The justice of God ~~~~ the God of the bible, not the god of most churches today.

Posted : 5 Jul, 2013 07:22 AM

Psalm 119:120 My flesh trembles for fear of You; and I am afraid of Your judgments.





The justice of God is a tremendously awful subject of

contemplation, even to those who are safely shielded from its

terrors. The believer, in the act of witnessing its righteous

stroke upon the wicked of the earth, cannot forbear to cry out My flesh trembles for fear of You. Thus did the holy men of old

tremble, even with a frame approaching horror, in the

presence of the Divine judgments. David trembled at the

stroke of Uzzah, as if it came very near to himself.

"Destruction from God"-says holy Job-"was a terror to me: and

by reason of His highness I could not endure." Such also was

the Prophet's strong sensation-"When I heard, my belly

trembled; my lips quivered at Your voice: rottenness entered

into my bones." And thus, when God comes to tread down

and put away His enemies for the display of the holiness of

His character, and to excite the love of His people-those that

stand by, secure under the covert of their hiding-place-cannot

but "take up their parable and say-Alas! who shall live, when

God does this!" The children of God reverence their Father's

anger. They cannot see it without an awful fear; and this

trembling at His judgments upon the ungodly covers them

from the heavy stroke. Those that refuse to tremble shall be

made to feel, while those that are afraid of His judgments shall

be secure. "Only with Your eyes shall you behold, and see the

reward of the wicked." "I trembled in myself," said the prophet,

"that I might rest in the day of trouble." Even the

manifestations of His coming "for the salvation of His people"

are attended with all the marks of the most fearful terror-as if

His voice would shake the earth to its very foundation-"You

caused judgment to be heard from heaven-the earth feared

and was still: when God arose to judgment, to save all the

meek of the earth." To mark this trembling as the character of the child of God, we

need only contrast it with the ungodly scoffing, "Where is the

God of judgment? Where is the promise of His coming? The

Lord will not do good, neither will He do evil." Thus do men

dare to "run upon the thick bosses of His bucklers;" instead of

trembling for fear of Him! This "stoutness against the Lord,"

excites the astonishment of the hosts of heaven; so

discordant is it to their notes of humble praise-"Who shall not

do not fear, O Lord, and glorify Your name; for Your

judgments are made manifest!" Such is the special

acceptance of this trembling spirit, that some shadow of it

obtained a respite even for wicked Ahab, and a pardon for the

penitent Ninevites; while its genuine "tenderness of heart"

screened Josiah from the doom of his people, and will ever be

regarded with the tokens of the favor of this terrible God. "To

this man," says he, "will I look, even to him that is poor, and of

a contrite spirit, and that

trembles at My word."

Believers in Christ! rejoice in your deliverance from that "fear

which has torment." Yet cherish that holy reverential fear of

the character and judgments of God, which will form your

most effectual safeguard "from presumptuous sins." The very

supposition, that, if God had not engaged Himself to you by

an unchangeable covenant, His fearful judgments would have

been your eternal portion, is of itself sufficient to mingle the

wholesome ingredient of fear with the most established

assurance. What! can you look down into the burning

bottomless gulf beneath your feet, without the recollection-If I

were not immovably fastened to the "Rock of Ages" by the

strong chain of everlasting love, this must have been my

abode through the countless ages of eternity. If I had not been

thus upheld by the grace, as well as by the providence, of

God, I might have dropped out of His hand, as one and

another not more rebellious than I have fallen, into this intolerable perdition! O God! my flesh trembles for fear of You;

and I am afraid of Your judgments.

Thus the dread of the judgments of God is not necessarily of a

slavish and tormenting character. "His saints" are called to

"fear Him;" and their fear, so far from "rendering unto

bondage," is consistent with the strongest assurance; no,

even is its fruit and effect. It is at once the principle of present

obedience, and of final perseverance. It is the confession of

weakness, unworthiness, and sinfulness, laying us low before

our God. It is our most valuable discipline. It is the "bit and

bridle" that curbs the frowardness of the flesh, and enables us

to "serve God acceptably," in the remembrance, that, though

in love He is a reconciled Father, yet in holiness He is "a

consuming fire."

Now, if we are under the influence of this reverential awe and

seriousness of spirit, we shall learn to attach a supreme

authority and consideration to the least of His commands. We

shall dread the thought of willfully offending Him. The fear of

grieving Him will be far more operative now, than was the fear

of hell in our unconverted state. Those who presume upon

their gospel liberty, will not, probably, understand this

language. But the humble believer well knows how intimately

"the fear of the Lord" is connected with "the comfort of the

Holy Spirit," and with his own steady progress in holiness, and

preparation for heaven.



by

Charles Bridges

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