The Just God

Injustice is everywhere; just look outside. It’s hard not to see injustice.
Why does God allow it? Humans have been wondering this for a long time.
Psalm 73 was written by Asaph and records his struggles as he considers the
wicked and those with callous hearts and evil imaginations. He sees how
they are prosperous, healthy, and don’t have basic human burdens. Why would
God allow this? Where is He? The wicked prosper while the innocent are
trampled. Asaph wonders if he labored in vain to keep his heart pure.

But, in trying to understand all this, Asaph enters the sanctuary of God.
“Then I understood their final destiny,” he says in verse 17. Asaph
realizes that, though the wicked may seem safe and untouched, they will be
judged. God comes as an avenger, and in the end, He will repay them for
their deeds.

We can learn a lot from Asaph. We see all the injustice in the world and
can’t help but wonder why God would allow it to happen. But when we
understand the final destiny of evil, it’s easier to
comprehend. God will one day destroy all evil. He is the Just God. It would
be against His character to ignore injustice. That’s why He sent Jesus to
become human, die on the cross, and be raised from the dead. Through His
work, He has defeated death and sin and evil, and one day He will return to
destroy all injustice—permanently—and restore His creation.

We have all participated in evil and injustice. Everyone has been infected
by the curse of sin. But the amazingly good news is that God provided a way
for justice to prevail and for mercy to be given. He sent His Son, Jesus,
to pay the price for you so that if you believe in Him, you will be
forgiven and restored. While evil may shudder at the thought of judgment,
if we are in Christ, we can rest satisfied that God the Just will follow
through, and His justice will prevail. • Emma Pamer

• Has something unjust ever happened to you, and if so, how did you feel?
Jesus has compassion on us, and He invites us to tell Him about all these
hard things, knowing that He also suffered injustice on earth, and He came
to set things right. In addition to talking to Jesus, who are safe
people—such as parents, counselors, teachers, friends, or youth leaders—you
can talk to about these experiences?

• How can we find hope in the fact that (1) God is the avenger of evil and
He will not let evil win, and (2) God is also merciful and forgives sinners
through Jesus Christ?

And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for he is a God of justice.
Psalm 50:6 (NIV)

Read Verses:

Ps.73|Rom.16.20|Ps.50.6