Biblical Response to Ungodly Judges Abusing Children
The biblical response to ungodly judges abusing children is rooted in the scriptural emphasis on justice, particularly for the vulnerable. Psalm 82:3 commands judges to "defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed" [3]. This directive is echoed in various biblical passages that condemn injustice towards children and the fatherless, emphasizing God's special concern for their welfare [6].
The Bible portrays God as a protector of the vulnerable, who hears the cry of the afflicted and punishes those who oppress them. Exodus 22:22-24 warns against afflicting widows and orphans, stating that God will hear their cry and punish those who mistreat them. Similarly, Deuteronomy 10:18 and Psalm 10:14 highlight God's role as a helper and father to the fatherless [6].
Ungodly judges who abuse children are considered to be in rebellion against God. The Bible associates such behavior with wickedness and rebellion against divine authority [7]. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, children who are wicked or disobedient are described in various biblical passages, emphasizing the consequences of such behavior [1, 2].
The biblical response to such ungodly judges involves calling them to account for their actions. Ezekiel 20:4 challenges the prophet to "judge them, son of man" and confront them with their abominations. Jude 1:15 speaks of God's judgment against the ungodly, emphasizing that they will be held accountable for their actions [4, 5].
In the view of Reformed theologians like Calvin, the Bible teaches that God uses various agents to execute his judgments, including wicked men. Calvin's commentary on Isaiah notes that God acts righteously even through cruel agents, without being stained by their wickedness [8]. This perspective underscores the biblical theme of God's sovereignty over all human actions, including those of ungodly judges.
The Patristic tradition also emphasizes God's justice in punishing the wicked. Augustine's writings highlight the wonder of God's judgments, noting that He forgives some and gives perseverance to others, demonstrating His sovereignty and justice [9].
In the Jewish tradition, the Targum Jonathan on Isaiah 47:3 interprets God's judgment as involving the uncovering of shame and the taking of vengeance. This interpretation underscores the biblical theme of God's justice and retribution against those who abuse the vulnerable [10].
The biblical response to ungodly judges abusing children thus involves a call to justice, accountability, and divine judgment. It emphasizes God's special concern for the vulnerable and His role as a protector and judge of those who mistreat them. As Calvin's Institutes note, believers are called to humble themselves before God in the face of injustice, recognizing His sovereignty over all human authorities [11].
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Titles and Names of the Wicked — Adversaries of the Lord -- 1Sa 2:10. Children of Belial -- De 13:13; 2Ch 13:7. Children of the devil -- Ac 13:10; 1Jo 3:10. Children of the wicked one -- Mt 13:38. Children of hell -- Mt 23:15. Children of base men -- Job 30:8. Children of fools -- Job 30:8. Children of strangers -- Isa 2:6. Children of transgression -- Isa 57:4. Children of disobedience -- Eph 2:2; Col 3:6. Children in whom is no faith -- De 32:20. Children of the flesh -- Ro 9:8. Children of iniquity -- Ho 10:9. Children that will not hear the law of the Lord -- Isa”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Children, Wicked — Know not God -- 1Sa 2:12. Are void of understanding -- Pr 7:7. Are proud -- Isa 3:5. With regard to parents Hearken not to them. -- 1Sa 2:25. Despise them. -- Pr 15:5,20; Eze 22:7. Curse them. -- Pr 30:11. Bring reproach on them. -- Pr 19:26. Are a calamity to them. -- Pr 19:13. Are a grief to them. -- Pr 17:25. Despised their elders. -- Job 19:18. Punishment of, for Setting light by parents. -- De 27:16. Disobeying parents. -- De 21:21. Mocking parents. -- Pr 30:17. Cursing parents. -- Ex 21:15; Mr 7:10. Smiting parents. -- Ex 21:15. Mocking of a ”
- Psalms “Psalms 82:3 (ASV) — Judge the poor and fatherless: Do justice to the afflicted and destitute.”
- Ezekiel “Ezekiel 20:4 (BSB) — Will you judge them, will you judge them, son of man? Confront them with the abominations of their fathers”
- Jude “Jude 1:15 (LITV) — "to do judgment against all, and to rebuke all" the ungodly of them concerning all their ungodly works which :they ungodly" did, "and concerning all the hard things ungodly sinners spoke against Him." I Enoch 1:9; 5:4; 60:8”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Fatherless — Find mercy in God -- Ho 14:3. God will Be a father of. -- Ps 68:5. Be a helper of. -- Ps 10:14. Hear the cry of. -- Ex 22:23. Execute the judgment of. -- De 10:18; Ps 10:18. Punish those who oppress. -- Ex 22:24; Isa 10:1-3; Mal 3:5. Punish those who judge not. -- Jer 5:28,29. Visit in affliction -- Jas 1:27. Let them share in our blessings -- De 14:29. Defend -- Ps 82:3; Isa 1:17. Wrong not, in judgment -- De 24:17. Defraud not -- Pr 23:10. Afflict not -- Ex 22:22. Oppress not -- Zec 7:10. Do no violence to -- Jer 22:3. Blessedness of taking care of -- ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Rebellion Against God — Forbidden -- Nu 14:9; Jos 22:19. Provokes God -- Nu 16:30; Ne 9:26. Provokes Christ -- Ex 23:20,21; 1Co 10:9. Vexes the Holy Spirit -- Isa 63:10. Exhibited in Unbelief. -- De 9:23; Ps 106:24,25. Rejecting his government. -- 1Sa 8:7; 15:23. Revolting from him. -- Isa 1:5; 31:6. Despising his law. -- Ne 9:26. Despising his counsels. -- Ps 107:11. Distrusting his power. -- Eze 17:15. Murmuring against him. -- Nu 20:3,10. Refusing to hearken to him. -- De 9:23; Eze 20:8; Zec 7:11. Departing from him. -- Isa 59:13. Rebellion against governors appoi”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 1, section 19.23: the present day, making it their chief object in war to plunder, more readily spare the life of men, and are not so bloodthirsty as the Germans or the English, who think of nothing but slaying the enemy. We ought not to think it strange that the Lord, though he is not cruel, yet makes use of agents who are so cruel, for he acts righteously even by the agency of wicked men, and is not stained with their wickedness. It would therefore be improper to form our judgment of the work of God from the executioners of it, for they are prompted either ”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 5: Augustine — Anti-Pelagian — CHAP. 18.--SOME INSTANCES OF GOD'S AMAZING: JUDGMENTS. It is, indeed, to be wondered at, and greatly to be wondered at, that to some of His own children--whom He has regenerated in Christ--to whom He has given faith, hope, and love, God does not give perseverance also, when to children of another He forgives such wickedness, and, by the bestowal of His grace, makes them His own children. Who would not wonder at this? Who would not be exceedingly astonished at this? But, moreover, it is not less marvellous, and still true, and so manifest that not even t”
- Targum Jonathan (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Targum Jonathan, Targum Jonathan on Isaiah 47:3: Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, thy shame shall be seen; I will take full vengeance, on thee and I will change thy judgment from the children of men.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 102: prince, let us first call up the remembrance of our faults, which doubtless the Lord is chastising by such scourges. In this way humility will 2674 curb our impatience. And let us reflect that it belongs not to us to cure these evils, that all that remains for us is to implore the help of the Lord, in whose hands are the hearts of kings, and inclinations of kingdoms.65 691 691 Dan. 9:7 ; Prov. 21:1 ; Psalm 82:1 ; 2:10; Isaiah 10:1 . “God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.” Before his face shall ”