He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people: “Gather My saints together to Me, those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.” Let the heavens declare His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge. Selah. (Psalm 50:4-6)
In the previous devotion we addressed the fact that, in advance of God’s judgment upon the nations, God will come to His people and judge them — not with the intent of destruction but to chasten, cleanse and prove. His justice dictates that, if He intends to judge the nations for their waywardness, He must begin in His house lest the nations hurl accusations. That being said, there is a day coming when God will dispense His justice throughout the world which will shake “the powers of the heavens” and earth. In short, everything and everyone in heaven and in earth will be taken to task.
In that regard, there is an interesting rabbinical view of what is meant when the psalmist says, “He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people.” The Bible clearly establishes that the nations on earth are represented — perhaps even under the authority — of heavenly entities referred to as an angel or a prince. For example, Daniel was visited by angel who was sent to bring an answer to the prophet’s prayer but had been impeded by the “prince of Persia.” In fact Michael, “one of the chief princes,” assisted the first angel in order to overcome the opposing principality (Daniel 10).
The point is that there are principalities and powers in the heavens that affect and influence what occurs on earth. In the rabbinical view, when God determines the time has come to judge the nations, He begins by summoning those heavenly powers to afflict them thus administering justice to the nations under their control. As it is written, “It shall come to pass in that day that the Lord will punish on high the host of exalted ones, and on the earth the kings of the earth” (Isaiah 24:21).
What does this mean for you and I who are here right now? It certainly offers reassurance and comfort to know that, in His own good time, the Almighty will hold the wicked, whether in the heavens or on earth, accountable for their rebellion and evil deeds. Beyond that, we are once again reminded that our warfare isn’t carnal; our battle isn’t with “flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). Therefore, we must resolve to fight — not with bullets and ballots — but with the weapons of our warfare; we must fight with obedience, prayer, fasting and a determination to overcome even as our Messiah has overcome.
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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