7-Feb-15

Mighty King, lover of justice, you have established fairness. You have acted with justice and righteousness throughout Israel.  Exalt the Lord our God! Bow low before his feet, for he is holy! Psalm 99:4-5Justice and righteousness.  We often hear the call for justice in our world.  Justice is one of the foundation stones of God’s Throne.  Can there be Justice in our world without Righteousness?The first definition of Justice is the quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or moral rightness.  Reading Hebrews 11, I find By Faith these men ruled with Justice.  A relationship exists between Faith in God and being just and righteous.  What is the touch-stone?  It is God, Who is Holy.God turns our weakness into strength to do battle and put armies to flight.  Today I am feeling weak.  One of those, How ‘much longer’ days?  One of those tired to the bone days and the day is only half over.  Then I read Exalt the Lord our God! Bow low before his feet, for he is holy!    And I am at peace, for I know He is with me and will give me strength to continue.I read the list of names in Hebrews 11 and wonder what they thought and felt when it seemed that all was lost?  Judges 6 tells the story of Gideon’s weakness and the Lord’s promises of strength.  Judges 4 tells of Barak’s quest and asking Deborah to go with him to find 10,000 men to conquer Sisera’s warriors.  Judges 15 tells of the strength the Lord gave Samson to break the bonds that held him.  The story continues in Judges 16 of the Philistines thinking they had conquered Samson and the mighty God-given strength of Samson.  There are more stories of the justice and righteousness bringing strength to the prophets.Two verses convince me that we are worthy to be called God’s friends….And so it happened just as the Scriptures say: “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” He was even called the friend of God.  James 2:23  And this verse…Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. I John 3:2And I rest easy this day, knowing God is with me and all who call upon His Name.  The Almighty King of Justice and Righeousness.  Praise His name!How much more do I need to say? It would take too long to recount the stories of the faith of Gideon,  Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and all the prophets. By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. Hebrews 11:32-34