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          There are some very interesting points made in this prayer by Jeremiah, and certainly we can identify with the fact that "the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his own steps." Only the Lord can direct us. Only He knows what the future holds, and only He can bring His purpose to fulfillment. Because Jeremiah knew this, He was able to pray, "Lord, YOU correct us." Let our God gird up our way and bring us into alignment with the path of righteousness. This is in harmony with Proverbs 5:21, "For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord, and He pondereth all his goings."

           "A man 's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps." [Proverbs 16:9].
          "The lot is cast into the lap: but the disposing thereof is of the Lord." [Proverbs 16:33].

           But now we come to an interesting point in Jeremiah's understanding, for since he knew that "the way of man is t not in himself," and that it would require the Lord to direct the step, and betimes correction would be needed to keep us in the right way, then he states, "correct me, BUT WITH JUDGMENT." But please, no correction in anger, and reserve all Your fury for the heathen. Perhaps Jeremiah imputed the anger and fury of man's emotions to God, not understanding anger from God's viewpoint, as being His energy forces set in motion to bring forth a righteous state. But, even giving Jeremiah the benefit of the doubt, as the expression goes, that he possibly understood the "anger and fury" to include more of the destructive action of tearing down the old, before establishing the new, still we see that he makes a distinct difference between JUDGMENT and ANGER. Judgment he would welcome, but manifestations of anger he did not desire. He realized that judgment would be to his benefit, but he feared to have God angry at him, and preferred to think of all of God's fury as being directed against the heathen.
          "Great are Thy tender mercies, O Lord: quicken me according to Thy Judgments." [Psalm 119:156]. Well the Psalmist knew of the tender mercies of the Lord, and spake of them often, "I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever...." [Psalm 89:1]. And to be quickened─ revived, this he knew, for many a time when he was faint and failing, he would be refreshed with new life and victory. But the next word is what startles many readers when they come to it, for he puts it all together and prays, "quicken me according to Thy judgments."
          When we ask for God to QUICKEN US, bring us into new dimensions of His life, do we ask Him to do it according to─ in harmony with─ His judgments? Perhaps the reason we do not usually include His judgments in our prayers is due to past traditional teachings that make all His judgments synonymous with calamities, perils, grief, trouble, which we would like to avoid. Because we only thought of His judgments in a punitive sense, we feared them. But the Psalmist realized that if he were to be made alive into new dimensions of glory, it would have to be "according to Thy judgments."
          "Let my soul live, and it shall praise Thee: and let Thy judgments HELP ME." [Psalm 119:175]. Isn't that beautiful? There is HELP in all the judgments of God. The scriptural coverage of the judgments of God is vast, speaking of the judgment of Satan, of the unholy angels, of nations, of cities, of the wicked, even of this entire present world arrangement (kosmos). "Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me." [John 12:31-32].
          "And when HE (the Comforter) is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father, and ye see Me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged." [John 16:8-11].
          "Now is the judgment of this world." A process that began with the coming of Jesus Christ, "For judgment I am come into the world." [John 9:39], and which continues through the ministry of the Comforter. HE was a firsthand Witness, and the world was on trial. Before He left the earth in His bodily form, He passed sentence upon it all─ though it remains to yet be executed to the full. The "prince of this world is judged," and in due time all the rest of the world will have to follow through that same judgment process and be dealt with accordingly. So complete was His judgment of "the prince," that we read in another place, "That through death He might DESTROY HIM that had the power of death, that is, the devil." [Hebrews 2: 14]. Destroy─ from the Greek, to disannul, to make of none effect. From Calvary onward, we see in Christ that triumphant victory and liberty which shall ultimately be realized by all creation. He has "the keys of hell and of death." [Revelation 1:18]. And He has purposed that in due time "IN CHRIST shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order."
          Specifically, and personally, there are three distinct judgments for the people of God; one is already past, one is continuously present, and one is yet future. For we are judged as sinners; as sons; and then for our service.
          Romans 5:18, "Therefore by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation." Interesting word, condemnation, from a Greek word that means "judgment against." The sentence against sin is death. "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." [Ezekiel 18:4]. "By one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." [Romans 5:12]. So as sinners, the judgment was AGAINST US. We were pronounced guilty, our very state of sinful being testifying against us. But came the day when God sent His only begotten Son into the world, to be that "Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world." [John 1:29]. And "Thou shalt call His name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins." [Matthew 1:21]. This tremendous operation of God is little yet comprehended.
