People tend to think of the concept of God’s justice being served from a negative standpoint; in executing judgment for sin or the penalty and punishment for unrighteous/unlawful behavior. In reality, God’s justice is a means of tugging on the inner conscience to reconcile truth so mercy—God’s preferential determination and verdict—can be executed.
RELEVANCE
In Psalm 37 God, through David, sheds light on how He prefers to reveal His mercy. In viewing evildoers, God advises us to trust in Him, focus on His faithfulness and be committed to Him. As a result, He will bring forth righteousness and justice. This is where the meek/humble resting and waiting upon Him ultimately see His justice and experience peace.
This is an illustration of how waiting upon God is not a passive, but active activity and reality. As we wait upon God, our conscience is in fact very active, as we seek, meditate and reconcile the truth of the matter at hand as it relates to His word, weigh issues, and allow God’s Spirit to work in our heart, bringing peaceful resolve to our conscience. Then the will has opportunity to respond and move us to act.
David meditated on the issue of God’s law being written on the heart. He, like Paul, had a revelation of what a circumcised and renewed heart was (see references below for the connections). This is how the dynamics of conscience and divine justice intersect; how we sense God’s true justice, and how mercy enters the equation.
Where peace finds its rest in our soul is in coming to the realization of what Jesus really accomplished on the cross as He uttered the most powerful words ever spoken: “It is finished” (John 19:30).
REFLECT AND RELATE
The key issue to consider is how sensitive you are to God’s Spirit in order for His Word to reveal the deeper truths so you may sense the reality of His justice and mercy.
Meditate on the truth and reality of “It is finished.” What comes to mind?
REFERENCES
Deuteronomy 30:6-14, Psalm 30:31, Proverbs 3:3; 4:23; Ezekiel 36:26-27; Jeremiah 31:33; Romans 2:15; 2 Corinthians 3:3; John 19:30