Many people like to watch courtroom dramas on TV. I know that I occasionally watch some. There are many to choose from. There is Court TV, which broadcasts actual, real-life significant or prominent court cases. Then there are the fictional legal dramas, such as Perry Mason, Matlock, The Practice, and Boston Legal to name just a few. Whether actual or fictionalized court cases, they all have some things in common. There are courtroom scenes, a judge, a defendant, and often a jury. Our Scripture passage today from the Book of Psalms, also depicts something similar to a courtroom scene. Let’s look at this psalm together.
As we enter the courtroom setting, we see that naturally, God is the judge (vs 1-6). There are two defendants in the psalm. The first are God’s people (vs. 4-15). The second are the wicked, or unsaved people (vs. 16-22). And the witnesses that God calls are both heaven and earth (vs. 4). What are the charges that are brought against the defendants? The charges brought against God’s people are about bringing sacrifices with no thanksgiving or faithfulness, that they are just going through religious rituals, but having no heart towards God. The charges against the wicked are that they have never turned to the Lord or obeyed Him and His Word, and have led wicked lives. Both groups are unfaithful in their own ways, and God calls all of nature, both heaven and earth, to witness towards these charges.
In our courtrooms, when the judge enters, everyone rises. That is to show respect to the judge and his position. Our psalm begins in a similar way by extolling the holiness, virtues, and grandeur of the Lord God (vs. 1-3). Both defendants are before the Lord. As we read in verse 5, God’s judgment begins with His own people (I Peter 4:17).
The charges that the Lord God brings against His own people are for treating Him lightly. They are superficially religious, as they only go through the motions. God didn’t condemn them for not bringing sacrifices. Rather, it is their attitude when bringing the sacrifices that was offensive to Him. The people were offering sacrifices, but they had forgotten the significance, and what these sacrifices were to mean (vs. 7-15). Their hearts were not in it when they came to make the offering. God does not like mere ritual, where the people do not honor Him with true praise and thanksgiving. It is an abomination to Him.
God does not need anything, as He created everything on the earth (vs. 9-11). God has no needs that have to be filled by mankind. He certainly didn’t need to be fed by the sacrifices that were brought to the Temple. It is because God loves us that He invites us to serve Him. Are our religious activities mere habit and ritual, rather than being done out of heartfelt love for God, and obedience? The “sacrifice” that always pleases God is thanksgiving (vs. 14, 23). This is what the righteous Judge instructs this defendant.
The next defendant that is brought before the Bench is the wicked (vs. 16-22). The Divine Judge charges the wicked for their evil words and immoral lives. They need to repent of their sins and deeds, follow and obey His Word, the Bible. They need to turn to God, and accept His Son, Jesus Christ, as their Savior. They have an opportunity to repent before His destruction comes. God will, indeed, show His mercy if they do. His long-suffering grace must not be looked upon as laxity, though (vs. 21). God’s day of reckoning will one day come forth.
When Jesus returns, He will arrive with mighty angels and flaming fire (vs. 3). He will deal out retribution to those who refused to call upon Him or obey Him (II Thessalonians 1:7-8). At Jesus’s first coming, He came as a meek and gentle Savior. This time Jesus will come as a reigning King to judge the nations. Now is the time to call upon Him for mercy and salvation. It is available to you today! When you stand before the Divine Judge, it will be too late.
No comments:
Post a Comment