We praise you, God,
we praise you, for your Name is near;
people tell of your wonderful deeds.
You say, “I choose the appointed time;
it is I who judge with equity.
When the earth and all its people quake,
it is I who hold its pillars firm.
To the arrogant I say, ‘Boast no more,’
and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horns.
Do not lift your horns against heaven;
do not speak so defiantly. ’”
No one from the east or the west
or from the desert can exalt themselves.
It is God who judges:
He brings one down, he exalts another.
In the hand of the LORD is a cup
full of foaming wine mixed with spices;
he pours it out, and all the wicked of the earth
drink it down to its very dregs.
As for me, I will declare this forever;
I will sing praise to the God of Jacob,
who says, “I will cut off the horns of all the wicked,
but the horns of the righteous will be lifted up.”

Divine judgment is a recurring theme in Scripture. God is love, but he is also just, and his righteous judgment is shown as a way to bring justice, punish the wicked, and vindicate the righteous. The concept of divine judgment can be both comforting and challenging. On the one hand, it assures us that God will ultimately make things right and hold the wicked accountable for their actions. It offers hope to the oppressed and those who have suffered injustice, knowing that God sees and will act on their behalf. On the other hand, it should also serve as a sober reminder that our own actions and choices have consequences and will be subject to God's judgment.

In the New Testament, we find Jesus speaking about judgment in various instances. His warnings are dire, and we ignore them at our own peril. On one occasion, he said, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" (Matthew 7:21-23). His parable of the Sheep and the Goats is equally chilling.

As we reflect on divine judgment, let us be mindful of the grace and mercy offered through Jesus Christ. While God's judgment is real and just, Jesus came to offer redemption and salvation. Through his sacrificial death and resurrection, he provides a way for us to be reconciled with God and escape the ultimate judgment that awaits the unrepentant. Let us avail of this great gift while we can because when Jesus returns, he will come to judge. And woe to those who do not know that God holds the scales of justice and determines the fate of nations and individuals.

It's been a long time since I played a song here. This is a song I wrote about the second coming, as described in the Book of Revelation. I wrote it for the same reason the psalmist wrote this psalm: to encourage us to turn back to God while we still can.

God bless you.

The Rider on a White Horse (Lyrics)

1.
The prophet, he saw the heavens open
And a rider, he set forth
His eyes were filled with flames of fire
And a sword came out his throat
With it he’d strike down nations
And rule them with a rod
His name is called the Word of God
And he is the Lord of Lords

Refrain (twice)
He’ll be riding a white horse
When he comes back again
And the fire in his eyes should warn you
That he's coming to judge men

2.
Two thousand years ago and some
God came down from his throne
He came to forgive our trespasses
And to make us be reborn
He told us before he went away
That he'd be coming back again
But this time to expect no mercy
Cause he'd be coming to judge men

Bridge
Oh, we're running out of time
The end of days is at hand
Cause all the signs that Jesus foretold
Are happenin' across the lands
Now is the time to make our peace
With God and fellow man
And be prepared for his return
And the fulfilment of all plans

© Aneel Aranha