The Perfect Justice of God (Revelation 16:5–7)

“And I heard the angel in charge of the water say, ‘Just are you oh holy one. Who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve.’ And I heard the altar saying, ‘Yes, Lord God, the almighty, true and just are your judgments.'”
– Revelation 16:5–7

There’s a lot we can talk about here when it comes to the justice of God and the judgments of God that will ultimately come in the world with the big picture takeaway that I want to encourage you with today and lead us to pray according to, is the reality that in the end, so that’s what Revelation is giving us a picture of, in the end, we will see what God has done on the earth and our song will be clear.

Revelation 16:5–7 Teaches Us of the Holiness of God

God is just and holy and true in all of his judgments. I just think about all the injustice on the earth and evil and even questions that we have sometimes about the justice of God. Why is this happening God? In the end, we will be saying around the altar of God, “Yes, Lord God the almighty, true and just are your judgments.

You are the holy one, the perfect one. And you are just and you have brought all of the judgments that were needed on the earth and we won’t be questioning.” I guess the picture that I want to make sure we walk away from Revelation 16:5–7 with, and pray according to is that we won’t be questioning the justice of God on that day. We will be worshiping God for his perfect justice.

Revelation 16:5–7 Shows Us God’s Perfect Justice

And so we pray. “Oh God, you are justice. All your works are just, and we trust that ultimately, your justice will be shown perfect in all your ways on the earth. And so we trust in you today. We trust in you, in a world of injustice. Our father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done. Your justice be done on earth as it is in heaven. We long for that day, we pray for your justice on the earth.

We pray and even as we say that, we pray for your grace and wisdom and strength to do justice, as you have called us, to do justice, not just called us, but required of us as your people.” Micah 6:8, “To do justice and to love kindness and mercy and to walk humbly with you. God, we pray that you’d help us to work for justice in our lives today, individually, collectively, as your people, in the places where we live, help us to do justice today, in anticipation of your coming justice and judgments on the earth.

This Verse Helps Us to Know the Lord

And even as we pray all of this, Jesus, we shudder to think where we would be if you had not taken the judgment we deserve upon yourself. That in asking for justice, we would be asking for our own condemnation because of our guilt and rebellion against you. Apart from your grace, none of us could stand. Thank you Jesus, for taking the just judgment we deserve upon yourself.

So help us for all who know you and all who look forward to this day. When your justice will fully and finally reign on the earth. Help us to do justice today. Help us to work for justice in this unjust, sinful world. And help us to trust you when things don’t make sense to us. When things either don’t seem or are not unjust around us. Help us to hold fast in faith to this vision in Revelation 16:5–7. One day we will be gathered around your throne. We will be saying, ‘Yes, Lord God, the almighty, true and just are all your judgments. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.”

David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical.

David received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Don’t Hold Back, Radical, Follow MeCounter CultureSomething Needs to ChangeBefore You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series.

Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.

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