9210 judgment, God’s

God judges the world by identifying and condemning sin and by vindicating and rewarding the righteous. God exercises temporal judgment on the world and on his people; final judgment will take place when Jesus Christ returns.

The nature of God’s judgment

Its certainty Ecc 12:14 See also Ps 7:11; Ecc 3:17; Ecc 11:9; Jas 5:9

Its righteousness Ge 18:25 See also Ps 9:7-8; Ps 50:6; Ps 96:13 pp 1Ch 16:33

Its impartiality 2Ch 19:7 See also Dt 10:17; Job 34:19; Ps 98:9; Ro 2:11; Eph 6:9

The purpose of God’s judgment

To display his glory Isa 5:16 See also Ex 14:4; Isa 59:18-19; Eze 7:27; Eze 38:23; Rev 14:7

To vindicate the righteous 1Sa 24:12-15 See also Ps 7:8-9; Isa 34:8; Jer 11:20; Jer 51:9-10; Rev 16:5-7

To defend the weak Ps 140:12 See also Ps 82:1-4; Isa 11:4; Eze 34:16-22

To bring salvation to his people Isa 30:18 See also Ex 6:6; Dt 32:36; Ps 76:8-9; Ps 105:5-7 pp 1Ch 16:12-14; Isa 33:22

To punish sin Ro 2:12 See also Ps 1:4-6; Jn 12:48; Ro 5:16; Heb 10:26-30; Heb 13:4

To turn people to God Isa 19:22 Temporal judgments may turn people to God and so save them from eternal judgment. See also 1Ki 8:33 pp 2Ch 6:24; 2Ch 7:13-14; Da 4:33-34; Hos 2:5-7; 1Co 11:29-32

God’s judgment may be delayed

Job 24:1-4; 2Pe 3:9 See also Ps 74:10-11; Ps 94:2-3; Hab 1:2-4,13; Ac 17:30; Ro 3:25; Rev 6:10

Examples of God’s judgment

Judgment on ungodly individuals Ac 12:23 See also 2Ch 21:18-19 Jehoram; Da 5:26-28 Belshazzar; Rev 2:22 Jezebel, the false prophetess

Judgment following particular sins Ge 4:10-14 Cain’s murder of Abel; Nu 20:12 Moses’and Aaron’s disobedience; Lev 10:1-2 Nadab’s and Abihu’s disobedience; 1Sa 25:38-39 Nabal’s contemptuous treatment of David; 2Sa 6:6-8 Uzzah’s handling of the ark; 2Ki 2:23-24 youths jeering at Elisha; 2Ki 5:27 Gehazi’s greed; 2Ch 26:19-20 Uzziah’s pride and unfaithfulness; Ac 5:1-10 Ananias’and Sapphira’s lies

Judgment on peoples and nations Joel 3:12-13 See also Ge 6:17; Ge 19:24-25 Egypt: Ex 7:4-5; Nu 33:4
1Sa 2:10; 1Sa 5:6 Assyria: Isa 10:12; Isa 37:36 pp 2Ki 19:35
Isa 34:5 Babylon: Jer 25:12; Jer 51:56
Jer 25:31-33

God’s judgment on his enemies Dt 32:41-43 See also Ps 45:3-6; Isa 1:24; Eze 38:21-22; Jn 12:31; Rev 20:7-10

God’s judgment on Israel

God’s warning of judgment Dt 28:15-24; Jer 1:16 See also Lev 26:15-20,33; Jer 11:7-8

Plagues Nu 16:46-47; Nu 21:5-9; 2Sa 24:15 pp 1Ch 21:14

Drought and famine 1Ki 17:1; Hag 1:10-11

Defeat by enemies Jos 7:1-7; Jdg 2:11-16 The cycle of sin, defeat and deliverance is repeated several times in Judges; 2Ch 28:4-5

Exile 2Ki 17:23; Jer 11:17; La 1:5; Eze 39:23-24

God’s final judgment on the whole earth

Ac 17:31 See also Da 12:2; Mt 25:31-32; Jn 12:48; Ro 2:16; Ro 14:10; 1Co 4:5; 2Ti 4:1; 1Pe 4:5; Rev 20:11-15

See also