EAGER FOR JUDGMENT
I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me forth to the light; I shall behold his deliverance. Micah 7:9, R.S.V.
The young man was pacing the floor in front of the principal's office. His palms were sweaty, his eyes cast downward. He knew he was guilty, and the principal was about to deal with him. Fearfully he entered the room. But perhaps in contrast to many such familiar scenes, when an hour had passed and the door opened again, student and principal stepped out with arms around each other. Both were smiling. Yes, the student had lost some of his privileges. But more than that, the principal had helped him overcome the weakness that had gotten him into trouble in the first place. And they were friends.
The prophet Micah viewed God in much the same light. He knew that he had sinned and that his sin was against God rather than against some abstract legal code. What gave him the courage to be honest about his sins, however, was his confidence in how God would deal with him. Though he knew that there would be consequences (since God deals in a world of moral realities), he knew also that God would deal redemptively with him.
Micah actually looked forward to the time when God would plead his cause, executing judgment for him. He knew that in the final reckoning God would be on his side, working in his favor. Judgment is that time when all the universe sees things as they really are; if Micah's loyalties really were with his God, then why should he fear? He had declared his position: "But as for me, I will look to the Lord, I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me" (Micah 7:7, R.S.V.).
Too often the judgment has been presented as an awesome event, to be dreaded by all who fear the Judge. It is assumed that His intent is to screen out as many applicants for the kingdom as He possibly can, using a strict measurement of behavior as the criterion. On that basis, who can stand?
But God is interested in one central issue in the judgment: on whose side have our loyalties been placed? If we are for Him (as evidenced by our lives), then He has every right to be for us. We fully trust our Deliverer.
I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me forth to the light; I shall behold his deliverance. Micah 7:9, R.S.V.
The young man was pacing the floor in front of the principal's office. His palms were sweaty, his eyes cast downward. He knew he was guilty, and the principal was about to deal with him. Fearfully he entered the room. But perhaps in contrast to many such familiar scenes, when an hour had passed and the door opened again, student and principal stepped out with arms around each other. Both were smiling. Yes, the student had lost some of his privileges. But more than that, the principal had helped him overcome the weakness that had gotten him into trouble in the first place. And they were friends.
The prophet Micah viewed God in much the same light. He knew that he had sinned and that his sin was against God rather than against some abstract legal code. What gave him the courage to be honest about his sins, however, was his confidence in how God would deal with him. Though he knew that there would be consequences (since God deals in a world of moral realities), he knew also that God would deal redemptively with him.
Micah actually looked forward to the time when God would plead his cause, executing judgment for him. He knew that in the final reckoning God would be on his side, working in his favor. Judgment is that time when all the universe sees things as they really are; if Micah's loyalties really were with his God, then why should he fear? He had declared his position: "But as for me, I will look to the Lord, I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me" (Micah 7:7, R.S.V.).
Too often the judgment has been presented as an awesome event, to be dreaded by all who fear the Judge. It is assumed that His intent is to screen out as many applicants for the kingdom as He possibly can, using a strict measurement of behavior as the criterion. On that basis, who can stand?
But God is interested in one central issue in the judgment: on whose side have our loyalties been placed? If we are for Him (as evidenced by our lives), then He has every right to be for us. We fully trust our Deliverer.
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