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God is the Judge
(Rewards)
Text: Romans 12:19-21
Paul quotes from Proverbs 25:21-22
Leviticus 19:18
- This was a written law in Israel. It is a godly doctrine that never changes.
- Moses said this, David lived this out b/c of his faith in the God of Israel, Solomon reiterated this, the LORD Jesus Christ preached this doctrine, Paul preached it, and the author of Hebrews reiterated it as a Christian doctrine. So the scriptures are a unified voice – a unified spirit, the Spirit of God.
Illustrated by David’s life in 1 Samuel 24
- Hatred can feel so appropriate (1 Samuel 24:1-8)
- Saul’s 3,000 compared to David’s 600 in a cave.
- There is not a single one of you here in David’s position with this level of threat. But you believe your hatred for that girl, that guy, that man, that woman, that family, is justified.
- There is a way that seemeth right unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
- The spiritual crowd agrees with my hatred and my self-defense (vs 4)
- Here’s your opportunity David. Everything has fallen into place.
- These men even quote scripture to make the point. They say, The LORD said… Small problem. The LORD never said that.
- David is momentarily persuaded. He is going to strike fear into Saul.
- Hatred can seem so right! The threats say it’s right, the circumstances say it’s right, the spiritual crowd says it’s right. It must be right. The temptation to forget God and deal with things in your own desperation is so real.
- A heart right with God (vss 5-8)
- David’s conscience is informed by his faith in the LORD (vs 5)
- Things don’t sit right with David. As he holds the piece of Saul’s clothes in his hand, that token of hatred bothers him
- David has to instruct his men in faith (vss 6-7)
- David’s faith brings him to humility and trust in the LORD (vs 8)
- David won a battle that day, but not against Saul, but against evil.
- David’s faith (vss 9-15)
- Faith pleases God (vss 16-22)
- There are some people you hate. And you are so justified in your hatred of them. Even God is against them. But you know what your hatred really is? It’s a testimony to your faithless life. It is evidence that you don’t believe God is the judge.
- But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that God is, and that God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Let these scriptures be direct. Faith is believing the LORD is the rewarder. Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?
Matthew 5:44-48
- Jesus says living by this doctrine makes you different from the world and makes you godly. If you won’t do this Jesus would say God may not be your Father. You aren’t children of God; you’re worldly.
- Jesus told some Pharisees who were of the synagogue of Satan that their father is the devil because they did the works of their father. Jesus Christ applies the same logic to the children of God. You do the works of your Father.
Hebrews 10:30
- Part of faith is believing God is the Judge.
- Do you believe that? No, you don’t. Not if you have to get back or retaliate or hold a grudge against someone you believe did you wrong.
- The fact is you’re free to do good because God is the Judge. You don’t have to be the judge, as much as you may want to be.
