Entering Into God’s Presence Knowing God Through His Nature & Character

God is Just (A Moral Attribute of God’s Nature)

• *  Our idea of ‘just’ is based on our behaving according to what is morally right and fair. Justice is the quality of being fair and reasonable. Justice is often personified as a blindfolded woman holding scales and a sword. Hebrew words used are rvym meyshar - evenness, uprightness, straightness, equity and jpvm mishpat - judgment, justice, or ordinance

• *  Justice is an attribute of love. A loving person will be just. Justice requires that the due penalty of a crime be paid. In most circumstances the application of justice runs exactly counter to the application of mercy. Only on the cross of Christ are both justice and mercy perfectly blended for there – and there alone – is sin harmoniously paid for while at the same time the sinner is forgiven. This amazing combination of justice and mercy is celebrated by Paul in this passage: For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. Rom 3:25-26. To be just and at the same time to be able to justify, blends justice and mercy into one as at no other point in history! Truly at the cross, Unfailing love and truth have met together. Righteousness and peace have kissed! Psalm 85:10. Read more - “Justice and Mercy” by David J Hamilton.

• *  God’s justice is evident in what He says about Himself, and in the ways he deals with man and in His laws. “He always deals with every person and every situation based on the righteous standard of His perfect Person and will.” (Wiley,G.E.,125):-

  • -  He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is! Deut.32:4 (Moses’ Song, repeated in Rev. 15:3)

  • -  He corrects Job- Will you discredit my justice and condemn me just to prove you are right? 40:8

  • -  For the word of the Lord holds true, and we can trust everything he does. He loves whatever is

    just and good; Psalm 33:4-5a (Also Psalm 11:7, 99:4)

  • -  Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For

    the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! Isa 30:18 (NIV)

  • -  For I, the Lord, love justice. I hate robbery and wrongdoing. Isa 61:8a

  • -  But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand

    that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things..... Jeremiah 9:24

• *  To understand God’s justice we must understand his impartiality.

  • -  God shows no favoritism (Matthew 22:16; Acts 10:34; Rom 2:11; Gal 2:6; Eph 6:9; Col 3:25;

    1Pe 1:17) and corrects those who do (Mal 2:9). The OT states, “It is wrong to show
    favoritism” (Prov.24:23). Similarly, in the NT we read, I solemnly command you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus and the highest angels to obey these instructions without taking sides or showing favoritism to anyone. 1Tim 5:21.

  • -  God’s total impartiality assures us of his absolute equity. The integrity and fairness of his every decision is beyond reproach. The LORD is just in all his ways, and kind in all his doings (Psa 145:17 NRSV). This means that he will never give anyone less than deserve (although he longs to give everyone better than they deserve). You see the conduct of all people, and you give them what they deserve. Jer.32:19b. No one will ever be able to accuse God of being dealt with unjustly; God’s impartiality will stand forever unchallenged.

  • -  God’s “wrath is His holiness expressed in His absolute hatred for evil and sin.” (Wiley,G.E.,152)

* God cares about justice for the poor and oppressed, wanting his people to fight for justice.
- The Lord gives righteousness and justice to all who are treated unfairly. Psalm 103:6
- But I know the Lord will help those they persecute; he will give justice to the poor. Ps.140:12
- Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against each other. Zechariah 7: 9-10

* God expects his people to decide justly as He does.

• -  You must never twist justice or show partiality. Never accept a bribe, for bribes blind the eyes of

  the wise and corrupt the decisions of the godly. Deut.16:19 (Leviticus 19:15, Is 33:15-17)

• -  ...always use honest weights and measures, so that you may enjoy a long life in the land the

  Lord your God is giving you. Deut. 25:15

• -  Moses established a system of just, impartial government for Israel - Deuteronomy 1:9-18

• -  Proverbs are to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right,

  just, and fair. Prov. 1:3

• -  He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you


  but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?. Micah 6:8 (ESV)

• -  What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are

  careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law—justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things. (Jesus speaking against injustice) Matthew 23:23

  Memory/Meditation:
  Lower Grades: He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is! Deuteronomy 32:4 (NLT)

  Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants. Psalm 89:14 (NLT)

  Middle Grades: Great and marvelous are your works, O Lord God, the Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations. Who will not fear you, Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship before you, for your righteous deeds have been revealed. Rev.15:3-4 (NLT)

  No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 (NLT)

  Upper Grades: But those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who demonstrates unfailing love and who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken! Jeremiah 9:24 (NLT)

  For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair andjust,andhedeclaressinnerstoberightinhissightwhentheybelieveinJesus.Romans3:25-26 (NLT)