The Mighty Judge, the Lawgiver, the King, Our Savior
By Thomas Cosmades
Human government is a man-made institution starting from the days of the
mighty hunter, Nimrod. The
numerous nations in our deficient world are all ruled by some sort of
government. No matter how the
function of governing is executed each one encompasses three aspects which
operate in accordance with the principle of administering, legislating, and
adjudicating. Even in the
excessively dictatorial countries of our woeful world, governmental
structure subscribes to these three branches of rule.
There is no alternative unless people support the cruel utopia of
anarchism or the quirky aberration of sharia law
(Check on this website: “Jesus, on Nimrod’s Empire”).
In countries where these three agencies function, dissatisfaction from many
quarters is common. The cry of
reflective people is worldwide: Where is the ideal government with all three
components operating justly?
Everyone will agree that there is no such government in our tarnished world.
There has never been any; neither shall there be one, except… when
the wise men from the East came to
The mighty prophet and evangelist Isaiah (‘YAHWEH is Salvation’, ca. 700
B.C.) draws universal attention to the province above and beyond our corrupt
world:
“For the LORD is our judge, the LORD
is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he himself will save us” (
I. The LORD is our Judge –
Shafat
History familiarizes its reviewers of worthy judges who left a favorable
mark with their equitable arbitrament.
Nevertheless, not one person’s record is meticulous.
The tentacles of corruption have engulfed even the judiciary
structure in many countries, choking the noble criterion of justice.
In numerous places politically-motivated legal verdicts have reduced
the bench of justice to mockery.
Judicial machines acting as an arm of the political establishment
cause grief and distress to vast numbers of harassed citizens.
Too many interpreters of codes set by their own lawmakers exercise
their privilege according to preconceived bias or personal opinion.
Against these and many more mischievous deeds we remember what the
Judge of judges says: “So have no
fear of them; for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden
that will not be known” (Matthew
The capable person who can satisfy everyone is not to be found in the
echelon of fallen humans.
However, our longings are not merely utopian.
While the manifestation of such a person lies ahead, it can also be
enjoyed presently. Everything
is contingent on one Person who is the bounteous embodiment of all three
positions. The flawless and unveiled judge is to be sought elsewhere, should
anyone have the disposition to look for him. This lofty expectation awaits
fulfillment. Isaiah describes
the majesty of such a supreme judge:
“Then a throne will be established in steadfast love and on it will sit in
faithfulness in the tent of David one who judges and seeks justice and is
swift to do righteousness” (16:5).
The qualities of this optimal leader fascinate us earthlings. He
judges and seeks justice promptly and expeditiously.
He will be judge over all mankind regardless of who or where they
are. The prophet goes on to
describe him more accurately.
His judging and decision-making will be entirely other (cf.
Isaiah 11:3-5).
The incongruity of the whole account is that this peerless and immaculate
judge came to earth as a human. He submitted himself to a totally unjust
procedure, was dragged before two impaired judges – religious and secular –
as a great offender. He was
mocked, spit on and smitten by unworthies. But
ultimately, his secular judge declared him innocent. However, in a move of
appeasement he complied with the wild mob’s irrational demand, agitated by
the religious leaders of the day.
He sentenced Christ to an unjust death:
“By oppression and judgment he was taken away” (Isaiah 53:8a).
This is recorded as history’s most inequitable sentence.
“But he was wounded for our
transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the
chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah
53:5). “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die
to sin and live to righteousness.
By his wounds you have been healed” (I Peter
a. will
judge his believers according to the deeds done in the body, before his BEMA
(cf. Romans 14:10; II Corinthians
5:10).
b. will
judge all the nations in equity (cf.
Matthew 25:32, 33; Ezekiel 34:17, 20).
c. will
judge all rejecters of his saving grace
(cf. Revelation
James in his practical admonition sounds a clear warning
(cf.
