According to Isaiah 11:1-4, a fair judgment can only be made when we live in the center of the Son of God, which is Jesus Christ, and are fully guided by the Holy Spirit. This is the only way in which we are able to assess or judge and discern things rightly in everyday life according to the Word of God.
Isaiah 11:1-4:
1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD – 3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
1 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.
2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD – 3 and he will delight in the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; 4 but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.
As a result the environment as well as the person that is to be lead into God’s righteousness will be filled with the light of the LORD; also, the Word of God in its revelatory truth will cut off everything contrary to the standard of God’s righteousness (cf. Hebrews 4:12-13).
Hebrews 4:12-13:
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Leading in Righteousness
To help someone enter into righteousness it is necessary to take him into the revelatory presence of God with confidence or assurance. The presence of God which is generated by the Holy Spirit ensures that accusation has no longer any say, and helps the respective person to cast off these things without shame and to be dressed afresh by the LORD (cf. Zechariah 3:1-7 i.c.w. 1 John 1:5-9).
Zechariah 3:1-7:
1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.
2 The LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?”
3 Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel.
4 The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.”
5 Then I said, “Put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by.
6 The angel of the LORD gave this charge to Joshua:
7 “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.
1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.
2 The LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?”
3 Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel.
4 The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.”
5 Then I said, “Put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by.
6 The angel of the LORD gave this charge to Joshua:
7 “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.
1 John 1:5-9:
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
According to Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 5:12-13, it also becomes clear that we are called to maintain righteousness in the house of God. This is accompanied by a walk in soberness of spirit as well as in submission to the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Righteousness needs to be established first, before it can be maintained.
1 Corinthians 5:12-13:
12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”
12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?
13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.”
The required soberness of spirit involves not acting or making decisions driven by our emotions (Note: emotional states of the soul), but to assess or judge things from a higher level and impartial (cf. Romans 2:11).
Romans 2:11:
11 For God does not show favoritism.
11 For God does not show favoritism.
Righteous judgments involve evaluating things in their proportionality according to the biblical standard which is always grounded in the love of God and His truth.
The Use of God’s Standard in One’s Life
The statement of Jesus Christ regarding righteous judging in Matthew 7:3-5 advises us of the requirement of first applying the standard of God’s Word to our personal life and to live in it, so that we are able to intensify the righteousness of God in the life of our neighbor.
Matthew 7:3-5:
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?
4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?
5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Thus we come to the conclusion that we do not meet God’s righteousness, if we hang on to hurt and pain, negative experiences and unforgiveness (Note: iniquitous attitudes). It shows clearly that we need to ask God Himself, the Holy Spirit for discernment and guidance in the fellowship of saints; otherwise we risk ‘assessing’ people or things/situations by human standards and personal expectations – without love.
A continual orientation and personal focus on the wisdom, the Father wants to give helps us gain confidence in discerning between human and God-congruent assessments or judgments, as we increase in maturity. His wisdom, which is a result of the fear of the LORD in us enables us to love ourselves, others and even our enemies.
In His wisdom we recognize that we may first acknowledge His principles in order to live in His righteous standards; this will enable us to increase in love and sincere faith (cf. 1 Timothy 1:5).
In His wisdom we recognize that we may first acknowledge His principles in order to live in His righteous standards; this will enable us to increase in love and sincere faith (cf. 1 Timothy 1:5).
1 Timothy 1:5:
5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
Amen and Amen.
In His Wisdom,
Daniel Glimm
