You Know, So Tell

Read Psalm 40, 49-50, 73
 
Psalms 40:9-10 I have told all your people about your justice. I have not been afraid to speak out, as you, O Lord, well know. 10 I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness.
 
PSALM 40 begins with David’s grand praise of God’s work in his life. Verses 1-8 include, “He turned to me and heard my cry…He lifted me out of the pit of despair…He set my feet on solid ground…He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God…Many will be amazed…They will put their trust in the Lord…O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us…You have no equal…I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.” These words certainly demonstrate a joy in the LORD, don’t they?
   What, then, does David do with his joy? He is sue to tell all God’s people about God’s work. David is a witness to God’s personal care for Israel, his beloved people. The psalmist also specified he was telling the “good news of God’s justice hidden in my heart.”  
   Is that what you want to hear? To the world, God’s justice is a very difficult thing to comprehend. Most of mankind has rejected God’s justice throughout history. And in truth, God’s justice is not good news in too many churches. We only hear the good news of God’s salvation. People have been trained to listen to God’s grace as God’s way of ignoring sin. We must know and remember grace is God’s means to forgive our unjust lives. Talk of God’s justice is a significant reason people turn away or keep away from God. To the unjust heart there is nothing good about God, who judges absolute right and wrong. To the guilty heart justice is to say, “Not guilty.” without penalty. But think of it. There could be no good salvation if God did not administer good justice!
   David knew deep in his heart, God’s justice came from God’s perfect law. He knew El Shaddai required obedience and repentance. Yes, David certainly knew sin’s penalty, and he truly knew God’s forgiveness. David knew the good news of God’s salvation comes when God forgives and removes our sins. That was his joy.
   We must know God is just to judge our sins in order to know our Creator is just to forgive us. “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” (1 John 1:9)
   Yes, God’s justice is good news! He commands us to obey his way. He then offers through Jesus Christ the way of new life as we confess and repent. This is true justice. This is God’s way to bring us into a righteous relationship, to stand on holy ground with I AM. “But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.” (1 Peter 1:15)