He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.
Psalm 96:13

We expect righteousness and faithfulness from human judges, because the judge stands in the place of God as he upholds what’s right and declares the proper punishment for what’s wrong. It’s a terrible scandal when we discover that a judge is unrighteous himself while dispensing justice to others, or that a judge is not being faithful to the principles of law and justice in his rulings.

These are scandals because we expect better. Somehow in our hearts we know that the judge is supposed to behave as much as possible as God Himself would do.

The same expectation applies to all of us in any position of authority. A legislator or a governor, a teacher, a parent, a police officer or a pastor are all held to a higher standard of conduct precisely because of their position. They are supposed to uphold the right and oppress the wrong by word and example.

God has put this sense of His image into the human heart. We expect to see the image of God upheld by those in authority, because they stand in the place of God as His representatives.

Of course, none of us are anywhere near an accurate reflection of the true and absolute righteousness and faithfulness of God. That’s why He will come to judge the earth and make things right at last. It’s why we live day by day counting on His mercy and forgiveness for Jesus’s sake, and why we depend on His guidance to see us through in our work today.

Lord, You know how far I fall short of true righteousness and faithfulness. Thank You for forgiving me and bearing with my shortcomings. Help me today, in whatever role You give me, to represent You in what I say and do. Amen.

Pastor Dan Giles