II. The LORD is our Lawgiver – Haqaq
Again, history familiarizes us with worthy lawgivers: Hammurabi (1792-1750),
Solon (639-559), B.C.; Justinian (492-566 A.D.). All left their impression
at the apex of attainment and acknowledgement of their exploits.
Yet each one was a faulty mortal.
No reference is made to Moses, however, in this illustrious roster.
While he is acknowledged as an outstanding legislator, throughout the
pages of the text he is seen as being under YAHWEH’s total charge and
coaching: “as the LORD commanded”.
In the whole of the Pentateuch the LORD himself conveys the minutest
detail of the law. He revealed
himself to Moses as, “I AM WHO I AM…I
AM has sent me to you” (Exodus
The meaning of the Hebrew ‘haqaq’
is ‘to engrave’, hence ‘to make statute’.
The Arabic word is ‘hakkak’.
There are a number of Greek words in the context of
charaxis from which many related
terms derive. The well-known
fine craft of the ‘hakkak’ is
highly admired. The ingenious
hakkak can produce wonders with his skillful fingers and engraving pen.
With the word ‘character’ the Greeks describe that attribute which
makes up and distinguishes an individual.
There are also a number of English words with the same derivation.
YAHWEH engraved his impeccable character upon the Decalogue for men
and women to follow his rules and be like him.
“The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of
the LORD is sure, making wise the simple… The sum of thy word is truth; and
every one of thy righteous ordinances endures for ever” (Psalm 19:7;
119:160).
The Israelites strayed into idolatry, thus breaking the perfect law of
YAHWEH. There was no other
option for Moses than to destroy the two plaques.
Breaking the law of the all-transcending LORD is downgrading his
peerless character. His law is
consistent with his glory, which does not concede to any human caprice.
In his encounter with the glory of the thrice-holy God, Isaiah was
left bare and desolate (cf. 6:5).
He realized that in his heart he was not unlike the people he was
sent to censor (cf. 59:2, 3).
Ordinary transgressors who break the laws of their land can reckon with
receiving their due punishment.
How will the transgressor of God’s law who has broken the impeccable divine
commandment written with God’s own finger escape retribution
(cf. Exodus 31:18)?
The perfect law of the Lawgiver is being universally broken.
Too many take pride in jettisoning the law which was meant to do them
good. In actuality YAHWEH’s law
is our benefactor, but man is unaware of the peril of disavowing that which
is meant to serve him. Instead he establishes his own laws, flaunting them
against the laws of the most high God.
And to get around his misdeed he endeavors to establish his own
righteousness with makeshift religious innovations. Contorting the divine
dictum, sinful man is willfully opting out of the valuable in favor of
makeshift substitutes. The tendency is universal.
Jeremiah pronounced heaven’s lament,
“For my people have committed two
evils; they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out
cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns, that can hold no water” (2:13).
His outcry would be the same
today.
Fallen humans are renowned for breaking the basis of all laws, always to
their own loss. Only divine
grace can extract them from this detrimental propensity, making them fully
appreciative of what is morally wholesome.
The supreme Haqaq who prescribed precise laws goes on to implement
their effect in the feeble heart of man through faith in his peerless Son.
He is the only one who fulfilled in his body every single requirement
of the law (cf. Galatians 4:4, 5).
His offer of redemption to those under the curse of the law is
absolute.
“I will put my law within them, and
I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall
be my people” (Jeremiah 31:33b).
The divine effect is reiterated twice by the writer to the Hebrews
(cf.
III. The LORD is our King – Melek
Human rule from royal nobility down to the precept of municipality is made
of imperfect stuff, the very last one from the seed of the fallen human
race. Let your thoughts carry
you back to Nimrod, the first human ruler.
Throughout the aeons all the way to our time a whole series of failed
rulers, kings and potentates are before our eyes.
Their disreputable acts testify against them: wars, religious wars,
invasions, putsches, dictatorships, falsehood and deception, concentration
camps, gas chambers, gulags, recruitment of child soldiers, organized
terrorism, destruction, mass murder, torture, slavery, exploitation,
plunder, rape, oppressive rule, fraud, corruption, incapability to crush the
drug menace, polluting the planet, ad infinitum.
