God's Justice in the Face of Evil and Suffering
God's justice is an inherent perfection of His nature, signifying His infinite righteousness in Himself and in all His actions, particularly in His moral governance [3]. This divine attribute is not an optional product of His will but an unchangeable principle of His very being [3].
The Bible frequently portrays God's justice in response to evil and suffering. His "face" is described as being "against those who do evil" [1, 2], which signifies His presence in judgment, severity, and anger towards sin [4]. This divine opposition to evil ensures that the memory of wrongdoers will be removed from the earth [1]. God's anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst but a necessary response to sin from a holy God [10]. The Old Testament often depicts this anger and predicts a decisive outpouring of God's wrath on human sin [10].
God's justice is demonstrated in several ways:
- Legislative Justice God imposes righteous laws on His creatures and expects conformity to the moral law [3].
- Rectoral or Distributive Justice God deals with accountable creatures according to their actions, punishing those who do wrong and honoring those who do right [3, 8]. Evil people suffer the consequences of their own actions, and God ensures that sinners receive proper punishment [11]. This includes His vengeance against those who oppose Him and oppress His people, purging the world of wickedness [14].
- Response to Suffering While suffering can be a punishment for sin [5], Christians are also taught to expect trials and hostility from a sinful world, even when seeking to live godly lives [9]. God's justice also involves His intervention to save His people from external evils [7] and to help the oppressed and afflicted, especially those who implore His assistance [12]. He is seen as the avenger of unjust cruelty [12].
Despite the presence of evil and suffering, God is also characterized by His long-suffering, which is part of His character [6]. This long-suffering is intended to lead people to repentance and is exhibited in His willingness to forgive sins [6]. However, there are limits to His long-suffering, and those who abuse or despise it will be punished [6]. The righteous love God's justice, while the wicked fear it, as God rewards the innocent and punishes the wicked [13].
Sources
- Psalms “Psalms 34:16 (BBE) — The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to take away the memory of them from the earth.”
- I Peter “I Peter 3:12 (LEB) — For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Justice of God — That perfection of his nature whereby he is infinitely righteous in himself and in all he does, the righteousness of the divine nature exercised in his moral government. At first God imposes righteous laws on his creatures and executes them righteously. Justice is not an optional product of his will, but an unchangeable principle of his very nature. His legislative justice is his requiring of his rational creatures conformity in all respects to the moral law. His rectoral or distributive justice is his dealing with his accountable creatures according”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Face — Means simply presence, as when it is recorded that Adam and Eve hid themselves from the "face [R.V., presence'] of the Lord God" (Gen. 3:8; comp. Ex. 33:14, 15, where the same Hebrew word is rendered "presence"). The "light of God's countenance" is his favour (Ps. 44:3; Dan. 9:17). "Face" signifies also anger, justice, severity (Gen. 16:6, 8; Ex. 2:15; Ps. 68:1; Rev. 6:16). To "provoke God to his face" (Isa. 65:3) is to sin against him openly. The Jews prayed with their faces toward the temple and Jerusalem (1 Kings 8:38, 44, 48; Dan. 6:10). To "see God's face”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Sickness — Sent by God -- De 28:59-61; 32:39; 2Sa 12:15; Ac 12:23. The devil sometimes permitted to inflict -- Job 2:6,7; Lu 9:39; 13:16. Often brought on by intemperance -- Ho 7:5. Often sent as a punishment of sin -- Le 26:14-16; 