Judgement Produces Righteousness

“My soul yearns for you in the night; my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. For when your judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness” (Isaiah 26:9).

Isaiah wrote about Gods perfect peace and proclaimed a song to be sung in Judah. Judah was strong and surrounded by walls of salvation. “Open the gates, that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in” (Isaiah 26:2). Those who place their trust in God, remain in perfect peace. God is our everlasting rock who has humbled the proud and brings down the arrogant. They are trampled by the poor and needy, but the path of the righteous is level. “In the path of your judgments, O Lord, we wait for you; your name and remembrance are the desire of our soul” (Isaiah 26:8). The song continued to express an earnest desire for God.

Isaiah said that when God’s judgements are in the land, the inhabitants learn righteousness. If favour is shown to the wicked, he does not learn righteousness. The wicked deals corruptly even in the land of righteousness and does not show regard for the things of God. “O Lord, your hand is lifted up, but they do not see it. Let them see your zeal for your people, and be ashamed. Let the fire for your adversaries consume them” (Isaiah 26:11). God’s reward for his people is peace and he causes us to advance. There are other gods and systems that have ruled over the earth. Other gods are dead as God will destroy them and wipe away their memory.

God has increased his people and enlarged their territories. They cried out to him in their distress through silent prayers, when they were being chastened. “Like a pregnant woman who writhes and cries out in her pangs when she is near to giving birth, so were we because of you, O Lord” (Isaiah 26:17). Their pregnancy did not bring forth a seed and there was no deliverance. The dead shall live again and those who are downtrodden will sing for joy. God’s people are warned to hide until his fury has passed. “For behold, the Lord is coming out from his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity, and the earth will disclose the blood shed on it, and will no more cover its slain” (Isaiah 26:21).

In this song, Isaiah spoke of God’s love for his people and his gift of peace. He also spoke about judgment for the inhabitants of the earth, in order to teach righteousness. Judgment is punishment for sin and we know that the Lord chastises the one that he loves (Hebrews 12:6). In the same way that children need discipline to learn good morals and values, people need judgment to learn the righteousness of God. No one loves discipline, but it produces fruits of righteousness. “For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God” (1 Peter 4:17)?

A.P.-Y.

12 thoughts on “Judgement Produces Righteousness

  1. Judgement brings about righteousness – when I did a study on Jeremiah, and repeatedly reading of God talking about Judgement for the peoples disobedience, and reading this verse in Isaiah we realise sometimes that is the only way to make people turn to God.
    A good word Anneta.

    Liked by 1 person

  2. Righteousness is God’s character, and his desire for believers to seek after. The unjust have their own ideas of what they think is right while they impose their ideals on the rest of the world. But God will set all things right once and for all eternity when he returns to judge the earth. God bless you

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Wonderful and I find this truth very profound…God’s reward for his people is peace and he causes us to advance.

    I have seen that it’s difficult to build in war and turmoil.
    God’s peace promotes growth and development.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Hahaha , occasionally the battle must be of the Lord and we come into His rest.

        Great captains are raised in stormy seas though.
        Some of you movers, shakers and influencers you thrive and grow in troubled 🌊 waters

        Liked by 1 person

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