How should understanding God's justice influence our response to wrongdoing? The Verse in Focus Psalm 28:4: “Repay them according to their deeds and for their evil works; repay them for what their hands have done; bring back on them what they deserve.” What God’s Justice Looks Like •Justice is personal. The psalmist appeals directly to God, not to human courts alone. •Justice is exact. God “repay[s] … according to their deeds,” never overlooking or exaggerating sin (cf. Deuteronomy 32:4). •Justice is certain, though sometimes delayed. Wrongdoers “will not escape” (Proverbs 11:21). The believer rests in God’s timetable (2 Peter 3:9). Why We Don’t Take Revenge •God has reserved vengeance for Himself. “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord” (Romans 12:19; cf. Deuteronomy 32:35). •Christ modeled patient trust. “When He suffered, He did not threaten, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly” (1 Peter 2:23). •Human anger is unreliable. “Man’s anger does not bring about the righteousness that God desires” (James 1:20). Healthy Responses to Wrongdoing 1.Acknowledge the wrong without minimizing it. Psalm 28:4 encourages honest naming of evil. 2.Pray for God’s righteous intervention. Calling on Him honors His role as Judge (Psalm 7:8‐11). 3.Seek lawful remedies where appropriate (Romans 13:1-4), yet gladly accept any limits God sets. 4.Reject personal retaliation. “Do not say, ‘I will repay evil’; wait for the Lord, and He will save you” (Proverbs 20:22). 5.Overcome evil with good (Romans 12:20-21; Matthew 5:44). Extending forgiveness does not deny justice; it hands the gavel back to God. Living in the Hope of Final Accounting •Every injustice will meet a perfect response—either at the cross for those who repent or at the final judgment for those who refuse (Revelation 20:11-15). •Believers therefore can act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly (Micah 6:8) without anxiety over “getting even.” •Trusting God’s justice frees us to pursue peace, knowing He will “bring back on them what they deserve” and reward steadfast faithfulness (Hebrews 10:35-37). |
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