Is This Justice?
“Far it be from You to do such a thing, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicker are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly.” Genesis 18:25 NASB
Deal justly – The truth is that Abraham didn’t really want justice. Neither do we. It is simply impossible to imagine that Abraham expected any righteous men in Sodom. He certainly knew Lot was far from righteous and since Sodom was a completely pagan city, Abraham could rightly conclude that no one in that immoral place worshipped YHWH, a necessary element of being righteous. No, Abraham does not really make his appeal on the basis of justice. Justice demands adherence to the holy law of God – and no man can meet that standard. Abraham is really appealing for mercy. But he’s going about it in a back-handed way.
The Hebrew words are ya’ase mishpat. The Judge makes justice by rendering decisions. What God decides is what it means to be upright, to be legally justified, to be righteous. Therefore, if God should decide to spare Sodom, His act would be righteous. If God decides not to spare Sodom, His act will also be righteous. It will be just because it is what God decides. Abraham never questions this. What Abraham questions is the uniform application of God’s decision. Abraham’s argument is that some distinction must be made between those who obey YHWH and those who do not, even if no one is completely righteous by God’s standard. Even human beings know the difference between the good people and the bad people. Certainly God must make some kind of allowance for this.
Abraham’s argument is flawed, but I suspect that he knew it was flawed. If the standard is holiness, no one qualifies. Therefore, should God judge all in Sodom, justice would prevail. Human standards of good behavior do not justify a man in God’s court. For God to deal justly, He must judge all who come short of the Law. And all do. God is vindicated. He does judge justly. Abraham’s complaint set in its near-Eastern context suggests that God must be impartial. YHWH cannot be like the gods of Mesopotamia, unpredictable and capricious. YHWH must be uniform in His dealings with men. He must not play favorites or make exceptions if He is to be considered the just Judge. And Abraham is right. YHWH is not like the other gods of ancient times. But this can only imply that justice requires the full and unmitigated execution of the law on all who offend.
Abraham speaks of justice, but what he wants is mercy. Abraham wants God to recognize human effort to be obedient and show mercy in spite of human shortcomings. For if God is to be Judge alone, all flesh will perish. All have fallen short. All will die. There is no righteous man, not in Sodom and not anywhere else. Abraham’s appeal is not to God’s uniform application of the standard of holiness but rather to God’s compassion. “If there are only . . .” The question is what number will suffice to turn away wrath. The question is rather, “Is it possible to turn away wrath at all – under any circumstances? Is YHWH the kind of God whose compassion can outweigh His demand for holiness?” If the answer is “No,” if justice must prevail, then we are all scorched earth.
Abraham is not asking if God will sweep away some particular righteous men with the wicked. He is asking if God’s justice is so demanding that even the hypothetically righteous cannot be spared. And the answer he gets is, “Yes. Compassion is possible.”
Sin is the most serious business on the face of the planet. It is so serious that not one of us can stand under its condemnation. We are guilt and God knows we are guilty. We all live in Sodom, but Sodom is the place where wrath encounters mercy. Mercy is our only hope and Abraham’s plea guarantees God does display mercy. This we must know. It does not diminish the severity of our condemnation, but it does offer hope. In this culture, we over-emphasize the God who negotiated with Abraham. We often forget this is the same God who destroyed the wicked. And who among us can rightfully escape that description.
“Father, forgive us, for we do not know what we do. O Lord, we know that you judge justly. We bow before you with fear and trembling. We are unrighteous. Nevertheless, may You show Yourself a God of mercy in the midst of our disobedience and spare us so that we might once more beseech Your comfort and Your guidance.”
Topical Index: justice, do justly, ya’ase mishpat, mercy, Genesis 18:25
Amein and Amein Skip! “Thank You Loving Abba Father that You have so much patience with Your children and Your Yisrael that You personally will complete the good work that You personally have started in us until the day Yehoshua HaMoshiach comes.” We are all still works in progress and will remain this until the time of redemption starts.
I have recently finished five historical novels about the Kings of Israel….when you think of what Manassah did…..yet YHWH forgave him. What an incredibly compassionate YAH! May I/we emulate this characteristic of YAH. I will be off to Ethiopia in few weeks – rented out my house finally – and their is such a need for compassion and truth in that land….so may Yah inculcate it in me so that all I serve will see HIM. Great word Skip…thanks.
