The God of Justice (3)

I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against Him, until He pleads my case and executes justice for me.  He will bring me out to the light, and I will see His righteousness. Micah 7:9

Until – “How long, O Lord, how long?”  Until.  That’s the word ‘ad.  The phrase is actually ‘ad asher (“as far as when”).  I will carry the impending storm of God’s wrath as far as the point when He does something, not me.  Do you see that calming the storm, avoiding the disaster, does not depend on my action?  It depends on God taking up my case.  No matter what I do, the storm will come because I bear His wrath for my sin.  And there is nothing I can do to take it away.

Don’t get confused.  Asking forgiveness does not avert God’s wrath.  Begging for mercy doesn’t change the direction of the weather.  Unless God does something on my behalf, I am in for it.  Salvation belongs to Him.  Ultimately, it has nothing to do with me.

We learn two important facts about justice from the middle of this verse.  First, we learn that God must provide the rescue.  He is the offended one and only He can bring about the reconciliation.  That’s not the same as saying that we don’t have to confess.  Once we realize our situation, confession is the only reasonable response.  But by the time we realize where we stand, by the time we see the storm clouds on the horizon, it’s too late to do anything but confess.  The rest has to be up to God.

Second, we learn that there is no rescue for those who have not embraced the consequences of their sin.  God doesn’t save those who think they can save themselves.  God doesn’t provide reinforcements to those who pretend they do not bear the burden of His wrath.  God lets them sink.  Why?  Because only drowning men know they need a savior.  Those who think they can tread water in the perfect storm haven’t faced their reality yet.  So, God applies ‘ad – until.  David knew the truth of the matter.  “Until I was afflicted, I did not follow You” (Psalm 119:67).  Pain has purpose.  Use it wisely.

It’s easy to think that God will come to the aid of all who call on Him.  We’ve been taught that  God is loving and compassionate, so we conclude that this must mean He would never turn away from anyone in trouble.  We see only one side of the coin.  Mercy depends on wrath.  If you don’t like the pain, you will never experience the gain.  God told Jeremiah not to pray for Israel before He sent them into captivity.  Why?  Because they thought treading water would save them.  It’s very easy today to pretend that God will not arrive in the storm clouds.  We have been seduced by the “kindly old grandfather” theology.  Our morality is mixed up with a doctrine of fairness.  But Micah is beginning to clear our confusion.  God isn’t fair; He’s just.  And justice is tied to “until” He acts.

Is there a storm in your life?  Have you tried to hold your breath under the waves?  Do you see that your salvation is delayed until He acts?  What good is your remorse now?  Rescue is God’s choice to act, not mine to demand.

Topical Index:  Justice