PODCAST
A Compassionate Judge
September 27th, 2024
Isaiah 30:15-21
What comes to mind when you imagine a judge sitting in a courtroom? Perhaps it is a formal, stodgy person who is weary of the parade of cases they’ve had to adjudicate. Or perhaps it’s a distinct memory of your own, maybe from arguing a traffic ticket or being selected for a jury. In any case, we usually think of judges as being harsh and shrewd people who are hard-nosed in the pursuit and application of justice.
Isaiah tells us that the Lord is a God of justice. If God were like any of the descriptions in the previous paragraph, that would be a trait worthy of considerable anxiety! However, Isaiah includes the profound truth of God’s character, that the justice that is part of God’s heart is ultimately rooted in—and leads to—compassion.
God’s compassion is not simply to help us feel better about ourselves or to improve our lives in marginal ways. God’s kindness is in fact meant to lead us to repentance (2:4). The Lord who is God of justice will rise up to show you compassion!
Author: Grant Miller
