God is Justice

ANNOUNCE NURSERY MEETING

HONOR

Slides in Background on ProP

Today I want to speak about something that I’ve been studying and something that our culture has redefined- for the worse: that is justice

Specially, Biblical Justice - right justice

So let’s go to the book of Obadiah — Yes, you heard that correctly

According to Bible Gateway .com, this is the least read book of the Bible.

It’s insanely short. Just 21 verses.

And after reading it, it leaves you a little confused because I don’t understand who this is supposed to be talking to

It feels like walking in on a conversation that we don’t have the context for

Not all books of the Bible are equally easy to read and understand

If you only go to your Bible expecting to get great devotional content, you will find yourself confused and frustrated at times.

The Bible shouldn’t just be read for devotions; it also must be studied.

READ FROM YOUR BIBLE JOURNAL

Obadiah 1–21 (ESV)

1 The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord God concerning Edom: We have heard a report from the Lord, and a messenger has been sent among the nations: “Rise up! Let us rise against her for battle!”

2 Behold, I will make you small among the nations; you shall be utterly despised.

3 The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?”

4 Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the stars, from there I will bring you down, declares the Lord.

8 Will I not on that day, declares the Lord, destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of Mount Esau?

9 And your mighty men shall be dismayed, O Teman, so that every man from Mount Esau will be cut off by slaughter.

10 Because of the violence done to your brother Jacob, shame shall cover you, and you shall be cut off forever.

15 For the day of the Lord is near upon all the nations. As you have done, it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head.

16 For as you have drunk on my holy mountain, so all the nations shall drink continually; they shall drink and swallow, and shall be as though they had never been.

17 But in Mount Zion there shall be those who escape, and it shall be holy, and the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions.

18 The house of Jacob shall be a fire, and the house of Joseph a flame, and the house of Esau stubble; they shall burn them and consume them, and there shall be no survivor for the house of Esau, for the Lord has spoken.

21 Saviors shall go up to Mount Zion to rule Mount Esau, and the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.

READ AND PRAY

Alright be honest, most of us didn’t even know that book was in there

Because it’s a little challenging — what is happening exactly?

Obadiah wrote this shortest book of the Old Testament probably soon after the armies of Babylon destroyed Jerusalem (586 b.c.).

During this conquest, the people of Edom helped capture fleeing Israelites and turn them over to the Babylonians. They even took up residence in some Judean villages.

This angered the Lord, for the Edomites, as descendants of Esau, were related to the Israelites (Gen. 25) and therefore should have helped them.

Obadiah prophesied that Edom would be repaid for mistreating God’s people.

These 2 brothers — Jacob and Esau, their conflict is still what causes unrest in the middle east now.

Their descendants now are Israel and Palestine

(you can see on this map where Edom was)

This vision that Obadiah had and wrote down - was for the Edomites.

Most of the time Scripture is for the Church — It’s interesting to see this book written to the enemies of God

This book isn’t one of narrative, but one of Character.

It reveals God’s character

That God is a God of justice

So what do we mean when we say Justice?

Justice renders to every one his due.

M. Tullius Cicero

Justice makes things “as it should be”

So we see the conflict of Justice in our own world because we have conflicting ideas about “how things should be.”

Social Justice

Or Social Justice Warriors

Or Critical Social Justice

is all people making Justice in their own image

This is why Lady Justice from Roman and Greek mythology was BLINDFOLDED holding weights

Because we can’t just judge on appearance

The issue comes in when we don’t understand — “Who determines what is due?”

Who is the one who determines “how things should be”?

No one can truly make things “as it should be” other than God

No one can make sure everyone is given their due other than God

God, is a God of Justice! He is Justice

Beyond confronting falsehoods in general, our pursuit of justice must also be characterized by a pursuit of truth. Much has been said recently about seeking justice, and I could not agree more. However, we must be certain that we pursue justice on God’s terms.

-Voddie Baucham Jr. - Fault Lines

Only the Creator can recreate the creation

God is the only One capable for giving true justice

This is why God says that Vengeance is His!!

It’s not my responsibility; It’s God’s responsibility

He is the only one that is perfect so all his judgements are perfect.

FLY THROUGH THESE

Psalm 11:7 (NIV)

7 For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face.

Deuteronomy 32:4 (ESV)

4 “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.

Psalm 9:7–8 (ESV)

7 But the Lord sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, 8 and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness.

Psalm 89:14 (ESV)

14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.

Isaiah 61:8 (ESV)

8 For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

There are more verse than we have time to look at

It is impossible for God to be unjust!