2Ch 21:12-15; 1Co 11:30. One of God's four sore judgments on a guilty land -- Eze 14:19-21. God Promises to heal. -- Ex 23:25; 2Ki 20:5. Heals. -- De 32:39; Ps 103:3; Isa 38:5,9. Exhibits his mercy in healing. -- Php 2:27. Exhibits his power in healing. -- Lu 5:17. Exhibits his love in healing. -- Isa 38:17. Often manifests saving grace to”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Long-Suffering of God, The — Is part of his character -- Ex 34:6; Nu 14:18; Ps 86:15. Salvation, the object of -- 2Pe 3:15. Through Christ's intercession -- Lu 13:8. Should lead to repentance -- Ro 2:4; 2Pe 3:9. An encouragement to repent -- Joe 2:13. Exhibited in forgiving sins -- Ro 3:25. Exercised toward His people. -- Isa 30:18; Eze 20:17. The wicked. -- Ro 9:22; 1Pe 3:20. Plead in prayer -- Jer 15:15. Limits set to -- Ge 6:3; Jer 44:22. The wicked Abuse. -- Ec 8:11; Mt 24:48,49. Despise. -- Ro 2:4. Punished for despising. -- Ne 9:30; Mt 24:48-51; Ro 2:5. Illustr”
- Brown-Driver-Briggs “[BDB H3467] yasha (part 4/5) — of God, who saves his people from external evils Deut 20:4; Josh 22:22; Judg 3:9; 6:36-37, 7:7; 10:13; 1Sam 14:23, 39; 2Kin 14:27; 19:34 = Isa 37:35; 25:9; 33:22; 35:4; 43:12; 49:25; 63:9; Jer 31:7; Ezek 34:22; Hosea 1:7 (twice in verse); Hab 1:2; Zeph 3:17, 19; Zech 8:7, 13; 9:16; 10:6; 12:7; Psa 28:9; 69:36; 106:8; 118:25; 2Chr 20:9; or the pious among them Isa 38:20; Jer 2:27; 17:14; Psa 3:8; 6:5; 7:2; 31:17; 54:3; 55:17; 57:4; 69:2; 71:2; 71:3; 106:47 = 1Chr 16:35; Psa 109:26; 119:94; 119:146; 138:7; Prov 20:22; and especially the king Psa 20:7; Psalm 20:10; ”
- 1 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Peter 2:14: 2:14 to punish those who do wrong and honor those who do right: Cp. Rom 13:3-4.”
- 1 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Peter 4:12: 4:12-19 Peter instructs Christians one last time about the way to face the trials that will inevitably come. 4:12 don’t be surprised: Christians, especially those seeking to lead godly lives, can expect to face the hostility of a sinful world (see John 16:33; Acts 14:22; Rom 8:17; Phil 1:29).”
- Romans (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Romans 1:18: 1:18–3:20 Paul delays exploring the theme of righteousness through faith (see 3:21) until after he first teaches about universal sinfulness. Gentiles (1:18-32) and Jews (2:1–3:8) are equally under sin’s power and cannot find favor with God by any action of their own (3:9-20). 1:18 God’s anger is not a spontaneous emotional outburst, but the holy God’s necessary response to sin. The Old Testament often depicts God’s anger (Exod 32:10-12; Num 11:1; Jer 21:3-7) and predicts a decisive outpouring of God’s wrath on human sin at the end of history. While Paul usually de”
- Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 1:31: 1:31 Evil people suffer the consequences of their own actions (see 1:15-19); God will ensure that sinners receive their proper punishment (see Matt 25:44-46; Heb 10:29; 2 Pet 2:9).”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Harmony of the Law, Vol. 1, section 12.3: when God has founded the redemption of his people upon his gratuitous covenant, and therefore on his own free bounty, he adds another argument derived from his justice, namely, that it is impossible for the judge of the world not to help the oppressed and afflicted when they are undeservedly mistreated, and especially when they implore his assistance. This is true generally, that God will be the avenger of all unjust cruelty; but his special aid may be expected by believers whom he has taken into his friendship and protection. Accordingly, when”
- Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 21:15: 21:15 God is just, so he will reward the innocent and punish the wicked. No wonder the godly love justice while the wicked fear it.”
- Isaiah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Isaiah 47:3: 47:3 God’s vengeance against those who oppose him and those who oppress his people (see 34:8) will bring justice to the world by purging it of wickedness.”