Scripture to Read: Matthew 5:21
Murder is a sin and anyone who murders, as Jesus said, “shall be liable to the court.” God did not want just anyone serving in the court, for He told the Israelites in Deuteronomy 16:18, “You shall appoint for yourself judges and officers in all your towns which the Lord your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment.” Notice that the judges were to judge “with righteous judgment.” God wanted men who had a relationship with Him to be the judges. For no one can judge with righteous judgment apart from God. God used King Jehoshaphat (in 2 Chronicles 19) to appoint judges over Judah. God led Jehoshaphat to tell those judges, in 2 Chronicles 19:6–7, “Consider what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the Lord who is with you when you render judgment. 7 Now then let the fear of the Lord be upon you; be very careful what you do, for the Lord our God will have no part in unrighteousness or partiality or the taking of a bribe.” The judges did not judge for man but for God; therefore, these judges were to walk in the fear of the Lord. These judges were to guard against unrighteousness, partiality, and bribes. The court God had in mind was to be submitted to Him so that judgment, even for murder, would be rendered according to His Law as the final authority. Thankfully, there are still a few judges in this country who are submitted to God, but only a few.
Challenge & Application
· What would our court system look like if every judge was fully submitted to God and judged with righteous judgment?
· How are you praying for those in our judicial system so that they all become submitted to God and His Word?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!