Praying to Appoint Righteous Judges
©September 23, 2008 Asher Intrater

One of the most important themes of the Bible is justice. Justice simply means: 1) punishing the wicked, 2) rewarding the righteous, and 3) acquitting the innocent. The person ultimately responsible for justice is God himself. Yet He has arranged a system of justice in which He delegates judgment into the hands of men.

The chief appointed judge is Yeshua (Jesus) Himself.

Acts 17:30-31
God now commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained.

John 5:22
For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son.

II Corinthians 5:10
For we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

Judgment in the world to come is not only in the hands of Yeshua, but in the hands of His judicial team, His staff, His legal advisors. And who are they? - Those who have been trained and discipled by Him to be able to cooperate in righteous judgment.

I Corinthians 6:2
Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters?

Matthew 19:28
You who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

Some people wrongly think that the gospel does away with judgment altogether. That is not true. The very offer of atonement is a legal pardon. How can there be an offer of pardon if there is no system of justice?

Forgiveness is granted to those who repent of their crimes and believe in the one who has forgiven them. If there were no repentance demanded, then grace would be justifying the crime. The gospel message starts with "repent and believe." 

There could be no offer of pardon if the one offering the pardon did not have the authority to judge. One who has the authority to pardon must likewise have the authority to punish. When Yeshua told people that He forgave them, He was assuming a position as their judge. He who pardoned sins at His first coming will punish sins at His second coming.

Justice is not an issue of only one "Day of Judgment."  It is an ongoing system of administering God's standards of righteousness. Those who have proved themselves trustworthy in this world will be part of administrating that righteousness in the world to come.  Judging and ruling are linked together in God's government.

During this lifetime justice is administered by a system of judges, legislatures, courts, and police. These lawmakers and law-enforcers oftentimes do not administer justice correctly, but that is the job they have been assigned to do.

Deuteronomy 16:18-20
Judges and officers you will give in all your gates… and they will judge the people with righteous judgment. You will not pervert justice; you will not show partiality; nor will you take bribes… Righteousness, righteousness, you will pursue.

What a monumental statement this is in the Torah! It establishes a righteous standard of judgment AND a judicial system to administrate that standard. The appointment of judges is ordained by God. Therefore those who administer justice are "ministers" of God.

Note: Government has three branches: 1. legislative - lawmakers; 2 judicial – judges; 3 executive – enforcers. These three roles are based on three aspects of God's authority. (Isaiah 33:22 - YHVH, our judge; YHVH, our lawmaker; YHVH, our king.)  Members of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches are all considered ministers of God.

Romans 13:1, 4
The authorities that exist are appointed by God… He is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.

Our job as evangelists is to call people to accept God's forgiveness through Yeshua, so they will not be subject to God's wrath.

Our job as prophets is to declare the righteous standard of God so that people will repent and be eligible for that forgiveness.

Our job as intercessors is to pray for the right people to be appointed as judges, and for those who are in office to uphold the righteous standard of God.

How God longs for His people to regain the prophetic mantle and declare His standard of righteousness in this world!

Amos 5:24
Let justice run down like water, and righteousness like a mighty stream.

How important it is for us to pray for righteous judges to be restored to their ordained positions in government!

Isaiah 1:26
I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you will be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city.

This promise of God is quoted in prayer by orthodox Jews everyday.

We have a prophetic mantle like Amos to declare God's standards of justice and, like Isaiah, to pray for righteous judges to be appointed. Let us fulfill this prophetic mandate, and God will change the course of history and government before our very eyes.