Sunday, March 23, 2008

The system wouldn't work very well without Judges:

I had a friend talking to me say “If that’s the case, they are ‘judging’ you!” My response was “It’s my belief that the system wouldn’t work very well without judges!” Needless to say, he was nonplussed in this day and age when judging is forbidden. However, I had to allude to the patriarch David who said Ps 141: [5] Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.
[6] When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.

We see a picture of Job 9: [13] If God will not withdraw his anger, the proud helpers do stoop under him.
[14] How much less shall I answer him, and choose out my words to reason with him?
[15] Whom, though I were righteous, yet would I not answer, but I would make supplication to my judge.
[16] If I had called, and he had answered me; yet would I not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.
[17] For he breaketh me with a tempest, and multiplieth my wounds without cause.
[18] He will not suffer me to take my breath, but filleth me with bitterness.
[19] If I speak of strength, lo, he is strong: and if of judgment, who shall set me a time to plead?
[20] If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse.
[21] Though I were perfect, yet would I not know my soul: I would despise my life.

In these two passages we see that there is a pattern of appealing to the authority of law in judgment.

Ecc 5: [8] If thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province, marvel not at the matter: for he that is higher than the highest regardeth; and there be higher than they.

By contrast, we are not surprised when we witness injustice. What we know despite this is that Pr 18: [5] It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment.

This does not mean that the righteous cannot be mistaken, but that Pr 24: [16] For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief. Or in the vernacular “You can’t keep a good man down.”

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