God the Judge in a ‘judge not’ Culture

Psalm 75

1 We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds. 

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

3 When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars. Selah 

4 I say to the boastful, 'Do not boast,' and to the wicked, 'Do not lift up your horn; 

5 do not lift up your horn on high, or speak with haughty neck.'" 

6 For not from the east or from the west and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, 

7 but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another. 

8 For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup with foaming wine, well mixed, and he pours out from it, and all the wicked of the earth shall drain it down to the dregs. 

9 But I will declare it forever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. 

10 All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up. 

• In Psalm 75, God unapologetically asserts his right to judge, his competency to judge, and his title as Judge.

• The attitude one has toward the judgment of God reveals one’s view of the character of God. (V. 1)

the Source of judgment: the lord God (V. 2-3)

• We may not fully understand the why or the how of God’s judgment, but faith in God means we come to these passages with a humble trust and confidence that God is good.

Wrong Response #1: Ridicule judgment.

• We have a habit of assuming that our sense of fairness and justice is

the standard of fairness and justice.

You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of its maker, “He did not make me”; or the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”? (Isaiah 29:16)

the target of judgment: the Proud (V. 4-7)

• God’s judgment always hits its target and it targets human pride. Wrong Response #2: Boast in judgment.

• We can easily read passages that speak of God’s judgment of evil and assume an attitude of moral superiority.

• The kingdom of God has a predictable pattern: God exalts the lowly and brings down the proud.

the Goal of judgment: Salvation (V. 8-10)

• God’s judgment is a terrifying thing because God is infinitely holy and we have sinned against him.

• No one will be able to charge God with over-reacting to evil.

Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. (Psalm 51:4)

Wrong Response #3: Minimize judgment.

• When we downplay the judgment of God, we are stealing glory from

the cross.

• When we look at the cross we see God’s judgment accomplishing God’s salvation for all who believe.

Thanks Matt!