"But the LORD shall endure [reign] for ever: He hath prepared his throne for judgment.” (Psalm 9:7)
Consider the psalmist's statement, "The LORD shall reign forever." What does reigning mean in practice? Although this word has several meanings, in this verse it refers to residing or remaining. It might also be said that "the Lord abides forever." Where does He still reign? He continues to sit on the throne He has built for judgment.
The psalmist tells us a lot about God's personality in this brief verse. This verse paints a picture of God's righteousness and holiness. On His throne, we observe a King ruling and reigning. A throne is a symbol of power. God's throne represents His authority over everything He created, both in heaven and on earth.
We also perceive God as a judge in addition to His position of sovereignty. His throne has been set up for the purpose of judgment. We have been raised to believe that judgment is a bad thing in our society. Many people, including Christians, have a vengeful view of God who is eager to punish them for their transgressions. Furthermore, even though hell is a real place, this is not how the Bible sees God's judgment.
"Judgment" is a term used in law. Have you ever observed a judge presiding over a case in a courtroom? Condemning is not the judge's role. His responsibility is to hear all the evidence and reach a just conclusion. Because only God is entirely just, He is the only perfectly just judge. God is not influenced by the ideas or persuasive speech of mortals. Therefore, He always makes the proper decision.
Each child of God will one day stand before God at the conclusion of his or her earthly life. When we stand before God, we will do so before a throne of judgment. This may be the best day of our lives, according to the good news of the gospel. It may come to pass that when God looks at us, He sees His Son and exclaims, "Well done," rather than our errors and missed opportunities.
Prayer: Father, I appreciate that You judge me based on Christ's merit rather than mine. Help me to keep in mind that if I have given my life to Christ in faith, I am no longer under Your condemnation. I want to live a life that points others to You. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
