Perfect Government

The LORD reigns forever; He has established His throne for judgment.  He will judge the world in righteousness; He will govern the peoples with justice.

(Psalm 9:7-8)

The justice of God is not to be understood along the lines it is commonly represented.  Those who represent God's justice as if it were in opposition to His mercy -- as in the proverb, "I appeal from justice to mercy" -- are in error.  The Scripture speaks of it very differently.  Justice is to be understood as that faithful protection of God by which He defends and preserves His own people.  And judgment is the rigor which He exercises against the transgressors of His law.

"Judgment and justice."  When these two words are joined together, they express perfect government.

So if we find it strange that God treats us with too great strictness and we do not see the reason why He does it; if we are puzzled why God does not spare us in our weakness, that He does not pity us as we think He ought -- let us not give in to such fantasies or believe their lies, but let us always remember this:  God is just, whatever else He is.

It is true that we shall not understand the reason for everything He does.  But the reason for this is easily traceable to our finite and weak condition.  Must we measure the justice of God by our own feeble senses?  Where would that lead?  And what would be the purpose of it?

So then, let us learn to glorify God in all that He does.  And although His hand may be rough to us, let us never cease to confess, "Alas!  Lord, if I enter into judgment with You, I know very well that my case is lost."

--John Calvin