This might be the hardest word for me to get a handle on so far, definition wise; JUDGMENT. It weaves a trail from a rule of governance through judicial verdicts into God's righteous sentencing. What I found at the base of the concept, though, was two lines of thought: God's methods of executing judgment, and my duties TO God's judgments. To avoid confusing the issue, I feel it appropriate to look at these two lines.
God's Methods:
1- Affliction Psa 119:75 I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. God afflicted me because He is faithful? Yes, we've learned that a million ways. The one that always sticks with me is in Job 37:13, when Elihu describes the reasons for the lightning: 'for correction, or for His land, or for mercy.' I like to call it, God's 2X4 to the head, to get me to listen.
2- Patience Psa 119:84 How many are the days of thy servant? When wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me? And this takes us back to the Revelation series, when the Martyrs of the Tribulation ask when their prayers for retribution will be answered, and they are told to 'wait a little while'. God likes to let the evil complete their sinning (as with the Amorites in Genesis 15:16). God holds out for the very last one to repent.
3- Teaching Psa 119:102 I have not declined from thy judgments; for thou hast instructed me. His judgments aren't just "Because I said so"; there is a reason for each one, and He will use them to teach these reasons.
4- Fear Psa 119:120 My flesh trembles in awe of You; I stand in fear of Your judgments. I know this is a concept I've been questioned on before, so let me make this clear: Those who seek His judgments need nt fear as in scared, but reverently, in awe of what He intends to do. Those going they other way, THEY need to be scared.
5- Revival Psa 119:149 Hear my voice according to your gracious love. LORD, revive me in keeping with your justice. Justice is a word used for the same Hebrew word here and there (including my physical Bible). But the point being: These judgments will revive- give renewed life- to those who follow them.
6- Everlastingness Psa 119:160 The entirety of Your word is truth, and all Your righteous judgments endure forever. You can count on His judgments; they aren't ever going to change, nor fail. And if you reject them, there's no way out, either.
7- Help Psa 119:175 Let my soul live, and it shall praise You; and let Your judgments help me. So now do you see? His judgments are there to make you BETTER. You have to get past the "do's and don'ts" idea of God. What He gives you for guidelines are for your good! (Which is why you don't see people in the Bible doing self-flagellation like the monks or nailing themselves to a cross like in the Philippines!)
God's perfect number is seven; thus we see seven ways He brings judgment. But as for what OUR duties are- well, we ain't perfect, so there's nine:
1- To Learn Psa 119:7 I will praise You with uprightness of heart when I have learned Your righteous judgments. Reading the last half of Matthew 5 will show you that it isn't enough to do the letter of the law, but the meaning of it is required. And you need to dig the Scriptures to get that.
2- To Declare Psa 119:13 With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth. You are God's current mouthpiece on earth. Go tell it!
3- To Choose Psa 119:30 I have chosen the way of truth; I have laid Your judgments before me. It does no good to learn, if you don't choose to LIVE by them. Oh Lord, please help me with this!
4- To Dread Psa 119:39 Turn away the disgrace I dread, for Your judgments are good. We have got to get a clear fix on what is wrong, and the consequences thereof.
5- To Remember Psa 119:52 I remember Your judgments of old, O LORD, and in them I find comfort. Keeping them in mind will bring comfort when evil and temptations come.
6- To Thank Psa 119:62 At midnight I rise to give You thanks for Your righteous judgments. Be ready at any waking moment to give thanks for the rules of life that give you solidity, value, and breath.
7- To Keep Psa 119:106 I have sworn and confirmed that I will keep Your righteous judgments. God, take from me my flip-flopping on sin; I can only keep them through You.
8- To Do Psa 119:121 I have done judgment and justice; deliver me not up to them that injure me. Kind of get the feeling these are one step at a time? If I want to DO, I better check steps 1-7 first...
9- To Praise Psa 119:164 Seven times a day I praise You for Your righteous judgments. Go back to #1. It starts with praise- it ends with praise! Because that's the whole point.