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Commentary on "Worship in the Psalms"
Day 3: Monday, August 8, 2011 - Judgment From His Sanctuary
Overview
Today’s theme comes from Psalm 73 written by Asaph. He is lamenting the oppression of those who are ‘pure in heart’ and the apparent ‘prosperity of the wicked’. In verse 17 he says this concerning the wicked: ‘until I entered God’s sanctuary. Then I understood their destiny.’
One of the other Psalms referenced in the lesson says this about God’s judgment where Asaph quotes the very words of God:
“When I choose a time, I will judge fairly. When the earth and all its inhabitants shake, I am the One who steadies its pillars. I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’ and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn. Do not lift up your horn against heaven or speak arrogantly.’” (Psalms 75:2-5 HCSB)
Observations
When you study carefully through the biblical references provided in today’s lesson you will see one consistent message. It is the wicked who are being judged, declared guilty and condemned. We must search deeper and study elsewhere in scripture before we understand the ‘judgment’ of those who are declared ‘righteous and pure in heart’ by God.
When you receive your wages it is something earned and is the reward for your personal accomplishments. A gift, on the other hand, is something you receive without reference to your merit or the things you have done. See Romans 4:1-8 and study how righteousness was credited to Abraham. As we study the judgments of God you need to separated God’s gift of righteousness and salvation from when sinful humanity receives ‘payment’ for their sins.
Isaiah 51:5 My righteousness is near; My salvation is gone forth, and My arm shall judge the people; the isles shall wait upon me, and on My arm they will trust.
John 5:22 For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,
Revelation 19:11 Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.
The verses just quoted make it clear that God will be judging peoples and nations at the end of this age we are living in. Matthew chapter thirteen consists of several parables concerning his coming kingdom and his judgment at the end of this age. We will be concerned with the parable of the ‘Weeds and the Good Seed’ but remember to study all of the parables in this chapter to gain the full context.
He presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while people were sleeping, his enemy came, sowed weeds among the wheat, and left. When the plants sprouted and produced grain, then the weeds also appeared. The landowner’s slaves came to him and said, ‘Master, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Then where did the weeds come from?’ “‘An enemy did this!’ he told them. “‘So, do you want us to go and gather them up?’ the slaves asked him. “‘No,’ he said. ‘When you gather up the weeds, you might also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At harvest time I’ll tell the reapers: Gather the weeds first and tie them in bundles to burn them, but store the wheat in my barn.’” Then He dismissed the crowds and went into the house. His disciples approached Him and said, “Explain the parable of the weeds in the field to us.” He replied: “The One who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world; and the good seed—these are the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Therefore, just as the weeds are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather from His kingdom everything that causes sin and those guilty of lawlessness. They will throw them into the blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s kingdom. Anyone who has ears should listen! (Matt 13:24-30, 36-43 HCSB)
Good seed was planted in the field. The good crop is what it is because it comes from good seed. Therefore, the good crop was known before the seed was even planted. The weeds come from bad seed and are what they are because of the seed they come from. The farm workers know from the moment the seeds sprout which are weeds and which is the good crop. Each plant grows into maturity, whether good or bad because of the seed it comes from. The separation of the Weeds from the Good Crop is delayed until harvest time so as to not endanger the growth of the Good Crop. The miracle here is that God, in his election and foreknowledge, even though each of us has been born into this world as a Weed we can be transferred into becoming part of his Good Crop. The following passage declares that now, right now today, is the moment to be transferred by a miracle of God from a Weed to becoming part of his Good Crop:
Working together with Him, we also appeal to you, “Don’t receive God’s grace in vain.” For He says: I heard you in an acceptable time, and I helped you in the day of salvation. Look, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation. (2 Cor. 6:1-2 HCSB)
The judgment of the works of the righteous will not result in the loss of their salvation:
Therefore, no condemnation now exists for those in Christ Jesus, because the Spirit’s law of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death (Romans 8:1-2 (HCSB)
If anyone builds on that foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, each one’s work will become obvious, for the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, it will be lost, but he will be saved; yet it will be like an escape through fire. (1 Cor. 3:12-15 HCSB)
Summary
- God knows from the beginning of time who are his elect and who are the wicked that will perish. Psalm 73 instructs us that judgment of the wicked by God is sure and not for the righteous to be concerned with.
- God’s reason for the delay of his judgment of the wicked is for the good welfare of his elect.
- Those who join the kingdom of God are assured that ‘no condemnation now exists’ because they are sealed in Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit.
- The righteous are cautioned that their works will be tested in fire, yet it is not an issue of their salvation being at stake.
- Today’s lesson title, ‘Judgment From His Sanctuary’, misses the point that it is God who judges. The Old Testament sanctuary simply established that a person cannot approach and worship God without first having his/her sins atoned for by a ‘spotless Lamb’.
Copyright 2011 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised August 7, 2011. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
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