Psalm 98 - Rejoicing in Just Judgment
Christians do not look forward to God’s Judgment. They lament it. They avoid the world and don’t think about it, or they revel in what God will do to those evil ones, or pronounce God’s judgment on those who have got it coming. Such perpsectives are not rooted in belief and obedience, but in self-righteousness, arrogance, and false security.
It is true that God will punish those “evil one” who “have it coming”. However, does so in righteousness and justice. By acting for justice, God is not being emotional. Sure, He’ll get angry, but He doesn’t sin in that anger. God’s justice trumps God’s anger; sometimes it’s His mercy. In regards to those times when He acts in His anger, His righteousness still wins out. I know it’s possible to be just while angry, because sometimes I do it. If I can respond to my children with justice when I am angry, then surely so can God. If I can mete out a just punishment, even when I am not angry, then so surely so can God. If I can forego punishment because my child is repentent, and show mercy, and still show justice to my other son who was wronged, then surely so can God. Because I can do these things, and am created in God’s image, and yet my righteousness is only an earthly manifestation of God’s, which can only be seen to the extent that I believe Him and obey, I can therefore read the scriptures and gather some inkling of where God is coming from… but just an inkling mind you.
With this perspective, I see reason to praise God when He acts… in anything. He is a loving Father, a just judge who hates to punish when He does it, but loves on the repentent, when they admit the error of their ways and set themelves on a path toward righteousness. I see such justice and control in what He does, and I just admire it. I know scripture says to rejoice in it, not admire it. But I really do admire it, and when I take a step back, I rejoice. And when people receive God’s judgment, I know the divine nature with which He acts, and it is just, and it is wonderful if unfortunate, due to man’s stubborness.
And so it is with this mentality that I read Psalm 98.
1 Sing to the LORD a new song,
      for he has done marvelous things;
      his right hand and his holy arm
      have worked salvation for him. 2 The LORD has made his salvation known
      and revealed his righteousness to the nations. 3 He has remembered his love
      and his faithfulness to the house of Israel;
      all the ends of the earth have seen
      the salvation of our God. 4 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth,
      burst into jubilant song with music; 5 make music to the LORD with the harp,
      with the harp and the sound of singing, 6 with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—
      shout for joy before the LORD, the King. 7 Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
      the world, and all who live in it. 8 Let the rivers clap their hands,
      Let the mountains sing together for joy;9 let them sing before the LORD,
      for he comes to judge the earth.
      He will judge the world in righteousness
      and the peoples with equity.Â