11.10 The Ministry of Judging

11 - The Judgment; Section 10 THE MINISTRY OF JUDGING In the Bible the ones whom God raised up as judges for His people did more than just settle disputes between individuals or hand down and execute judicial decisions. Those judges were actually THE DELIVERERS OF GOD’S PEOPLE! There is one book in the Bible that is specifically named "Judges." As a book it is a thriller! Therein we read of the fearless exploits of those mighty men whom God, "the Judge of all the earth," raised up for the salvation and deliverance of His oppressed and afflicted people. Hail the day of judgment that began when God raised up a judge to execute judgment for His afflicted ones! for these judges were, indeed, "saviours" of Israel by a special anointing of the Spirit of the Lord.

Throughout the administration of the judges the people were blessed. Note, for instance, how, when under oppression by their enemies because of transgression against the Lord, Israel was again and again released and blessed by the raising up of judges. Thus we read: "When the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised up a DELIVERER, who delivered them ... and the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he JUDGED ISRAEL, and went out to war ... and prevailed ... and the land had rest" (Judges 3:9-11). And again, "The Lord raised up judges that DELIVERED THEM out of the hand of those that spoiled them. And when the Lord raised up judges, then the Lord was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge" (Judges 2:16; Judges 2:18).

Those wonderful judges were raised up long millenniums ago for the deliverance of Israel; but now, in this glorious age, God is preparing a mighty COMPANY OF JUDGES whose responsibility it shall be to JUDGE THE WORLD in righteousness! "And he that overcomes ... to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron" (Revelation 2:26-27). "To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with Me in My throne" (Revelation 3:21). "And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given unto them ..." (Revelation 20:4; Revelation 20:6). So, though the church and the world have long been under the power and oppression of the great adversary, yet He who paid for the sins of all with His own precious blood will take His great power and reign in blessing over realms that hitherto have not known Him. He will judge and deliver ALL THOSE WHOM HE SO LOVED AS TO REDEEM. With this ALL the prophetic declarations agree. It is written, "With righteousness shall He JUDGE THE W-O-R-L-D, and the people with equity" (Psalms 98:9). Thank God! The very thought of an age governed by the sons of God who are filled with the seven-fold intensified Spirit of the Lord leaves me absolutely breathless! Words become totally inadequate and human ability to articulate the wonder of such a thing fails completely. Our faltering minds cannot totally appreciate nor comprehend the wonder of Isaiah’s prophecy: "But with righteousness shall He judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: He shall smite the earth with the rod (authority) of His mouth, and with the breath (Spirit) of His lips (Word) shall He slay the wicked. The earth shall be FULL of the knowledge of the Lord, AS THE WATERS COVER THE SEA" (Isaiah 11:2-9).