          The prophecy was given, "Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered? But thus saith the Lord, even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered: for I will contend with him that contendeth with thee, and I will save thy children." [Isaiah 49:24-25].
          Jesus Christ came to be that Deliverer, stating, "If I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come upon you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house." [Matthew 12:28-29].
          Jesus took from the Adversary "all his armour wherein he trusted." [Luke 11:22]. The strong man's armour included fear, unbelief, death, but now our Lord has "the keys of hell and of death." And now HE uses the death process, not against us, but FOR US. "That the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe we shall also live with Him." [Romans 6:6-8].           Wherein once death came as an enemy, and it destroyed us, now Jesus Christ uses the death-process as a means of releasing us from the body of sin, from the passions of sin that He might bring us into His new, more abundant life. Therefore this death-process is now used positively, FOR US, and no more negatively against us. Thus we have a small glimpse into the wonder of this working whereby Christ took from the strong man the armour wherein he trusted. Now, through the death-process He shall destroy all the negative kingdom, by causing us to die out to it.

          Colossians 2: 14-15, "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross,. Having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it."

 The frailities, the weaknesses of flesh cause us to fall, to err, and ordinance upon ordinance was written against us. Then He came and BLOTTED THEM OUT. This refers to the most ancient method of cancelling obligations, and is frequently alluded to in the Old Testament. "According to the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions." [Psalm 51:1]. Again, "I, even I, am He that blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and I will not remember thy sins." [Isaiah 43:25]. Now when Paul speaks of Christ's blotting out the handwriting, taking it away, and NAILING IT to His cross, he alludes to the various ways of cancelling a debt-bond; one of which was striking a nail through it on a post, in a public place. He gathered up all the ordinances AGAINST US, and just nailed them to His cross.
          The extent of this removal of that which was "AGAINST  US" is almost too much to comprehend. "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, NOT IMPUTING THEIR TRESPASSES UNTO THEM." [2 Corinthians 5:19]. There is no statement that can come against you, when He removes all of the against-judgment. "What shall we then say to these things? If God before us, who can be against us? ─Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect?" [Romans 8:31,33]. There is none that durst bring to God a railing accusation against you, because Christ, and all that He has done FOR US, will silence every accusation. "There is therefore now no condemnation (no against judgment) to them in Christ Jesus." [Romans 8:1].
          When Christ became the sin-offering, He dealt with the sin question, judged the prince of this world who enticed and seduced man into sin, spoke a finis for all the mystery of iniquity, and OPENED THE WAY FOR THE NEW LIFE. "God commended His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died FOR US. Much more then, being  now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life." [Romans 5:8-10].
          The old self-life, in all of its ego, rebellion, sinfulness, is not justified, it is PUT TO DEATH, crucified. This is not a negative thing, it is a positive action FOR OUR GOOD, because then we shall come forth IN HIS LIFE─ "we shall be saved by HIS LIFE." And it is this Christ-life within that is justified─ i.e. declared to be ALL-RIGHTEOUS. Old things pass away, and all things become new. The cross becomes the transition, ending the old adamic nature, and preparing the way for HIS CHRIST-NATURE to be expressed through us. Apart from the cross men die in their sin, but by His cross we die to our sin. Thank God for His cross which brings an end to all that has been against us. Now, IN HIM we find that everything IS FOR US. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." [Galatians 2:20]. No more is the judgment against us as sinners, but all judgment is now FOR US─ bringing an end to sin, and a restoration into the fulness of His life. Every application of the Cross becomes a positive action FOR U.S, until. we are fully new in Him. From Calvary on, all the things written against us have been NAILED─ henceforth it is to all be FOR US, to work together into our good, and for His praise.
          This brings us to "the judgment for the sons." "The Spirit beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God." [Romans 8:16]. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power (the right, or privilege) to become the sons of God." [John 1:12].
          TO BECOME His sons! This bespeaks of all the process of growth, development, training, in order to bring us into the maturity of being HIS SONS. And this necessitates that He bring us into judgment, son-judgment.
          "For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world." [1 Corinthians 11:31-32].
