The Robe of the Judge

Before Samuel anointed Saul as the first king of Israel, God used judges to govern His people.

Wearing the robe of the judge is merely a figurative expression since they had no prescribed dress code. The only way they were recognised was by the actions they performed, which served as stamps of divine authority.

The judges, in essence, were governors of God’s people and governed them by executing God’s judgements.

In Hebrew, the verb for judge is “shafat,” meaning to pronounce a sentence for or against an accused, that is, either to vindicate or to punish him. God’s judges essentially had more authority than the kings that came afterwards. God Himself appointed the judges, and they gave reckoning to Him only. On the other hand, the people elected the kings, which meant that they had to give reckoning to the people as well.

God’s people are called to judge the world

God’s plan for each of us that take up the robe of the judge is that we will be worthy one day of judging the world and even the angels.

Don’t you know that God’s people will judge the world? Well, then, if you are to judge the world, aren’t you capable of judging small matters? Do you not know that we shall judge the angels? How much more, then, the things of this life! [1Co 6:2-3 GNB]

But we should take note of the fact that, because we are not there yet, we have to be very careful when judging others.

That is, because right here, right now, God will judge each of us with the same standards that we use to judge other people.

Therefore, you have no excuse—every one of you who judges. For when you pass judgment on another person, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, practice the very same things. [Rom 2:1 ISV]

Jesus has received the robe of the judge from His Father.

And he has given the Son the right to judge, because he is the Son of Man. [Joh 5:27 GNB]

As it stands, Jesus has received God’s full mandate as judge over everyone and everything.

Just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, in the same way the Son gives life to those he wants to. Nor does the Father himself judge anyone. He has given his Son the full right to judge, [Joh 5:21-22 GNB]

He judges in the power of the Father’s delegated authority.

“I can do nothing on my own authority; I judge only as God tells me, so my judgment is right, because I am not trying to do what I want, but only what he who sent me wants.” [Joh 5:30 GNB]

In Christ, we are given the same ability.

“Whoever has the Spirit, however, is able to judge the value of everything, but no one is able to judge him.” [1Co 2:15 GNB]

This was the last page of the Armour of God series.