Biblical Definition of Judging:
Matthew 7:1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. v2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
Character Study:
Deborah – Judges 4:4-5:31
In the Old Testament Book of Judges, we find that Deborah was a heroine and prophetess who led the Israelites when they were threatened by the Canaanites. Judges 4:4 Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time.
She was married to Lappidoth and lived in the hill country of Ephraim.
Deborah is known as:
The fourth and only female judge of Israel.
Deborah had great influence in Israel, which is evident as the Israelites came to her for counsel and judgment.
Prophetess:
As seen in Judges 4:4 she was a prophetess. The Israelites had been oppressed for twenty years, because of the evil they had done in the eyes of the Lord. She was leading the nation at that time and her special abilities were as a mediator, advisor, and counsellor.
Female warrior:
In Judges 4:6-10 we see Deborah summon Barak, telling him that “The LORD, the God of Israel” has commanded that he, Barak and 10,000 men must lead the way to Mount Tabor. His request that Deborah must go with him, is granted. She warns him that because of how he handles the situation, the LORD will hand Sisera over to a woman. So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh.
Faith:
In Judges 4:12-14 we read when Sisera was told that Barak had gone up to Mount Tabor, he gathered together 900 iron chariots and the men with him. In v14 Deborah told Barak to get ready, because God will give him victory over Sisera.
Poetess:
Judges 5 Song of Deborah. She magnifies the LORD as being the One who enabled Israel’s leaders to conquer their enemies.
She ends her song with v31 “So may all your enemies perish, LORD! But may all who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength.” Then the land had peace forty years.
What the Bible teaches about Judging:
Old Testament:
In Exodus 12:1-14 God instructed Moses and Aaron on what to do when they left Egypt. In short, they had to take some of the blood of the lamb they had slaughtered and put it on the sides and tops of the door frames of their house, where they ate a one-year-old male, either a sheep or a goat. In vv11-12 God instructed them to be fully dressed, and eat the Passover meal with urgency because He is going to lead them out and then “execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt.”
In Deuteronomy, 1:9-18 Moses appoints leaders over each of the tribes. They have become “as numerous as the stars.” They have also become “a heavy load to carry.” He could not bear their problems, burdens, and disputes by himself. He charged their judges to hear disputes from their fellow Israelites and foreigners and then judge them fairly.
In 2 Chronicles 19:4-7, King Jehoshaphat was the king of Judah and lived in Jerusalem. He went out among the people and turned them back to the LORD, the God of their fathers. He appointed judges who were to judge the people as for God and not man.
Isaiah 66:16 In this final chapter of Isaiah, he writes there will be both judgment and hope. Vv12-13 For this is what the LORD says “I will extend peace to her like a river, and the wealth of nations like a flooding stream; you will nurse and be carried on her arm and dandled on her knees. As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.” In vv14-16 the hand of the LORD will be made known to His servants, but His fury will be shown to His foes. v16 For with fire and with His sword the LORD will execute judgment upon all people, and many will be those slain by the LORD.
New Testament:
Matthew 7:1-6 When Jesus went up on the mountainside He taught the people many things. One of his topics was “Judging Others.” See our definition.
Luke 6:37-38 Luke also writes what Jesus taught about “Judging Others” Always remember that the same measure with which we use to treat others – generously, graciously, and compassionately – will also be used for us – a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over.
John 8:1-11 Jesus forgives an adulterous woman: The Pharisees had brought a woman who had been caught in adultery. They wanted to know what Jesus would say, because, in the Law, Moses commanded that such a woman should be stoned. They were seeking an excuse to accuse Jesus. Jesus did not answer them but instead started writing in the sand. v7 When they kept on questioning Him, He straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.“
Romans 2:1-16 This passage is about “God’s Righteous Judgment.” Paul was saying: There is no excuse for any of us to pass judgment on others. We all sin repeatedly and there is no way apart from Christ to be saved.
1 Corinthians 4:1-5 Paul was writing to the people of Corinth that he, Paul, Apollos, and Peter were mere servants of Christ, who has been “entrusted with the secret things of God.” He does not care if he is judged by men. We so easily judge fellow Christians. Never forget that only God knows our hearts and He is the only One with the right to judge.
James 4:11-12 James is saying that when we speak evil against each other or criticize and judge each other we are criticizing and judging God’s law. By judging the law we are not keeping it but we are sitting in judgment of the law.
Application:
In our character study, we saw that Deborah was a judge. The book of Judges in the Bible gives us the process by which God judged the people. Judges 2:18 Whenever the LORD raised a judge for them, He was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the LORD had compassion on them as they groaned under those who oppressed and afflicted them.
The Bible’s command that we must not judge, does not mean we cannot show discernment. When Jesus said that we are not to judge others, He did not imply that we must not identify sin for what it is. For God, sin is sin, whether it is murder or a white lie. When passing judgment, we are showing that we agree with God that it is sin.
Jesus said that we are to look at our sins before judging someone else. We are to confront others’ sins with truth, but at the same time still love and respect them.
How do we know when to judge and when not?
Jesus reminds us in Matthew 12:36 and 37 that we have to be very careful when we speak because the words we speak are usually an indication of what goes on in our hearts. We should think before we speak especially when tempted to criticize/judge someone. Make it a habit to pray Psalm 141:3 Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep a watch over the door of my mouth.
1 Corinthians 6:1-6 In this passage, Paul is teaching how a congregation should handle small problems between believers. As believers, we have the Holy Spirit and the mind of Christ. That is why it should not be necessary for us to turn to those who lack God’s wisdom. Just as we will one day judge the world and angels, we surely should be able to resolve ordinary disputes among ourselves.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
This verse speaks for itself.
Hebrews 4:12 When we make the Lord our priority, we will believe every word written in Scripture. It is living and life-changing as it works in us. It reveals who we are, penetrating the core of our moral and spiritual life. We must not just listen to what the Word says; we must allow it to shape our lives.
Conclusion:
1 Peter 4:5 But they will have to give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
Responding in Prayer:
Read Psalm 18:1-24 – David sang to the LORD the words of this Psalm when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and the hand of Saul.
There are times when we feel the hurt of words spoken in judgment against us and we do not know how to handle it. Those are the times we can be sure that God hears our voices as we cry out to Him.
Being human we also can be judgmental, i.e. “Judging the Pastor’s sermon!” The wonderful thing is that we can ask God to forgive us, when we have been judgmental, knowing that when we confess our sins and repent, we are forgiven. We can say “Hallelujah – Praise the Lord.”
Journal – Scripture/Prayers/Thoughts: