through preaching His Word not in condemnation, but in extending His grace and mercy. So when we stand in the righteousness Jesus has made us, and pray that God s righteousness/justice be established in the earth, judgement will inevitably come on all unjust and unrighteous situations that we pray for. The evil will be exposed. ( But all things that have reproved are made manifest by the light, for whatsoever doth make manifest is light [Eph 5:13]). Note, we pray for God s righteousness to be established we do not pray for judgement, condemnation or any similar result - that is God s business. Our part is to seek His righteousness and let Him wield that weapon to achieve His ends. How does this then work in practice? Take a concrete example: perhaps there is an unjust law or an unrighteous policy that government has passed that violates the Word of God. Take it into the throneroom of God in prayer and ask that God s righteousness be established upon that law and among those who passed it ( Let judgement run down as waters and righteousness as a mighty stream [Amos 5:24]) and then intercede in tongues. It is the Holy Spirit who intercedes through you when you pray in tongues and John tells us [Joh 16:9] that when He is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness and of judgement. Those situations will be exposed for the truth of what they really are. The Holy Spirit will move on those who passed and supported the unjust laws. He will move upon people in the nation to rise up and oppose SWORD MINISTRIES / 4

5 them. The same principle applies to any situation in life where there is unrighteousness and injustice. Pray for God s truth, justice, equity and righteousness to be brought forth. Whether that is a personal situation, an issue in a business or in a church, injustice in government, law or the police force in short, in any walk of life. This gives a completely different and far deeper understanding of the Scripture: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness... [Mat 6:33 NKJV] This is not just a simple exhortation to receive Jesus as Saviour. This is a divine command actively to take up God s demand for righteousness. Paul tells us [Heb 1:8] that the Sceptre of the Lord Jesus Christ is a sceptre of righteousness. A sceptre is symbolic of kingly, even divine, authority. So seeking His righteousness is actively causing His kingdom to be established. A kingdom where His righteousness reigns and justice and judgement become the foundations of his throne. There are countless situations in the Bible where the people are accused of not executing justice and judgement. You have turned judgement into gall and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock. [Amos 6:12c] Remove violence and spoil, and execute judgement and justice, take away your exactions from my people saith the Lord God. [Eze 45:9b] For the vineyard of the LORD of Hosts, is the house of Israel and the men of Judah his pleasant plant, and he looked for judgement, but behold oppression, for righteousness, but behold a cry. [Is 5:7] Ye who turn judgement to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth. [Amos 5:7] But thou hast fulfilled the judgement of the wicked judgement and justice take hold on thee. [Job 36:17] The solutions are given with great compassionate intensity as the Lord pleads with His people to return to Him, so that they will walk in His blessings and avoid the justice and judgement that must follow when they turn their backs on Him and insist on going their own stubborn and often iniquitous way. To do justice and judgement is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. [Pro 21:3] Judgement will I lay to the line, and righteousness to the plummet, and the hail shall sweep away the refuge of lies and the waters shall overflow the hiding place. [Is 28:17] Execute judgement in the morning, and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my fury go out like fire and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings. [Jer 21:12] Thus saith the LORD, Execute ye judgement and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place. [Jer 22:3] Let judgement run down as waters and righteousness as a mighty stream. [Amos 5:24] Seek the LORD all ye meek of the earth which have wrought his judgement, seek righteousness, seek meekness, it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD s anger. [Zeph 2:3] What will be the consequences of praying God s righteousness into the earth? It releases the power of God, for one thing his power moving through the Holy Spirit by prayer and intercession to operate His will where, when and as He pleases to bring His purposes to pass. As He says in Proverbs 8:20, speaking of the Lord and of the Holy Spirit: I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgement. When we can understand this, and as Proverbs 2 puts it, if we cry after God s wisdom, then we will find the fear and knowledge of God and then we will understand righteousness and judgement and equity and every good path. [Pro 2: 3,9] (My emphasis) Have we as the body come anywhere near truly understanding this? He will judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgement to the people in uprightness. [Ps 9:8] He loveth righteousness and judgement; the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. [Ps 33:5] The advent of His righteousness and judgement will usher in His goodness! The LORD executeth righteousness and judgement for all that are oppressed. [Ps 103:6] Zion shall be redeemed with judgement and her converts with righteousness. [Isa 1:27] The LORD is exalted, for He dwelleth on high; He hath filled Zion with judgement and righteousness. [Is 33:5] When we pray God s righteousness into the earth, we will be ushering in His return. In Jeremiah 22 he clearly states, that if we execute judgement and righteousness to deliver the spoiled out of the hand SWORD MINISTRIES / 5

6 of the oppressor, then there shall enter in by the gates of this house, kings sitting upon the throne of David he and his servants and his people. [Jer 21 and 22:3,4] What does that mean? The kings are those in authority in the church, in business, in government righteous people, appointed by the Lord, performing His will. Isaiah repeats the concept in chapter 32: Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness and princes shall rule in judgement. [Isa 32:1] Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgement and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS ( Yahovah Tsedek ) [Jer 23:5,6] In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of Righteousness to grow up unto David and he shall execute judgement and righteousness in the land. In those days shall Judah be saved and Jerusalem shall dwell safely and this is the name wherewith she shall be called The LORD Our Righteousness. [Jer 33:15,16] Then indeed of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom, to order it and to establish it with judgement and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. [Isa 9:7] (My emphasis) Then judgement will return unto righteousness and all the upright in heart shall follow it. [Ps 94:15] Matthew quotes this prophecy: A bruised reed will he not break and smoking flax will he not quench till he send forth judgement unto victory. [Matt 12:20] He equates righteousness with the victory of the Lord! And thou shalt swear, the LORD liveth in truth, in judgement and in righteousness and the nations shall bless themselves in him and in him shall they glory. [Jer 4:2] And then I will betroth thee unto me for ever, yea I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgement, and in lovingkindness and in mercies. [Hos 2:19] (My emphasis) Editorial note: the word, judgement is spelled judgment in the KJV of the Bible. Righteousness, Justice and Judgement. A Sword publication First published in March Copyright Sword Productions March 2013 ALL RIGHTS ON OUR PUBLICATIONS ARE RESERVED. Therefore, no part of our publications may be reproduced in whole or in part for sale without the express written consent of the publisher. Our mission is to spread the Word of God freely and request any users to be considerate and respect their source when reprinting or publishing material gathered from Sword Ministries publications. All our published works are provided after prayer and thorough reflection. We fervently believe that they have been given by the inspiration and direction of the Holy Spirit. We use the Word of God as written in the scriptures and quote from the Bible extensively. Though we consider the King James Version of the Bible to be the most accurate translation at our disposal, we continuously refer to other translations in order to make the teachings clear and enjoyable. SWORD INFO SERIES. Sword Ministries, PO Box , Benmore 2010; Tel.: /1; Please contact us at one of the above addresses or telephone numbers if you would like to know more about this SWORD MINISTRIES / 6