By Chuck Reber

Scripture reveals that it grieves the heart of God to bring judgment, but at times He must. When the Lord does release an edict of judgment, it is not arbitrary but the result of a lengthy process. This process involves an interaction between the court of heaven and the decisions of men on earth. That is because God’s judgments are redemptive in nature. God’s judgments are means of discipline, meted out in varying degrees of severity, meant to awaken the hearts of men to righteousness (Isa 26:9).

If his people depart from Him, and will not listen to His word through His messengers, He sends various degrees of discipline to awaken them and cause them to return to Him with all their hearts. Our sin brings great pain to our heavenly Father. He loves us dearly. That is why he rebukes, disciplines and punishes his children.

We are part of His family and He wants us to share in His holiness. Though His discipline is painful at times, we should submit to His correction and live. Here is the forgotten exhortation from the book of Hebrews:

    5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? "My son, do not    
    regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by Him. 6 for the         
    Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives."

    7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is
    there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which
    all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons….

    10 for they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but He disciplines
    us for our good, that we may share His holiness. (Heb 12:5-8, 10)

God created his people for a love-based relationship with Him. He knows that abundant life is only found in relationship with Him. We should never doubt His love toward us, for He has ever convinced us of his love through Jesus’ death on the cross.

Two Basic Types of Judgments in the Bible

1. Eternal Judgments – These are rulings that separate God’s people to heaven and all others to hell for eternity.

2. Temporal Judgments – These are corrections and punishments that occur in this lifetime. Temporal judgments may be divided into two types: Redemptive (Remedial) Judgments and Final Judgments.

a. Redemptive judgments (or discipline) are intended by God to
           correct us and guide us back to the path of right relationship
           with Him.

           Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and
           repent (Rev 3:19)

b. Final Judgment is judgment or punishment that comes because
           of prolonged rebellion or severe sin without repentance. We might
           call it the “curtain dropping” judgment. It’s when God brings
           punishment for failing to heed His discipline. When final judgment
           comes, no opportunity for repentance is left; the time for      
           repentance is past.

    He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond  
           healing. (Prov 29:1)

Here are examples of God’s discipline and judgments involving individuals and churches in the New Testament:

1. Final judgment on Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:1-11)
   

2. Redemptive judgment of the immoral man at Corinth (1 Cor 5:1-13) Also at Corinth, some were “weak, ill, and some have died” for not judging themselves before they partook of the Lord’s Supper (1 Cor 11:29-30).
   

3. Redemptive judgment and final judgment on Jezebel in the church at Thyatira (Rev 2:20-23). Jesus gave Jezebel time to repent, but she refused. Now He would step in with final judgment.
   

Let us soberly remember the words of Paul lest we trifle with God:    
    “Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but
    God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut
    off.” (Rom 11:22)

The Bible is filled with examples of God’s disciples and judgments involving cities, regions and nations. Some are far more serious than others. Usually they are progressive in nature, meaning they get more severe the longer we refuse to respond. Here are some examples from Scripture (see Deut 28; Lev 26; 2 Chr 6):

1. Natural disasters: hurricanes, tornados, floods, earthquakes, volcanoes, fire, drought, hail, famine, insect plagues, and attacks of wild animals.
   

2. Disease: plague, wasting disease, fever, and leprosy.
   

3. Human conflict or trouble: war, terrorism, attack or defeat by an enemy, being taken into captivity or bondage, being ruled by those who hate, victim of crime, victim of immorality, bloodshed, increase in wickedness, broken human relationships, economic collapse. (Also see: Deut 28; Lev 26:23-24, 27-28; Amos chaps 1-2)
   

Whenever these things occur, God may be using them to discipline or judge a people. Just because a natural disaster has occurred, or human conflict, or one of the other negative things listed above, it does not necessarily imply God’s judgment. God’s people must earnestly seek the Lord to guide them and respond accordingly.

Sometimes when God judges corporate groups such as cities and nations, seemingly innocent people are hurt as well. In reality, however, no one is us is truly innocent for we all have sinned. God’s judgments are not always limited to the wicked when He shakes a nation. Two examples would be: (1) The fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C., Ezk 21:4-6; (2) The Destruction of Jerusalem A.D. 70, Luke 19:41-44.

Here are some other ways God disciplines His people when they sin.

1. He refuses to answer their prayers (Isa 59:2)
   

2. God may withdraw the awareness of His presence (Ps 13:1)
   

3. God may release a famine for hearing a word from the Lord (Amos 8:11-12)
   

4. God may lift His hand of protection from us (Isa 5:5-6; Job 1; Luke 22:31)
   

5. God may allow us to reap the full consequences of our own sinful behavior (Rom 1:24-31; Gal 6:7)
   

God’s desire is that we would respond with tender hearts to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. If we don’t judge ourselves and repent, God will judge us (1 Cor 11:27-32). He will continue to increase the intensity of the discipline until we cry out to Him for help.

In the next study we will examine the Process of God Sending Judgment.

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