2 Types of Damages In God’s Justice

You can look at America’s TV dramas and know that people are fascinated with justice. Or you can read God’s Word and discover what TRUE justice really is.

Both in real life and in Hollywood, we’re reminded that injustice too often robs the innocent of the justice God longs to give His children. Throughout Scripture we read His commands to aid the down-trodden, feed the hungry, care for the needy, use honest scales for business practices. But once our exponential-great-grandparents, Adam & Eve, ate that forbidden fruit, our world was broken and injustice shoved the poor and weak under the rich and mighty.  

If God Were the Plaintiff 

God often uses the imagery of a courtroom in His Word, so let’s imagine our great God as the plaintiff and we as the defendants while He lays out His argument against us: 

“I bring no charges against you concerning your sacrifices or concerning your burnt offerings, which are ever before me. I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.” Psalm 50:8-10 (emphasis added) 

It seems He has no problem with our church attendance, our giving to missions, our singing with the choir or worship team. Check, and double-check. Apparently, lots of folks are doing those same things. Stalls of baby goats (kids) in Sunday school, bulls (bull-headed) herded into pews every Sunday.  

But He doesn’t need any of it. He wants US.

“If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” Psalm 50:11-15 

Our God would ten-times rather have our sincere gratitude, honest hearts, and to be our first call in times of need. One of my pastors said it this way: 

“God didn’t need an animal’s blood to atone for sin. The sacrificial system was set up so mankind would learn that sin required death. So we would know it was smelly, gruesome, loud, and horrific. The blood sacrifice was designed to break their hearts and engage their faith.”

To hold a dying yearling lamb in their arms would surely make them stop. Think. Realize the price of sin.

If God Were the Judge 

In our legal system, there are two types of damages awarded to a plaintiff:  

1. Compensatory – in order to compensate the injured party for loss. 

1. Punitive – in order to punish a wrongdoer.  

The Old Testament proves Yahweh meted out both types of “damages” against Israel when they disobeyed His commands. Though we also see mercy liberally sprinkled throughout the same pages, at some point—after repeated offenses—punishment and damages had to be carried out. In modern terms, Israel had used up every bond, bail, probation, and early release option afforded them by our merciful Judge. 

“For Samaria’s plague is incurable; it has spread to Judah. It has reached the very gate of my people, even to Jerusalem itself.” Micah 1:9 

If that verse were the last verse in God’s Message to us, we should all just fold our hands over our chests and find a coffin! But praise be to the God of second, third, and ba-jillion chances! Almost ALL the prophets foretold a purpose along with the PUNITIVE judgment on God’s people for their sins.  

Yes, their punishment was horrific. Their conquerors, Assyria and Babylon, were the fiercest armies and most inhumane the world had ever seen. But Yahweh allowed them to totally destroy Jerusalem—even burn the Temple—so He could purify it and rebuild. 

Punitive, yes. Final? No. 

As you’ll see in the prayer updates this month, I’ve reached the half-way point in plotting Isaiah’s Legacy, the story of King Manasseh. It’s a difficult book but an important one because it continues Hephzibah’s story (from Isaiah’s Daughter). After her righteous husband’s death, her prodigal son destroys everything his father rebuilt. As I’ve been praying and writing, trying to preserve hope in Zibah’s difficult journey, these words appeared on the page: 

“There have been times in history when our God allows evil to prosper and then proves His power greater. Watch and see how El Shaddai triumphs.” 

(Okay, so I typed the words, but I’m not that smart, so I know it came from the Spirit who lives in me.) Perhaps you’re experiencing a season when it feels like the Lord is allowing evil to prosper. Take heart, dear one. There will come a time when He will show His power greater and dole out both compensatory and punitive damages on all who have not called on His Name. Remember that Jesus Christ has ALREADY triumphed! Watch and wait for Him to make all things new!  

Tweet-A-Licious! 

• Watch TV dramas for fascinating stories of justice or read God’s Word to discover what justice really is. 
• Blood sacrifice was designed to break Israel’s hearts and engage their faith. Now, it’s the Cross. 
• There have been times in history when our God allows evil to prosper and then proves His power greater.

Today’s Question: 

• Was there a time in your life when you felt as if evil was winning but you saw God’s power was greater?