Psalm 51:4b
so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge.
We all want justice. We have an inner instinct that longs
for right judgements and hates unfair decisions. We see it clearly in children, even from a very early age, railing against any perceived injustice: "it's not fair!" Yet we don't have a corresponding ability to judge rightly. We're very quick to judge others, even without knowing the facts. And even quicker to try to justify ourselves: 'It
wasn't me', 'I didn't mean to', 'I know I shouldn't have, but if you'd heard what she said to me ....'
We love the idea of justice but we're unable to be just. We
don't have all the information, and our inner jury is heavily rigged in our own favour.
Not only that, but we look around us and see so many
examples of injustice in the wider world. Is there any real hope of justice and right judgements?
Praise God that he is the perfect judge. His verdict is
always right. Under his rule, every judgement is completely fair. We may not see that worked out in the world around us yet, but one day it will be. There
will be a day of judgment when every wrong ever committed will be fairly dealt with. We know that we also deserve to face that judgement, and later in this
psalm we'll be reminded of why we don't need to be afraid of that. But we should still rejoice that God's
justice is perfect and his character is righteous. Imagine if it wasn't. Imagine if the world was under the control of a powerful but unjust God. Imagine if the only justice to be had came from someone as biased and selfish
as we are. That would be terrifying!
Let's praise God today that he is, and always will be, right
in his verdicts and justified in his judgements.
