As a part of his sovereignty and authority, God is executor of his righteousness within the created order. Jesus Christ shares in this ongoing work.
God has authority to judge
God's status as judge
Psalm 75:7 See also Psalm 50:6, Psalm 76:8–9; Ecclesiastes 11:9; Isaiah 33:22, Isaiah 66:16; 2 Timothy 4:8; Hebrews 12:23; James 4:12
but it is God who judges; He brings down one and exalts another.
He decides disputes
Judges 11:27 See also Genesis 16:5, Genesis 31:53; 1 Samuel 24:15; Isaiah 2:4 parallel Micah 4:3; James 5:9
I have not sinned against you, but you have done me wrong by waging war against me. May the LORD, the Judge, decide today between the Israelites and the Ammonites.”
He presides in the heavenly court
Isaiah 3:13 See also Psalm 50:4, Psalm 82:1; Daniel 7:9–10; Joel 3:12; Revelation 20:11–15
The LORD arises to contend; He stands to judge the people.
God is judge over the whole of creation
He judges the earth
Genesis 18:25 See also Psalm 9:8, Psalm 58:11, Psalm 82:8, Psalm 94:2, Psalm 96:13, Psalm 98:9
Far be it from You to do such a thing — to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?”
He judges every individual
Ezekiel 33:20 See also Ecclesiastes 3:17; Hebrews 9:27; 1 Peter 4:5; Jude 1:15; Revelation 20:12
Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ But I will judge each of you according to his ways, O house of Israel.”
He judges the nations
Joel 3:12 See also Psalm 9:19–20, Psalm 110:6; Obadiah 1:15; Zephaniah 3:8
Let the nations be roused and advance to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit down to judge all the nations on every side.
He judges rulers of nations
Isaiah 40:23; Jeremiah 25:17–27; Revelation 6:15–17
He judges his own people
Hebrews 10:30 See also Deuteronomy 32:36; Psalm 78:62; Jeremiah 1:16; 1 Peter 4:17
For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge His people.”
He judges angels
He judges Satan
Genesis 3:14–15; Matthew 25:41; 1 Timothy 3:6; Revelation 20:10
God's judgment is inescapable
No-one can hide from God
Obadiah 1:4 See also Genesis 3:8–9; Job 11:20; Jeremiah 11:11; Amos 9:1–4
Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, even from there I will bring you down,” declares the LORD.
God searches human hearts
Jeremiah 17:10 See also 1 Chronicles 28:9; Psalm 7:9; Proverbs 5:21; Jeremiah 11:20
I, the LORD, search the heart; I examine the mind to reward a man according to his way, by what his deeds deserve.
God reveals secrets
Romans 2:16 See also Ecclesiastes 12:14; Jeremiah 16:17; 1 Corinthians 4:5; Hebrews 4:13
on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Christ Jesus, as proclaimed by my gospel.
Examples of God acting as judge
His judgment of the earth in sending the flood
Genesis 6:7, Genesis 6:13, Genesis 6:17, Genesis 7:21–23
His judgment of individuals
Genesis 4:9–12 Cain; Acts 5:3–10 Ananias and Sapphira; Acts 13:8–11 Elymas the sorcerer
His judgment of families
Joshua 7:24–25 of Achan; 1 Samuel 3:12–13 of Eli
His judgment of cities
Genesis 19:24–25 Sodom and Gomorrah; Joshua 6:24 Jericho
His judgment of nations
Deuteronomy 7:1–5 the Canaanite nations
His judgment of the rulers of nations
2 Chronicles 26:16–21 Uzziah; Daniel 4:31–33 Nebuchadnezzar; Daniel 5:22–30 Belshazzar; Acts 12:22–23 Herod
His judgment of his own people
Judges 2:11–15; 2 Chronicles 36:15–20; Isaiah 33:22
God's character is revealed through his righteous judgments
His sovereignty
Psalm 9:7, Psalm 96:10, Psalm 99:4; Ezekiel 6:14
His power
Exodus 6:6, Exodus 14:31; Ezekiel 20:33–36; Revelation 18:8
His holiness
Leviticus 10:1–3; 1 Samuel 6:19–20; Ezekiel 28:22; Revelation 16:5
His anger
His truth
Psalm 96:13; Romans 2:2; Revelation 16:7
His impartiality
2 Chronicles 19:7; Romans 2:9–11; Colossians 3:25; 1 Peter 1:17
His compassion
Lamentations 3:31–33; Hosea 11:8–9; Jonah 3:10, Jonah 4:2
His patience
Numbers 14:18; Nehemiah 9:30; 2 Peter 3:9
His mercy
Nehemiah 9:31; Job 9:15; Psalm 78:38; Micah 7:18
Jesus Christ continues God's work as judge
John 5:22 See also John 5:27; Acts 10:42
Furthermore, the Father judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son,
God will act as judge on the last day
Revelation 20:12 See also Isaiah 2:17; Zephaniah 1:14–18; John 12:48; Acts 17:31; Romans 2:16, Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 2 Timothy 4:1; 1 Peter 4:5; 2 Peter 2:9, 2 Peter 3:7
And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And books were opened, and one of them was the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.