Psalm 98 portrays God as righteous and just, yet countless injustices have occurred throughout history—how does this align with a fair divine judgment?

Psalm 98 and the Concept of Divine Justice

Overview of Psalm 98

Psalm 98 calls for a “new song” of praise because God has done marvelous things. This psalm highlights how He reveals salvation, proclaims righteousness, and offers a promise of fair judgment to the entire earth. The closing verses declare, “Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity” (Psalm 98:8–9). The central issue is reconciling the reality of historical injustices with the psalmist’s depiction of a perfectly righteous Judge.

1. Understanding Righteousness in a Fallen World

God’s nature is fundamentally righteous and just (Deuteronomy 32:4). Nevertheless, humanity experiences injustices, tragedies, and suffering in a fallen world (Romans 3:23). Scripture affirms that God, though sovereign, grants moral agents free will, allowing people to act in ways contrary to His design. Even in this context, Psalm 98 proclaims hope: ultimate justice will be meted out not by human standards, but by God’s perfect morality.

Over the centuries, many have wondered why God permits such wrongdoings. According to 2 Peter 3:9, His patience is meant to allow more people to turn to Him in repentance before final judgment. The tension between present injustice and future justice highlights God’s merciful forbearance. Ultimately, the day of divine reckoning will align with His flawless wisdom.

2. The Consistency of God’s Judgment in Scripture

From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture consistently portrays God as a fair and impartial Judge. Abraham’s rhetorical question, “Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” (Genesis 18:25), sets the stage for the biblical narrative. In every historical period—be it the Flood in Genesis 6–9 or the warnings issued to nations through the prophets—God’s standard remains righteous.

The prophets also echo this theme. Isaiah 61:8 states, “For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity.” The repeating pattern in Scripture is that while humankind’s wrongdoing seems rampant, God’s redemptive plan is ultimately vindicated, culminating in the cross and resurrection of Christ.

3. God’s Righteousness Displayed in Christ

The New Testament affirms that divine justice found its climax in Christ’s atoning work. Romans 3:25–26 explains that God presented Jesus as a propitiation for sin to demonstrate His righteousness “so as to be just and the One who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.” Through the resurrection—documented and affirmed by multiple firsthand witnesses and historically attested by early creeds—God confirms both the severity of sin and the certainty of His promise to judge righteously.

Christ’s resurrection is the ultimate guarantee that God’s justice has not been subverted by human injustice. Outside documents such as the writings of Josephus and Tacitus, while not affirming belief, reference Christ’s impact and the persistence of the Christian faith in the earliest centuries, providing historical corroboration that the event reverberated well beyond a small circle of believers.

4. Delayed Judgment and the Mercy of God

One key scriptural theme addresses why injustices persist if God is righteous. Second Peter 3:8–9 reminds us that what seems like a delay in human terms is part of the larger divine timeline. God’s overarching plan includes a period of grace, inviting repentance and transformation. This grace-based interval is not a failure of justice but an extension of mercy, ensuring that many have the opportunity to come to faith (1 Timothy 2:4).

God’s forbearance does not mean He is indifferent. Revelation 20:11–15 portrays a final judgment in which both great and small, past and present, stand before Him. That ultimate court ensures that historical injustices, whether individual or systemic, are redressed with absolute fairness.

5. Philosophical and Behavioral Considerations

Philosophically, injustice in a world governed by a loving and righteous God raises the question of “the problem of evil.” Observing free will and moral responsibility helps explain how God’s goodness can coexist with human wrongdoing. Behavioral studies also show that people often yearn for justice and fairness—an echo of being made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). This innate sense of moral order aligns with the biblical claim that God wired humanity to seek ultimate justice, which He alone perfectly provides.

6. Archaeological and Historical Support for God’s Righteous Actions

Archaeological finds, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, bolster confidence in the consistent transmission of the Scriptures. These manuscripts confirm that prophecies foretelling Christ’s redemptive work and descriptions of God’s just character remained accurately preserved across centuries. Over time, these discoveries have lent credence to the Bible’s reliability, supporting the assertion that the God portrayed within it is historically faithful and inherently just.

Likewise, geological inquiries have been used to explore significant events discussed in Scripture, including the worldwide Flood narrative. While varying interpretations exist, many argue that certain fossil layers and sedimentary evidence can be examined through a lens suggesting rapid burial and geological processes in line with a global cataclysm—offering a possible scientific parallel to God’s decisive actions of judgment and mercy found in biblical accounts.

7. The Future Restoration of All Things

Psalm 98 connects present praise to future fulfillment: “for He comes to judge the earth” (Psalm 98:9). This eschatological expectation—looking ahead to when Christ returns—provides the believer with assurance that every injustice will be righted. It also inspires hope that divine justice is not just a fleeting concept; it underpins all of history and offers an unshakeable foundation for moral order.

Romans 8:21 shares that creation itself will be set free from the bondage of decay, implying a final renewal in which what has gone wrong will be restored. This restoration includes granting full justice to victims of evil and ushering in everlasting righteousness for those who trust in God.

8. Conclusion and Encouragement

Psalm 98’s depiction of God as righteous and just remains credible despite the persistence of injustice throughout history. Scripture repeatedly reassures that every instance of human wrongdoing will be addressed, either through the transformative mercy found in Christ or through His perfect and ultimate judgment. The psalm’s triumphant tone is grounded in certainty that one day all will see the fullness of divine fairness.

Even when the world seems harsh, believers and seekers alike can find comfort in the proven reliability of Scripture, ongoing archaeological evidence supporting the Bible’s historical claims, and the unchanging truth that “He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity” (Psalm 98:9). This absolute assurance anchors hope, inviting trust in the One who is ever righteous and whose justice is both present and yet to be fully revealed.