It’s been written that four things are required of a judge: to hear courteously, to answer wisely, to consider soberly, and to decide impartially.
One would think if this is all a judge would have to do then, he or she would never be challenged or questioned when a decision is rendered. But as we know there’s hardly ever a time when judges aren’t judged to be unjust by someone who disagrees with their judgment. What one person might think is a perfect judge, another person would say he or she is far from it.
Just recently there’s been a lot of controversy over some of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decisions—such as, cases including the overturning of the Roe vs. Wade; curbing the Environmental Protection Agency’s power; and expanding the Second Amendment jurisprudence concerning the right to carry a weapon outside the home. Some groups praise the justices when they agree with them; others protest the justices when they disagree with them. Some will even go so far as to threaten the justices if they don’t cave to their demands.
What’s more, not even all the justices agree with one another, depending on their own interpretative or philosophical views. The minority’s dissenting views are therefore put on record. Ironically, while it’s called The Supreme Court, there’s no supreme way to get everyone to arrive at the perfect judgment whenever a case comes before them.
And yet, there is a Supreme Judge to whom everyone must answer. Of course, I’m referring to God Almighty, our righteous and perfect Judge. His judgment is perfect because he is perfect. And in a unique way, even when persons do not think his judgment is right that doesn’t mean they are right. No matter what a person might think, he is always right.
Some, for example, might not agree with God’s judgment upon Sodom and Gomorrah back in Abraham’s time. As the story goes, three angels appearing as men announced a startling revelation to Abraham. It would have to do with the place where his nephew, Lot, and his family lived—the city of Sodom along with nearby Gomorrah.
“Then the Lord said, ‘The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is immense, and their sin is extremely serious.’” (Genesis 18:20, Holman Christian Standard Bible, HCSB)
Abraham, realizing that God was about to do something drastic about these two cities, prayed,
“Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?” (v. 21; HCSB)
Abraham responded in a way most decent persons would. The patriarch asked that if there were 50 righteous persons in Sodom, will God destroy it including the fifty righteous there. Abraham interceded for them and pleaded,
“You could not possibly do such a thing: to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. You could not possibly do that! Won’t the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” (v. 25, HCSB)
And God said he would not destroy the city if there were 50 righteous residents there. This shows God is a merciful God and would have withheld judgment. But that amount could not be found. Abraham then reduced the number of righteous persons to 45. No, not that many either. What about 40? No. 30? No. 20? No. Well, LORD, what about 10? The merciful God would have spared everyone if at least there were 10 righteous persons. But not even that many were found. Sodom and Gomorrah were doomed.
Genesis 19:1-7 spells out in vivid detail their sin that doomed them. When the two angels entered the city that evening, Lot noticed them. He persuaded them to stay at his house for the night for their safety. When the vast majority of men in the city, young and old alike, heard word that these two visitors were in Lot’s house, they surrounded the premises.
They yelled for Lot to bring them outside for they were intending to do something labeled “detestable” to the “men” that was absolutely forbidden by God (v. 5, Leviticus 18:22; 20:13). ). Lot called it, “evil,” (v. 7). Lot was so desperate to protect his visitors he did something himself that is questionable: He offered to bring out his two daughters to them instead of his guests (v. 8).
[NOTE: Hospitality and respect towards strangers, particularly angels, was a high priority in Hebrew culture in those days (Leviticus 19:33-34). The custom seems to take precedence over other issues including Lot’s offering of his daughters to the men outside his house. Maybe he thought it was the lesser of two evils. But that doesn’t excuse him (Romans 14:12)].
The men refused Lot’s offer and insisted they get their way. They complained that Lot, who was not originally from the community, was now “acting like a judge” over them. How dare he!
By now, things were really getting out of hand. Lot was just outside the door and the men were pressing him as they were about to break down the door The two angels reached out, pulled Lot inside, and then “…struck the men who were at the entrance of the house, both young and old, with a blinding light so that they were unable to find the entrance. (v. 11, HCSB).
The angels urged Lot to take himself and his family and flee the city right away come morning “lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.,” (v. 15, New American Standard Bible, NASB). So, they left and escaped to another city, Zoar. God the righteous Judge then rained down fire and brimstone upon all the people there, just as he said, and no one survived (Genesis 19:23-29).
The outcome of Sodom and Gomorrah stands as a lesson to be learned about God, the Perfect Judge. He is willing to show mercy and spare us from punishment when it’s according to his will. God would have spared the cities but their wickedness led to their own demise. God declared to Moses,
“I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion,” (Romans 9:15. Exodus 33:19, NASB).
God is a merciful Judge but he also demands obedience to his holy standards. His righteousness requires that we abide in him and his Word because that is the way we find true satisfaction just as he told Israel (Deuteronomy 4:39-40; 11:26-28).
We honor God as the Perfect Judge who extends both mercy and justice and rejoice in that fact.
In Part 2 of my next post, I will go further into God’s mercy and justice as our Perfect Judge, how it all relates to his Son, and the Judgment Day to come. Please stay tuned.
Good News to YOU!
Pastor Michael
P.S. Because God is the Perfect Judge, he has provided his Perfect Son, “the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2) through whom we live and serve. Here’s a beautiful song, “What God Makes Perfect Is Faith,” https://youtu.be/-SMA9iE5oUQ