This is why when people question hell or say things like “I just don’t understand how a loving God could send someone to hell”

—You just asked a question that assumes YOU know more about Justice than God does

We believe that God is just and God is perfect — so whatever He decides its the right choice or else He wouldn’t have decided it.

He is God and we are not.

This is a part of the Character of God

God sees perfectly, He loves perfectly, so He is PERFECTLY JUST

“God why does it seem there is such evil in the world?”

“God why does it seem that the evil prosper?”

“This doesn’t seem like justice!”

No — just wait. God sees. God knows.

And regardless of which side of eternity God’s gives His justice — He will always be faithful to give it.

If his justice were such as could be adjudged just by human reckoning, it clearly would not be divine; it would in no way differ from human justice. But inasmuch as he is the one true God, wholly incomprehensible and inaccessible to man’s understanding, it is reasonable, indeed inevitable, that his justice also should be incomprehensible.

Martin Luther

Noah wanting to play hide and seek - but didn’t want either of us to seek

So we’re both hiding waiting for nobody

Hide and Seek is a cute game. But the one who Hides cannot hide forever.

They always eventually are found or reveal themselves

Sin will always be found out.

It will either be found out - or it will grow and deform you so much that it eventually reveals itself

Sin ALWAYS leads to death. Every time

FEAR OF THE LORD

Don’t be afraid of God — Fear God!

I don’t want any area of my heart or my life to be hidden from God!

This is why God’s Justice ON THIS SIDE of eternity IS MERCY

God disciplines those whom He loves!

Hebrews 12:14 ESV

14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

It’s not a striving built on works of man - but built on the sacrifice of Christ

Hebrews 4:14–16 (ESV)

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Don’t let the cares of life keep you down.

Don’t let the unfairness of life make you concerned

Don’t worry about the world — Pray for the world so that they may wake up!!

Some days you’re the pigeon and some days your the statue

We live in a fallen world and sometimes things just happen

Sometimes we’re dumb and we have to pay the consequences of those dumb actions

But if you are a child of God — God is your defense!

God is your avenger!

Because God is a God of justice and he will expose all things to the light of His Grace!

On this side of eternity or the next — God will bring justice

Pray it is on this side!! So that we may repent and have our sins covered by the blood of Jesus!

Pray that the modern day Edmonites, the modern day enemies of the Church, would wake up and repent so that they don’t have to suffer the Judgement of God before it is too late!!!

His Mercy and Grace are not in spite of his Justice, but because of it.

God bring repentance!

Bring repentance to our nation

to our church

to our city

to me!!!

Lord, forgive of attempting to hide my heart from you!

Bring us to repentance Lord!

As Obadiah said

Obadiah 3 (ESV)

3 The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock, in your lofty dwelling, who say in your heart, “Who will bring me down to the ground?”

When you rob ourselves of the problem of sin you actually rob yourself of the power of grace.

God bring us to repentance so that we might love you more!

So that we may full know and experience your grace!

You don’t wink at sin — sin = death. So, Lord bring repentance

Repentance is not the work of man, as the prophet Jeremiah said, “Make me repent my Lord and I shall repent.” -John Chrysostom

God’s Justice is unavoidable

Which is why the Prophet Isaiah said “yet it please the Lord to bruise Him”

Isaiah 53:10 (KJV 1900)

10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him;

God is willing to passover our sin, passover our judgement and place it on His Son, place it on the Cross!

Where there was no way - God made a way through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus.

This is why you must accept Jesus as Lord - ON THIS SIDE OF ETERNITY.

Because sin requires death.

So Lord- I plead the blood over my life

over my family

over my city

over this church

over this nation!

Your blood that is able to redeem us!

Your blood that is able to protect us!

Obadiah 17 (ESV)

17 But in Mount Zion there shall be those who escape, and it shall be holy, and the house of Jacob shall possess their own possessions.

There is no devil in hell that can steal our joy

steal my peace

attack my family

You can’t curse what God has blessed!

God will protect His people!

God will restore His people!

The Blood covers all!

STAND

Colossians 2:13–15 (ESV)

13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,

14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Anything that could be held against you — God set it aside and nailed it to the Cross!

Our sin has been atoned for - it’s been covered - and now the Judgement of God has passed over us by the blood of Christ!

SOMEONE SAY AMEN!!!

If Christ was willing to forgive us - we must be willing to forgive others

ALTAR

Laying hidden sins down

Peace of God to guard your mind. Things have been attacking you. Get under the Blood.