“Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face” ( Psalms 89:14)
This is a promise by God the Father, breathed out by God the Holy Spirit, concerning Christ, the Son of God. The promise is this: Christ will sit on heaven’s throne, ruling in justice and judgment. Mercy and truth will go before His face.
A judge presides in the courtroom. His decisions alone determine the final outcome of every case. Courts decide things on earth. Infinitely more, the court of heaven. Everything is determined by the decisions God makes from heaven’s throne. Every case is tried in heaven. Every sentence is carried out according to God’s decree, His judgments.
The throne of God is the place of judgment. God sits as Judge. “The heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself” (Psalms 50:6). He rules over all. He has all the facts. He knows root and secondary causes. Nothing escapes His judgment. He will do right. He determines everything by His judgment, especially matters of eternal destiny. He will condemn the guilty. He will justify the righteous. Where is justice? He sits on heaven’s throne. Where is judgment? It inhabits the throne of God. God’s throne is the place where His justice presides. Whatever God decides, that’s the way things are, and that’s what will be carried out. No exceptions.
Think of the woman taken in adultery in John 8:1-11. She was brought before Christ by her accusers. He judged her accusers and judged her case. His judgment was heaven’s decision: no condemnation. Her sins were made His. The Judge Himself becomes the accused in her place. He takes the full punishment. She goes free, forgiven, cleansed, clothed in His righteousness -- no condemnation (Romans 8:1-4)!
If we have an appeal to make, we must make it to God in heaven, no matter how small or how great the case. Life, death, sickness, health, family, righteousness, sin, faith and obedience: all cases are judged by God.
To our greatest comfort, God’s throne is a throne of mercy. We see it in Christ’s handling of the woman in John 8. How can the throne of the Judge of all be both a throne of judgment and mercy? How can God be both just and merciful? How can He be righteous and simultaneously be at peace with sinners? Only one reason. Because Christ, by His death, brought mercy and truth together (Psalm 85:10). In the eternal decree of God He was slain as the Lamb of God for the sins of His people. His death is the reason perfect harmony prevails between God’s mercy and truth, His righteousness and peace. So much so, that in Christ, righteousness and peace have kissed each other (Psalm 85:10). What a joyous spectacle that is! Perfect harmony?! Joyous agreement presiding in all of God’s perfections because of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ?! Yes! God’s mind, His will and His work are in harmonious and joyous display in the death of Christ, to the super abounding glory of God.
Christ has magnified God’s truth and mercy. Christ has established God’s throne as the place of judgment and mercy. Christ therefore reigns over all. The Judge of all the earth does right in justifying every sinner for whom Christ died, because in the death of Christ, every perfection in God is glorified. Nothing could more glorify God than the death of His Son for chosen sinners. Nothing but the death of Christ enables God to be both just and the justifier of ungodly, chosen sinners. Nothing but the blood and righteousness of Christ prevail to uphold peace within God, enabling Him to be just and gracious to sinners. Nothing required greater wisdom and power, nothing displayed greater justice and grace, nothing made known the condescending love of God in His perfection but the incarnation, life and death of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ therefore sits on heaven’s throne as the High Priest who made atonement, obtained eternal redemption, made reconciliation, established everlasting righteousness, secured eternal inheritance, perfected His people by His one offering. And He sits as the conquering Savior-King. He fulfilled every promise. He conquered every enemy. He revealed the invisible God in the full luminance of His glory. He deserves every blessing, honor and all authority. Heaven rings with shouts of acclamation! “God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet!” (Psalm 47:5). Take the throne! Be Thou exalted, O God our Savior! Oh, save, we beseech Thee! “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11). “...with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever” (Revelation 5:12-13).
Out of justice and judgment, on the ground of Christ’s doing and dying, the throne of God is a throne of mercy and grace to every blood-bought child of God. God, in justice, defends every believer against all accusers, and subdues their every foe in their complete and eternal salvation by Jesus Christ. This He does in the open, from His throne. He set forth Christ as a propitiation, and He set Him on His throne to administer all things to the church (Ephesians 1:10,22-23).
“Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy” (Proverbs 20:28).
“In mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness” (Isaiah 16:5).
“Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” (Romans 8:33-34).
