JUDGMENT SHALL RETURN UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS

The first part of this psalm, vv. 1-13, is taken up with the miscarriage of justice by the wicked. This made the psalmist cry to the Judge of the earth to whom vengeance belongs, “how long shall the wicked triumph?”. God’s apparent silence and inactivity in this respect have been a mystery to the godly of all times. This mystery of God will come to an end, Rev. 10. 7. He will intervene in human affairs. The same theme is present in the second part, but the psalmist is now confident that “judgment shall return unto righteousness”, v. 15, and that “the throne of iniquity” can never be approved by God, v. 20.

The man who is chastened (instructed) by Jehovah is a happy man. In the midst of adversity, he is given peace in the knowledge that all misrule will eventually be dealt with. In the meanwhile, God will not forsake His earthly inheritance, i.e. Israel. We are His heavenly inheritance, that of the saints in light, Eph. 1. 18; Col. 1. 12.

Authorities, set up by God, Rom. 13. 1, often abuse their power and afflict the righteous. The psalmist appears to have been afflicted almost to the silence of the grave, but the Lord was his help, comfort and delight, vv. 16-19. He was also his defence and refuge, v. 22.

Paul was called to stand before Nero; no man stood with him, but he wrote, “Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me …and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion”. This gave him confidence, for he adds, “And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work”, 2 Tim. 4. 17, 18.

Worldly powers pass sentence, but often without righteousness. Pilate passed judgment on the Lord, even though He was faultless—an outstanding miscarriage of justice.

We live in a world of anarchy, repression and corruption. With the psalmist, we look to the future with certainty, to the time when the Lord will sit upon the throne of David in righteousness, Isa. 11. 5; 32. 1; Prov. 16. 12. Meanwhile, we have a responsibility to pray for, and to be subject to ruling authorities, 1 Tim. 2. 1, 2; 1 Pet. 2. 13, 14.

“Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom”, Heb. 1. 8.