Christine
The cross. The cross of Christ. The Cross of Yehoshua HaMoshiach is the place where justice and mercy meet. There is ONE righteous man and His name is Salvation. To the Jew first- and also to the Greek.
Know this. The full wrath of G-d toward sin, the cup of His indignation, the full fury of Hell was unleashed upon the Atoning Sacrifice. Jesus paid it all. Jesus “paid for” and atoned by the shedding of His blood on the execution stake of Calvary for the sins of all mankind- from Adam since.. For G-d SO loved the world..
The cross is the place where justice and mercy meet. The cross is the Altar of G-d. The cross is the place where we can go to receive full, free, forever -forgiveness of sins. The cross is the ONLY hope we (all who have sinned and fallen short of the glory of G-d) have. Did e’re such love and sorrow meet? Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
We cannot, -we must not ignore nor forget the cross of Jesus (who is the) Christ. Look and live my brother. Behold the Man upon His cross- my sin upon His shoulders- ashamed I hear my mocking voice-cry out among the scoffers.. It was MY sin that held Him there- until it was accomplished (tetalesti-“paid in full”) His dying breath has brought me life. I know that “it is finished..” (tetalesti-paid in full).
See our Savior hung between two thieves.
Hear the soldiers mock His name.
See His followers as they cry in disbelief,
This could not be the reason why He came.
See Him realize His life is through.
And see the love burn from His eyes.
Behold the temple veil as it is torn in two.
And hear the One on Calvary as He cries
Paid in full, I’ve done the work I came to do.
Paid in full, I’ve paid love’s final price for you.
When all hell tries to tell you that you’ll never win,
Just remember that the debt for your sin is paid in full.
See His children torn between two ways.
Some still choose to mock His Name.
Hear His followers now as they can boldly say,
We are the reason that He came.
See the ones who trust themselves alone,
To do what only Christ can do.
Through Jesus’ blood alone we may approach the Father’s throne,
And hear the words that He still calls to you
“Paid in full,” I’ve done the work I came to do.
Paid in full, I’ve paid love’s final price for you.
When all hell tries to tell you that you’ll never win,
Just remember that the debt for your sin is paid in full.
Adam- Zakar the Tslav of Yehoshua HaMoshiach. Amein. What was “the work” He came to do? Who was the Atoning Sacrifice? “Behold the Lamb of G-d!”
I boast not of works or tell of good deeds
For naught have I done to merit His grace
All glory and praise shall rest upon Him
So willing to die in my place
I will glory in the cross
In the cross
Lest His suffering all be in vain
I will weep no more for the cross that He bore
I will glory in the cross
My trophies and crowns, my robe stained with sin
Twas all that I had to lay at His feet
Unworthy to eat from the table of Life
Till Love made provision for me
”But G-d forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” (Galatians 6:14)
I love the passage in I Peter 1:3 that basically tells us that the LORD’s grace (favor) emanates from His mercy (compassion). Any wonder that Peter’s response was: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who according to His great mercy has given us….” It seems like today’s Christian culture has opted to jump right over God’s mercy in order to get to or rush to His benefits (grace) as if God’s mercy was not first required as part of His justice?
I also love the passage in the OT where Moses asks to see the LORD and because the LORD’s presence is not tolerable for Moses to bear, He basically protects Moses from Himself and from His glory (goodness) by putting him in the cleft of a rock and then only allowing Moses to see His back side as He passes by….I am not certain if we appreciate that what God saves us from in “saving” us is actually to save us from Himself (His justice which is what He does because of Who He is). And the oddity is that in “saving” us from Himself, He actually draws us nearer to Himself through Yeshua.
I like John Piper’s quote about the holiness and glory of God from a sermon he did in Sherman, TX many years ago now. The thought goes something like this: Yeshua (Jesus) makes the Holiness of God accessible. Yeshua (Jesus) makes the Holiness of God tolerable. Yeshua (Jesus) makes the Holiness of God enjoyable…we were meant to feast on Yeshua (Jesus). We were meant to feast on the holiness of God found in Yeshua (Jesus).
Romans 6:
1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?
2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
Glory! and yes.. glory to G-d! Brother Salyer, – amen! His grace emanates from His mercy..
Let us look further into and consider “mercy” for “mercy rejoices against judgment” (James 2.13)
What is “mercy?” For this we need to look to the past.. for “the way we know our future is by looking at the past” (thank you, Skip!- and amen..)
