“And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters, the Lord being merciful to him…” Genesis 19:16
There can only be one true Judge, for there is only One who knows the attitude of one’s heart, the words of one’s mouth, and all that pertains to men in their lives and works. He alone can weigh all things perfectly in the balance, things great and small, words, thoughts, and actions. It is for this reason that much emphasis in the Bible is put upon one’s words, for they are the expression of what is in the heart, unless they be words of deceit and lies. Lastly, God alone can judge because He is the creator and maintainer of all that is righteous. Jesus Christ is that perfect standard and essence of righteousness, the written Law of God being also an expression of it.
When the Lord spoke of Abraham and his children being those who would keep His way, “…to do justice and judgement,” He declared an impossible thing, except it be accomplished by the Holy Spirit of God, by Christ Himself working in the mind and heart, and through the life. Where there is no righteousness, according to the standard of God in Christ, there is no way to be justified, coming to God, having peace with Him. Where there is the categorical rejection of Christ, and God’s righteousness, nor any slight opening of the heart to the light, then there is judgment, that sentence of God upon all unrighteousness. It is at this point that one of two things will occur, God alone being able to choose what is “righteous” and acceptable. God will either judge the rebellious sinner, as in the case of Belshazzar, the son of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, or He will do as He did for Lot, his wife, and daughters, just before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Belshazzar, had heard of how his father, the godless man that he was, had come to be humbled by God, becoming a beast in his mind, and driven into the wilderness, there to live, for seven years. It is only when, by the mercy and grace of God, Nebuchadnezzar repented, his mind being changed, that he recognized and worshipped the true God of heaven, being spared the judgment of God. This was not the case with his son who deliberately chose to desecrate the vessels of the temple, profaning the name of God. He deliberately denied the revealed glory of God, not only in the eyes of his father, but before the whole nation. In spite of God’s mercy being revealed openly and powerfully to his father, Belshazzar deliberately defied God. God’s answer to his public, deliberate defiance, was expressed by a part of an extended hand that wrote on a wall. The interpretation was: “God hath numbered thy kingdom and finished it. Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting. Thy kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and the Persians.” (Daniel 5:26,27,28) That night Belshazzar, the king of the Chaldeans, was killed.
This was not the case with Lot, the nephew of Abraham, who had been exposed to the revelation of God to Abraham for a number of years. Lot and his family had left together with Abraham to go the “land of promise,” by faith, trusting God to lead them. At a certain place and time, there arose between the herdsmen of Lot and of Abraham arguments and strife. Abraham did not want this, and gave Lot the option of choosing which part of the land he wanted to live in. He chose the most fertile land, that of the plain of the Jordan River. He “pitched his tent” towards Sodom. Lot had chosen selfishly, certainly without thinking of the consequences, seeking to make the most of the situation. However, Scripture does call him “righteous,” because of his faith. Choosing to dwell in ungodly, wicked Sodom, would cost Lot his wife, and all gain.
Dear Father, Teach us Thy justice. In Jesus’ name, Amen.