The history of human government,
with a few pages making room for honorable administration, is replete with
shameful acts which are constantly accumulating.
The sovereign, flawless creator most certainly did not make or intend to
assign such rulers. Man is
affected by sin. This abhorrent blemish tarnished his capability to amicably
govern his fellow humans. The heavens have shuddered at the countless
misdeeds of governmental establishments all over the world throughout
history. Human leadership and government have precious little to their
credit. From the pages of the
Pentateuch God makes it very clear that he is reserving an entirely blissful
administration under one king, whom he anointed as Messiah over
This person is real. His first
appearance constituted the apex of all world events, altered the times and
left behind a series of extraordinary accomplishments.
His second appearance in God’s predestined time will usher in the
ultimate transformation of human life on earth.
The whole of humanity throughout the ages has longed for the ideal
ruler. Almighty God answers
man’s yearning categorically.
“Your eyes will see the king in his
beauty; they will behold a land that stretches afar…Then the moon will be
confounded, and the sun ashamed; for the LORD of hosts will reign on Mount
Zion and in Jerusalem and before his elders he will manifest his glory…Then
justice will dwell in the wilderness, and righteousness abide in the
fruitful field. And the effect of
righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness, quietness and
trust for ever” (Isaiah 33:17; 24:23; 32:16, 17).
One of the most beautiful appellations used for the Father as well as
the Son is Pantocrator, All Powerful Ruler:
(cf. II
Corinthians 6:18; Revelation 1:8;
4:8; 11:17; 15:3; 16:7, 14; 19:6, 15). (Check the article, ‘Pantocrator
– Cosmocrators’ in this website.)
The eternal Christ of God Almighty has come, and will come with the
qualities that no human ruler has ever possessed.
The Koheleth in a
predisposition of pessimism cries out in deep agony:
“I looked again and saw all the oppression that goes on in the world; there
were the oppressed in tears, with no one to redress their wrongs—tyrants in
power, and the oppressed in tears, with no one to redress their wrongs!” (Moffatt,
Ecclesiastes 4:1). God in appointing Moses as leader of his people said,
“I have seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them” (Exodus
3:9b). The God of love and
comfort sees the oppression today, as then, endured by men, women and
children throughout the world where repressive rule is the norm.
In astonishing ways he made a perfect provision to rescue
Too many infamous chieftains have appeared on the scene, assuming their
undeserved rule, to the dismay and bewilderment of multitudes.
There were some who applauded the taking over of the state machine by
such demagogues as the notorious Hitler, only to have their hopes dashed.
World leaders throughout history have inflamed and then squelched
their adherents. However, God’s
Messiah is in a totally different category:
“For our shield belongs to the LORD, our king to the Holy One of
IV. He Will Save Us
The initial prophecy concerning the coming of the Savior was given by YAHWEH
himself, who declared to Satan the advent of the Redeemer and his crushing
the head of this merciless enemy.
“I will put enmity between you
and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your
head, and you shall bruise his heel” (Genesis
While there have been famous judges, lawgivers and rulers, not one of these
bore the name ‘Savior’. This
glorious appellation belongs exclusively to Christ, God’s only Son appointed
by him to save sinners. The
natural question is directed also to you: Has Christ saved you from your
sin? Have you trusted in him as
Savior and Lord? If you have
taken this vital step, rejoice forevermore and live to please him daily.
If you have not joined the company of his believers, do so this very
moment, by faith in his infinite grace and absolute sufficiency to forgive
you. Once he becomes your
Savior, you will find him to be Savior in every sense:
He will save mankind from unjust judges, uncharitable lawmakers and
selfish executives. He will
save us from the dominion of Satan, from future judgment, from death and
every other destructive element of this transient life.
You, too, can jubilate with John the Revelator,
“The kingdom of the world has become
the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and
ever” (Revelation 11:15b).