Devotions this week based on The Prophets Week 7 – Nahum (WATCH HERE)
Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble.
He cares for those who trust in him, 8 but with an overwhelming flood
he will make an end of Nineveh; he will pursue his foes into darkness.
Justice and goodness are not opposites. In fact to be good, one must be just. Goodness and evil can’t stand as equals nor be tolerated as equals. For goodness to side with evil negates the reality of goodness and if evil is equated with goodness, there is no measure of evil.
That’s sounds pretty philosophical.
Perhaps. But the same God who is just is also good. How can this be?
The same God that punishes evil is the same God who is a refuge in times of trouble.
The same God that causes the wicked to flee is the same God who cares for those who trust in him.
So how are justice and goodness related?
By a standard.
If there is no agreed upon standard, then justice is relative to the subjective judgment of an individual AND goodness is relative to whatever an individual determines as good.
This is why these concepts are goofed up in our culture. When justice and goodness are subjective to the individual, there really is no justice and no real goodness…there is just opinion on what is just and opinion on what is good.
But when a clear standard is in play, justice and goodness stand in congruence.
Justice is carried out when the standard is broken. Goodness is experienced when the standard is kept.
God sets and is the standard.
When his standard is broken, such as with Nineveh, his justice must carry out punishment for the wrongdoing.
When his standard is kept, Nahum can write, “The LORD is good…”
Only when God is the standard can justice and goodness truly stand with each other.
But how is justice good?
Practically speaking, would you want to live in a neighborhood inhabited by convicted and repeat criminal offenders? If you knew a person or group of people would not be prosecuted for breaking the law, would you want to live in that community?
Justice must exist to protect the good.
Justice allows for the suppression of evil so the good might find security.
Justice is what allows the good to find refuge and safety.
So that is why those who trust in the LORD can find refuge in him at the same time the LORD makes an “end of Nineveh” and “pursues his foes into darkness.”
Justice must exist to protect the good. They are not mutually exclusive, but rather mutually necessary realities…perfectly exhibited in the LORD.
What does that mean for us?
We can find refuge in the LORD! Why? Because while the LORD recognizes sin in our behavior, he was willing to punish sin, not in us, but in his Son. The result is he continues to uphold his standard of perfection, while allowing the goodness of his grace to prevail on our behalf. As recipients of his grace and ones who trust in him, there is no question he protects us from evil with his justice and allows us to find refuge in him because of his goodness.
Apply: What do you believe is the relationship between justice and goodness? How does a congruence between these affect your belief and trust in the LORD?
Prayer: Lord, thank you for being a God of justice and mercy. One who upholds perfect just and shows perfect goodness. Lead me to understand and appreciate both even as I live in the refuge you provide because you are just and good at the same time. AMEN.