God's Justice is Perfect - Psalms 72-73 and Romans 9:1-15
No one will ever be able to stand before God and prove that He has used bad judgment. God always acts in the right way based on His perfect wisdom and power. The psalmists reflect on God's justice in several areas. The plight of the poor is examined in many of the psalms. We might be tempted to think that the poor are being treated unjustly by God. We might think that they are being left out when it comes to the good things in life. The Bible assures us that God does not allow that to happen. He blesses the poor with the best things in life, even if they do not have material possessions. God does not neglect the poor in any way. Also, the psalmists consider the life of the wealthy people who do not follow the Lord. Often, it seems that they are not having any troubles and that they are blessed in their sin. God never lets that happen either. They may have a temporary time of abundance, but justice comes to them at the right time and in the right measure. The truth is that life is not determined by the amount of material things we have. Life is about relationships. Our relationship with God is primary, and it brings us the fulfillment of life. Then, our relationships with others further bless our lives.
Romans 9-11 have a lot to say about God's justice, and it is easy to misunderstand what God is saying. In these chapters Paul dealt with the Jewish people and why the majority of them did not receive Christ as Savior and Lord. It was a burden on his heart. He wanted to do something about it, but he realized that it was a matter of the heart. Only those who put their trust in the Lord were the children of promise, not all of the people who were born Jews. He used the example of Jacob and Esau. Even before they were born, God chose Jacob over Esau. The Bible tells us that God loved Jacob and hated Esau. Is that just? It is just if God had a reason to hate Esau and to love Jacob. It is unjust, if God just chose to hate Esau arbitrarily. The fact is that God's choice was based on His perfect wisdom. He knew Jacob's heart and Esau's heart, even before they were born. Therefore, He chose for the older to serve the younger. The reason was the sin and unbelief in the heart of Esau and the faith in Jacob's heart. God did not cause that to be there, but He did act justly based on what He knew beforehand. Therefore, we can conclude that God always acts justly when it comes to people being saved. He sees the heart, and if He sees faith, He saves that person from his sins. God has the right to make that choice, and He has decided to make it on the basis of faith in Christ. We are not saved by faith, but we are saved by God's grace, when He sees our faith.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 74-76 and Romans 9:16-33.
Romans 9-11 have a lot to say about God's justice, and it is easy to misunderstand what God is saying. In these chapters Paul dealt with the Jewish people and why the majority of them did not receive Christ as Savior and Lord. It was a burden on his heart. He wanted to do something about it, but he realized that it was a matter of the heart. Only those who put their trust in the Lord were the children of promise, not all of the people who were born Jews. He used the example of Jacob and Esau. Even before they were born, God chose Jacob over Esau. The Bible tells us that God loved Jacob and hated Esau. Is that just? It is just if God had a reason to hate Esau and to love Jacob. It is unjust, if God just chose to hate Esau arbitrarily. The fact is that God's choice was based on His perfect wisdom. He knew Jacob's heart and Esau's heart, even before they were born. Therefore, He chose for the older to serve the younger. The reason was the sin and unbelief in the heart of Esau and the faith in Jacob's heart. God did not cause that to be there, but He did act justly based on what He knew beforehand. Therefore, we can conclude that God always acts justly when it comes to people being saved. He sees the heart, and if He sees faith, He saves that person from his sins. God has the right to make that choice, and He has decided to make it on the basis of faith in Christ. We are not saved by faith, but we are saved by God's grace, when He sees our faith.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Psalms 74-76 and Romans 9:16-33.