Hebrew to the rescue (once again..). The O.T. (Hebrew) word for mercy is “loving-kindness” And loving-kindness is not singular but plural as in “loving-kindnesses” or “mercies”. (I will sing of the mercies of the LORD- forever!).
Let us (together) plumb the depths (and heights!) of the “loving-kindnesses” of our Elohim! How shall my tongue describe it?- where shall it’s praise begin? Taking away my burdens..-setting my spirit free!..
Let us (together) review the story of a young man by the name of Mephibosheth. “I will surely show thee (loving) kindness, for Jonathan, thy father’s sake” (2 Samuel 9:7). Loving-kindness, dear family and friends is a “blood-covenant” word. Study, study, study- know, know, know- this word! And (Hallelujah!- Praise to the G-d whose name is Yah!) His mercies endure forever! What (then) shall we say to these things? – “Since” G-d is for us..who (then) can be against us? (Romans 8.31,32)
Am 3:7 Surely the Lord GOD does nothing Unless He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets.
1Jn.1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and “”JUST”” to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The angels were sent to Lot to warn his family. If you count them all up they make ten. Had they repented and followed Lot would the city have been saved? Would it have been just to destroy the righteous with the wicked?
We must not forget that forgiveness toward the repentant is just. It would be unjust for YHVH to do anything else.
Shalom
Shalom Skip, good word!
I found myself looking at the days we are in and coming up to the Feast of Trumpets and Yom Kippur. The days of repentance, the 40 days of Awe.
A serious reflection of my own state. Do I trust the Judge of the Universe to judge me rightly?
This is just a place I find myself right now and waiting to see what HE will do.
Appreciate your prayers as this is a desperate place right now.
blessings
Janet, “the 40 days of Awe” – i have never heard it called that but i like it for sure. Who else can you trust but the Judge of the Universe – there is none that can judge you justly or right more than HIM… ♥
As Pam types above us, “1 Jn.1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and “”JUST”” to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Cleansing us may not be so pleasant – I’m sure that it will require a turning away from sin in our lives/repentance & not going back there again (to the sin).
Just like the woman at the well – YESHUA/Jesus told her (after forgiving her & cleansing her from her sin/adultery/fornication) – TO GO & SIN NO MORE. HE gave a command/an instruction for her to do/obey to keep the promise (i believe). We will always have a part in our own salvation as we walk it out in the power of the Holy Spirit.
jan
Hi Jan, thank you, yes each year I come around to the feasts and I seem to go another layer deeper in understanding. The depth of the Feasts is amazing.
How can we even think that we could come and celebrate without Teshuvah/repentance.
Yes, I agree with the walking it out and it is not always pretty.
blessings, Janet
I’m remembering the feast of the Passover. What’s for dinner? (did they ask that question back then?) W’ere having lamb with bitter herbs. The blood of the Lamb was sprinkled upon the doorway of the dwelling place. The angel of death withheld judgment from that household and that household was “saved” or if you will..- delivered.
Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you” (John 6:53). 1 John 5.12 states: “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.”
The Lamb who was roasted with fire (a sign of judgment) was now within the ones who followed the instructions of YHVH. The family ingested and were partakers of the nourishment and nutrition from this particular lamb.
The entire ‘event’ of the crucifixion of the Lamb took place during a Feast in Jerusalem. It was the time of the Passover. Our G-d is a right-on-time G-d. The Lamb who was slain was inspected thoroughly by the priests and the governing authorities. The conclusion of the court? “I find no fault in Him.”
As we enter into this holy season of celebration- we, today- have an “awesome” reason to celebrate with “amazement and awe.” I’m amazed that He loves me. I’m amazed that He cares. “That Thou my G-d would die for me!” Never a man spoke like that Man. His words- spoken over two millennia ago-still echo in my heart. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Amen. (it is so..)
We have been invited to a feast. “Then the Master (Him) told His servant, (me) ‘Go to the roads and paths! Urge the people to come to my house. I want it to be full.” “Go ye therefore” The Gospel (the good news of Christ) is spelled “go”. This spotless, sacrificial, sustaining Lamb is to be shared. With “whosoever will.” “To the Jew first- and also to the Greek.”
Look. Find. Feast. Amen. For this also is a satisfying Lamb. “The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek Him: your heart shall live for ever.” (Psalm 22.26) “For He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” (Psalm 107.9) “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Matthew 5.6)