“Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad…for He cometh, for He cometh to judge the earth: He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with His truth.” —Psalm 96:11a, 13
From a New Testament perspective this Psalm might be called a song of the second coming. Surely it looks down the corridor of time in anticipation of what we now know will take place when the Savior returns. In today’s turbulent and decadent world many believers are anticipating His coming and thinking it soon. I hope they are right.
While the prospect of the Lord’s return is certainly an event believers should long for—and pray for (see Rev. 22:20)—, it is also a concept that bears solemn consideration. Our text indicates that for the believer it will be an occasion of joy in heaven and gladness on earth, but that is not the whole story. It also indicates that He is coming to judge the earth. At His return this reckless world is to be put on trial.
Sinners will be judged for their wickedness, and made vividly conscious of their alienation and rebellion against a Holy God. Nowhere is the awful implication of this more vividly described than at the opening of the sixth seal in the book of Revelation:
In that awesome day there will be ‘no place to hide’ for those who have spurned the love and holiness of God made evident when the Son of God “became sin for us” on the cross.
The “heirs of promise” can, of course, take immense comfort in having “fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us” in Christ and His salvation from sin (Cf. Heb. 6:17-20). But as Christians comfortable in our faith, we too often forget that His return anticipates a judgment for us as well:
Were we more mindful of this solemn promise, we might be less eager for His coming. Though our sins and their eternal due was fully addressed at Calvary, we are still going to be held accountable for “the things done in [the] body,” whether “good or bad (worthless).” And it behooves us to consider the standard by which that judgment will be made: “He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with His Truth.” (Cf. Acts 17:31) His word is Truth. The standard by which our conduct as “in the faith” will be judged is simply the word of God. Thoughts, words and deeds will be measured according to this inflexible rule. How wisely did the apostle John warn, “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him [I John 2:28-29].”
Just as the unconverted will have no place to hide from His wrath, so will the Christian have no place to hide from the embarrassment and shame of ‘worthless’ living as believers. As the “day of His appearing” approaches, we need to confess our sins in earnest and cultivate a new zeal for holy living in obedience to His revealed will. “Behold He cometh;” tomorrow may be too late!
For His glory and our good,
"Pastor" Frasier
From a New Testament perspective this Psalm might be called a song of the second coming. Surely it looks down the corridor of time in anticipation of what we now know will take place when the Savior returns. In today’s turbulent and decadent world many believers are anticipating His coming and thinking it soon. I hope they are right.
While the prospect of the Lord’s return is certainly an event believers should long for—and pray for (see Rev. 22:20)—, it is also a concept that bears solemn consideration. Our text indicates that for the believer it will be an occasion of joy in heaven and gladness on earth, but that is not the whole story. It also indicates that He is coming to judge the earth. At His return this reckless world is to be put on trial.
Sinners will be judged for their wickedness, and made vividly conscious of their alienation and rebellion against a Holy God. Nowhere is the awful implication of this more vividly described than at the opening of the sixth seal in the book of Revelation:
“And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? [Rev. 6:12-17].”
In that awesome day there will be ‘no place to hide’ for those who have spurned the love and holiness of God made evident when the Son of God “became sin for us” on the cross.
The “heirs of promise” can, of course, take immense comfort in having “fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us” in Christ and His salvation from sin (Cf. Heb. 6:17-20). But as Christians comfortable in our faith, we too often forget that His return anticipates a judgment for us as well:
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences [II Cor. 5:10-11].”
and,
“For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God [Rom. 14:9-12].”
Were we more mindful of this solemn promise, we might be less eager for His coming. Though our sins and their eternal due was fully addressed at Calvary, we are still going to be held accountable for “the things done in [the] body,” whether “good or bad (worthless).” And it behooves us to consider the standard by which that judgment will be made: “He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with His Truth.” (Cf. Acts 17:31) His word is Truth. The standard by which our conduct as “in the faith” will be judged is simply the word of God. Thoughts, words and deeds will be measured according to this inflexible rule. How wisely did the apostle John warn, “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him [I John 2:28-29].”
Just as the unconverted will have no place to hide from His wrath, so will the Christian have no place to hide from the embarrassment and shame of ‘worthless’ living as believers. As the “day of His appearing” approaches, we need to confess our sins in earnest and cultivate a new zeal for holy living in obedience to His revealed will. “Behold He cometh;” tomorrow may be too late!
For His glory and our good,
"Pastor" Frasier
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