Inspired by...: Inspired by . . . Day 12: His Name, El Shophet

Inspired by . . . Day 12: His Name, El Shophet

El Shophet

God is a Just Judge

shâphaṭ
shaw-fat'
A primitive root; to judge, that is, pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication to vindicate or punish; by extension to govern; passively to litigate (literally or figuratively): - + avenge, X that condemn, contend, defend, execute (judgment), (be a) judge (-ment), X needs, plead, reason, rule.

He calls to the heavens above and to the earth,

that He may judge His people:

"Gather to Me My faithful ones,

who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice!"

The heavens declare His righteousness,

for God Himself is judge! Selah.
Psa 50:4-6

For those of us who are aware of our sinful nature, this name of God may not bring much comfort . . . until we remember Romans 8:

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in

Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. Rom 8:1-2

With this Truth firmly in mind, we can find great comfort and assurance in El Shophet. Our God is a just and righteous judge.

God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
Psa 7:11

You might read Psalm 7:11 and feel as Asaph did, when he expressed in Psalm 73, verse 11-12 “Does the Most High know or care? Such are the wicked; unshakably secure, they pile up wealth.”

We look around at our world today and it appears that evil has won the day. But just like Asaph, we need to look to the sacred places to see Truth. Asaph continues in verse 16: “I set my mind to understand this, but I found it too hard for me, until I went into God’s sanctuary, where I saw clearly what their destiny would be.”

What does Asaph mean by “I went into God’s sanctuary”? Matthew Henry explains: he went into the sanctuary of God; he applied to his devotions, meditated upon the attributes of God, and the things revealed, which belong to us and to our children; he consulted the scriptures, and the lips of the priests who attended the sanctuary; he prayed to God to make this matter plain to him and to help him over this difficulty; and, at length, he understood the wretched end of wicked people, which he plainly foresaw to be such that even in the height of their prosperity they were rather to be pitied than envied, for they were but ripening for ruin.

Beloved, let us not forget what we have learned about our Lord. Let us meditate on the attributes of our God. He is Immutable. Hebrews 6 tells us that it is impossible for God to lie. When He says He will judge the wicked, you can be assured He will do it! God is righteous and holy, fair and equitable in all things. We can trust Him to always do what is right.

There is a great comfort here, a great hope. Knowing that in the end, all things will be made right.