The Judge

Judges have enormous power. The Hoover Institution in the United States of America explains that under the modern doctrine of judicial review, the federal judiciary can invalidate any state or federal law or policy it considers inconsistent with the U.S. Constitution.  This is important to understand because judges can overrule presidents and prime ministers. Lloyd Law College in India outlines the role of judges in an article titled, “Powers and Functions of Indian Judiciary”.

By serving as a guardian of the constitution, enforcing the rule of law, and offering a mechanism for judicial review to check the power of the legislative and executive branches, the judiciary's main duties include resolving disputes between people, interpreting and applying the law, and ensuring the protection of individual rights. Its significance lies in preserving social order, defending fundamental rights, and guaranteeing fair and impartial justice for all citizens.

Please stay with me. I am not about to proffer a dissertation on the power of judges. However, I would like to set a framework for us to understand God as Judge. When we start comprehending how judges in our time work, then we can get an idea of the enormity of the power of God. And, He doesn’t only enforce the law, but He gives it.

When the LORD finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the covenant law, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God. Exodus 31:18 NIV

That is power. When the Isarelites did not obey God’s law, He would punish them. And, God is a righteous judge who keeps His word. He had warned the Israelites that if they did not heed His commands, then they would face the consequences. And they did. It is also clear that God did not only judge them from earth, but also from a heavenly realm. There is no human judge like Him.

He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people: “Gather My saints together to Me, those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.” Let the heavens declare His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge. Psalm 50:4-6

God did a lot of judging under the old covenant. Sometimes His judgement was quick, as in the case of Lot’s wife turning to a pillar of salt when she looked back at the life she was leaving behind, when she was commanded not to. Or when Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, offered “profane fire” before the Lord, so fire came from Him and burned them up and killed them. Then there are times when God’s judgment seemed long and painful, such as when He sent several prophets to warn the Israelites against disobeying Him, but they didn’t heed His warnings, so they ended up in captivity for years. He had shown them mercy for a long time, but because they took this for granted and did all the evil that He instructed them not to do, they were exiled for decades.

The Lord shall judge the peoples; Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, And according to my integrity within me. Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just; For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds. My defense is of God, who saves the upright in heart. God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day. Psalm 7:8-11

God was a just judge under the old covenant. He exhibited great mercy, but in due time He would hand down punishment. Interestingly, in the New Testament, where Jesus brings in a new covenant, there seems to be a shift. Instead of God the Father being the judge, Jesus seems to state the opposite.

For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him… I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me. John 5:22-23, 30

God gave us Jesus, who is not only the fulfillment of the law, but He has also given Him the right to judge the world. And Jesus, the Son, will judge only as the Father would. Jesus said also in John 5 that God gave Him the authority to judge because He is the Son of Man. Who best to judge than the God who walked as a man and understands our temptations and tests? Jesus also stated that whoever hears His word and believes in the One who sent Him has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Now get this, Jesus is also our advocate. GotQuestions.org explains this more.

Jesus is our Advocate when God first accepts us into His family as His children (John 1:12). And He remains our Advocate forever. First John 1:9 says that, when we confess our sin, He is faithful and just to forgive our sin and to cleanse us from it. As His followers, we will still sin. But, when we do, we are commanded to confess that sin to God. Confession is an agreement with God about how bad sin is. We stand guilty before Him with no argument and no justification of our own. Our Advocate steps before the Judge, and together they agree that, because we are “in Christ,” no further punishment is necessary. Jesus has already made sufficient payment to redeem us.

Praise the Lord! This is so exciting. Jesus pleads our case before the Father if we have accepted Him as Lord and Savior. So the Father has not completely relinquished His judgeship. However, at the end, we will all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, and He will judge us for what we have done (2 Corinthians 5:10). He will also sit on His throne and separate the sheep from the goats. The sheep who have done righteously will have eternal life, but the goats who acted wickedly will have eternal punishment (Matthew 25:31-46).