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
This is a promise by God the Father, breathed out by God the Holy Spirit, concerning Christ, the Son of God. The promise is this: Christ will sit on heaven’s throne, ruling in justice and judgment. Mercy and truth will go before His face.
A judge presides in the courtroom. His decisions alone determine the final outcome of every case. Courts decide things on earth. Infinitely more, the court of heaven. Everything is determined by the decisions God makes from heaven’s throne. Every case is tried in heaven. Every sentence is carried out according to God’s decree, His judgments.
The throne of God is the place of judgment. God sits as Judge. “The heavens shall declare his righteousness: for God is judge himself” (Psalms 50:6). He rules over all. He has all the facts. He knows root and secondary causes. Nothing escapes His judgment. He will do right. He determines everything by His judgment, especially matters of eternal destiny. He will condemn the guilty. He will justify the righteous. Where is justice? He sits on heaven’s throne. Where is judgment? It inhabits the throne of God. God’s throne is the place where His justice presides. Whatever God decides, that’s the way things are, and that’s what will be carried out. No exceptions.
Think of the woman taken in adultery in John 8:1-11. She was brought before Christ by her accusers. He judged her accusers and judged her case. His judgment was heaven’s decision: no condemnation. Her sins were made His. The Judge Himself becomes the accused in her place. He takes the full punishment. She goes free, forgiven, cleansed, clothed in His righteousness -- no condemnation (Romans 8:1-4)!
If we have an appeal to make, we must make it to God in heaven, no matter how small or how great the case. Life, death, sickness, health, family, righteousness, sin, faith and obedience: all cases are judged by God.
To our greatest comfort, God’s throne is a throne of mercy. We see it in Christ’s handling of the woman in John 8. How can the throne of the Judge of all be both a throne of judgment and mercy? How can God be both just and merciful? How can He be righteous and simultaneously be at peace with sinners? Only one reason. Because Christ, by His death, brought mercy and truth together (Psalm 85:10). In the eternal decree of God He was slain as the Lamb of God for the sins of His people. His death is the reason perfect harmony prevails between God’s mercy and truth, His righteousness and peace. So much so, that in Christ, righteousness and peace have kissed each other (Psalm 85:10). What a joyous spectacle that is! Perfect harmony?! Joyous agreement presiding in all of God’s perfections because of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ?! Yes! God’s mind, His will and His work are in harmonious and joyous display in the death of Christ, to the super abounding glory of God.
Christ has magnified God’s truth and mercy. Christ has established God’s throne as the place of judgment and mercy. Christ therefore reigns over all. The Judge of all the earth does right in justifying every sinner for whom Christ died, because in the death of Christ, every perfection in God is glorified. Nothing could more glorify God than the death of His Son for chosen sinners. Nothing but the death of Christ enables God to be both just and the justifier of ungodly, chosen sinners. Nothing but the blood and righteousness of Christ prevail to uphold peace within God, enabling Him to be just and gracious to sinners. Nothing required greater wisdom and power, nothing displayed greater justice and grace, nothing made known the condescending love of God in His perfection but the incarnation, life and death of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ therefore sits on heaven’s throne as the High Priest who made atonement, obtained eternal redemption, made reconciliation, established everlasting righteousness, secured eternal inheritance, perfected His people by His one offering. And He sits as the conquering Savior-King. He fulfilled every promise. He conquered every enemy. He revealed the invisible God in the full luminance of His glory. He deserves every blessing, honor and all authority. Heaven rings with shouts of acclamation! “God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet!” (Psalm 47:5). Take the throne! Be Thou exalted, O God our Savior! Oh, save, we beseech Thee! “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11). “...with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever” (Revelation 5:12-13).
Out of justice and judgment, on the ground of Christ’s doing and dying, the throne of God is a throne of mercy and grace to every blood-bought child of God. God, in justice, defends every believer against all accusers, and subdues their every foe in their complete and eternal salvation by Jesus Christ. This He does in the open, from His throne. He set forth Christ as a propitiation, and He set Him on His throne to administer all things to the church (Ephesians 1:10,22-23).
“Mercy and truth preserve the king: and his throne is upholden by mercy” (Proverbs 20:28).
“In mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness” (Isaiah 16:5).
“Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” (Romans 8:33-34).
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
Rick Warta
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