Meditation Monday: Judge Me

“The Lord judges the peoples; judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭7:8‬ ‭ESV‬

“Only God can judge me.”

I’ve heard people say this before, and I'm sure you have too. Usually it’s because they feel like someone is judging them and they don’t like the judgment they’re getting from their fellow human. In order to feel better, it’s easy to think, “Well, no human’s judgment matters.” So we put the task on God.

“Only God can judge me.” Are you sure you want Him to? If you don’t want a person to be judging your actions, what makes you think God’s opinion will be any better? More than that, His is the only opinion that matters! If God were to judge you, what would He say?

This is definitely not the funnest thing to think about. When I ask myself that, it forces me to take a good, hard look at myself. And I don’t always like what is revealed. It’s painful. Sometimes it’s just too easy to live how I want to, and I’d rather ignore the fact that I am purposefully choosing to live in a way that is not pleasing to the Lord. Because the blame can be put on only me. I made those decisions. And I really don’t want to be judged for my decisions.

“But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭11:31-32‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Crazy enough, it’s actually a good thing to let God judge us. I know, it sounds scary and makes us realize that we fall short. And that is exactly the point. We fall short. But God is here to help.

If we allow the Lord to judge us, He will correct us.

For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.Proverbs 3:12 NLT

But no one likes being disciplined! (amiright?) Growing up I hated being disciplined. I wanted to do what I wanted to do without consequences! Without being corrected! But my parents loved me too much to let me have my way when they knew my way was wrong.

Our heavenly father is the same way. He loves us so much. THAT is why he corrects us. Not to condemn us or make us feel guilty, but rather so we can live in His promises. He corrects us in love.

Application

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to “judge” yourself.
Are there areas in my life in which I’m disobeying God?
Am I spending time with Him daily through prayer, Bible reading, and fasting?
Are my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts honoring Him?
What areas do I need to improve in?

Are you ready to ask what David did?

Pray: “Judge me, oh Lord. Point out the areas in my life that aren’t pleasing to you. Correct me in Your love. Help me in my shortcomings. Discipline me so I will not be condemned with the world. Open my ears to hear your instructions. Open my eyes to see and understand the laws written in Your word. I will obey your instruction and correction.”

Meditation Monday: Even When

They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them. 

Nehemiah 9:17 ESV

Background

Nehemiah has just rebuilt the wall to Jerusalem, and all the people are gathered round after a week of fasting to listen to the Law of God. The Levites (i.e. the guys who run the temple) use this as an opportunity to remind all the Israelites of the past. Specifically, how the Israelites didn’t do a good job trusting God when He led them out of Egypt. In fact, they had wanted to go BACK into slavery (!!) despite the fact that He rescued them in this amazing, supernatural showdown. 

Proof of supernatural showdown:

1) Signs and wonders and plagues to convince Pharaoh to let them go (See Exodus chapters 7 through 12)
2) He divided the sea so they could walk on dry land, then it closed back up after they had crossed, effectively drowning the Egyptians who were chasing them to bring them back to be slaves again.
3) He provided a pillar of cloud to lead them in the day, and a pillar of fire to light the way they should go at night.
4) God provided manna for them so they never had to go hungry.
5) Brought water from the rock for them to drink.

There’s literally no way that the Israelites should want to turn their backs on God after all that, right? Or think He’s not all powerful and capable of leading them into the promised land? But goodness, those Israelites. They’re notorious for turning their backs on God again and again and again.

They decided to put their trust in man instead of God, and they were ready to walk back to Egypt and put their chains back on themselves.

BUT

You are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.

I don’t even know where to start at that verse, so let’s just start at the beginning. Despite the fact they had basically given up on God, He was ready to forgive. He’s gracious. He’s merciful. He had every single right to get angry with them and just forget them, but His anger is slow. He had every reason to just let them be and fail on their own. But He abounds in steadfast, unwavering love. He had no reason to stick around with them, but He didn’t leave them.

I’m grateful that He’s the same yesterday, today, and forever. Because I’m in need of those things. Of a God who forgives, extends his grace and mercy to me, is patient with me, loves me despite my faults, and sticks by my side even when I’m ignoring Him. I’ve been there before. Have you?

Let’s keep reading. It’s kind of a long passage, but stick with me.

Even when they had made for themselves a golden calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and had committed great blasphemies, you in your great mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud to lead them in the way did not depart from them by day, nor the pillar of fire by night to light for them the way by which they should go. You gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst. Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell.

Nehemiah 9:18-21 (emphasis mine)

Okay, remember those awesome, supernatural things God did? Even when they forsook Him, He didn’t take those things away from them. Even when they appointed a leader to take them back to Egypt, God didn’t take away that promised land. Even when they REPLACED Him with a GOLD COW and blasphemed Him, He didn’t leave them.

Even when…

What follows those two words in your life? Even when… I gave up on His promises. Even when… I turned to the world for love and satisfaction. Even when… I tried to do things my own way. Even when… I left to live a life of sin.

He’s still with you.

He hasn’t forsaken you. He never will. You may leave God, but He will never leave you.

Even when...

Application

Whatever follows your personal "even when..." will try to make you doubt that God is still with you. Read these verses as reassurance. He will never leave you, even when.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; "He will never leave you nor forsake you."

Deuteronomy 31:6

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

Deuteronomy 31:8

No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Joshua 1:5