December 15, 2018 -- Psalm 94:2 -- The Judge of the Earth

Rise up, O Judge of the earth;

Render punishment to the proud.

Psalm 94:2 NKJV

The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom,

And before honour is humility.

Proverbs 15:33 NKJV

A few days ago I was listening to a very acerbic Christian radio commentator. He was musing out loud that whenever one sees a person wearing the rainbow flag of the sexually immoral one should say something like:

"Thanks so much for reminding me of the judgment of the LORD.

Yes, He judged the world with the Noahic flood.

Next time He will judge the world with fire."

The title for God here in Psalm 94 is startling. He is the Judge of the earth.Too often we are prepared to judge others. We assume we are fine because we do not compare ourselves to the excellencies of Christ, but we find someone whom we guess to be wallowing in the cesspool of immorality and therefore compared to this person we are "safe".

Not so. Consider this: the Judge of the Earth sees into the heart. The Judge of the earth hears the secret thoughts of every person. So no one is "safe". All of us are exposed to and under the just judgment of God. Therefore the fear of the LORD instructs us. Therefore we confess our sins and repent of them. Humility before God and clinging to Jesus Christ, this is the way of life.

Judge of the earth--You know the thoughts of all people, and yes, the thoughts of my own heart. I confess how often I rebel against You, I confess I am prone to wander. Spirit of God anchor me to Christ--the Savior of the World and her rightful Judge. Instruct me in the way of Jesus. Teach my heart the way of obedience to Jesus Christ so that I will walk in the Light of Life. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You and helpful to others in the way of life. Amen.