God is Just!

August 11, 2010

During one of the women’s Bible studies I was involved in, one of the leaders encouraged all of us women to study the book of Psalms. She gave us specific instructions to look for definitions or names of God throughout our study. When we know the names of God, we know Him better. And when we know our Maker better, we come to know ourselves better. Our identity is hidden within the identity of Christ!

Here is my idea. If each one of us studies the book of Psalms individually, then we can all come together to build a picture of all the names and definitions of God together. So, today I am beginning in Psalm 1.

Psalm 1
Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night. 
He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.

Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff
that the wind blows away. 
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 

For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish. (NIV)

God is just!

The Psalmist compares the righteous and the wicked in this first psalm. The righteous must make conscious decisions about who to associate with and what to do and how to act. While on the other hand, wickedness reigns free. It does what it pleases and goes where it wants.

We have all been in the middle torn by the two choices. Should I choose the way I know is right? Or should I choose the pathway that is fun and exciting for the time being? Wickedness may look exciting and fulfilling at the time, but it always leads to death. Righteousness usually is more difficult and not always fun, but the way of the right leads to streams of living water which brings life!

To me, Psalm 1 defines God as just. He determines between the righteous and the wicked. He separates those who follow Him and those who don’t. In the end, God will always choose justice. Even though evil and wickedness creep through the world today, God brings victory over all evil. Wickedness will be wiped out with one mighty blow of God’s just hand.

It is easy to see all the injustice in the world today and wonder why God doesn’t conquer it now. But, God is faithful, and He will follow through. His justice will reign. Now it is up to you to decide what side you will be on…