          There is a judgment that remains against the world-sentence has been passed on this world's system, it has been weighed in the balance and found wanting. And "He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained." [Acts 17:31]. All that He has determined shall be executed in due time. It is only IN CHRIST that there is no judgment against us, it all becomes FOR US. If we are not under His covering, but remain under the control of the spirit of the world, then the judgment against the world is against us, also. But if we are now being "chastened of the Lord," then we will not be "condemned with the world." You will not have to receive, nor be a partaker of any of the against-judgment of the world, when you are IN CHRIST and receive everything which is FOR YOU. So the question remains, are we in Christ? Or, are we in the world? In the world it is all against us, in Christ it is all FOR US.
          Jacob viewed all his troubles, and with the natural understanding uttered, "All these things are against me." [Genesis 42:36]. The world feels this way. They carry a chip on their shoulder, and think that every man and situation is against them, seeking to knock that chip off their shoulder and cause them more trouble. For sure, this world's system is negative, it is programmed that way. It is controlled by "the law of sin and death."
          But IN CHRIST this is all reversed, and rather than being against us, it is working for our good. As Joseph said to his brethren, "As for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good...." [Genesis 50:20]. Any man, energized by the spirit of the world, seeks for his own selfish welfare, and thinks evil against others. The politician spews out all the dirt that he can conjure up against his opponent. It is all negative, all against. Thus, it is a wonder of the grace and power of God that He can take all of that which man thinks against us, and work it into our good, so that it  becomes FOR US. In Christ the path of degeneration is brought to a halt, and the regeneration begins, so that there is a restoration into wholeness and victory.
          All chastening is son-judgment, as inspection is made, sentence is passed upon the need, and correction is worked out. In our development, as we "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ," [2 Peter 3: 18] and are able to judge ourselves, recognize our own mistakes, and make our repentance, then God does not have to institute the processes to do so. However, there are vast areas in our lives wherein we are unable to judge ourselves, for, after all, we are not our own saviours, and so we are judged by the Lord, and then CHASTENED BY HIM─ chastened, from the Greek word that means "child-training." As our Father, He often passes judgment upon an action, or attitude, and then proceeds to correct us and make it right, so that we are conformed to His image.
          This corrective action is most POSITIVE, with the added blessing that being chastened, set to rights, we will not become a partaker of the world's condemnation, its against-judgments, and all of its coming corrective processings.
          We are reminded, 1 Peter 4:17, that "The time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it begin first at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" This IS the time, it has come, God is JUDGING HIS HOUSE, those whom He has apprehended now, that He might dwell in them by His Spirit. These disciplinary measures are effective, and we are being changed from glory to glory. He is dealing with everything deep within us, that His life alone might be manifested through us.
          "If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as sons.... for our profit, that we might be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." [Hebrews 12:7, 10-11].
          Here we have the timing, the nature, and the purpose of our son-judgment. The timing is NOW, the present. These very days in which we are living; as He uses the nitty-gritty of natural existence to expose our inner needs and correct us. In its full scope, the world's judgment is yet to come, but the sons are being judged now. To him that overcometh now, in these things, he shall not be hurt of the second death processes which are to come later on. The sons are before the judgment seat of Christ now, being measured up to Him now. As day by day the Holy Spirit alerts us to certain things within, and we repent, and seek to walk in His way. There is a continuous girding up into His own image.
          The nature of our judgment is "chastening." And the purpose thereof is that we might be "partakers of His holiness, and yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness."
          Interesting that the word "chasten" from the Latin, is "castigare" from "castus" meaning PURE, and "agere" meaning TO DRIVE, thus: TO DRIVE INTO PURITY. That's beautiful! All of God's chastenings are to drive us in to His purity! That we might be partakers of His holiness! His chastenings are not punishments─ to inflict us with pain, a penalty that makes us suffer loss. It is all for our good, "for our profit," that it might yield the peaceable fruit of His righteousness. It hastens us onward into His blessings !
          And, we repeat, the Greek word for "chasten" means: To instruct, to child-train, the purpose being to bring us to spiritual maturity. "Till we all come... unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we be no more children..." [Ephesians 4:13-14]. All of our disciplines, as son-judgment, is designed to cultivate and increase those good qualities of His nature in us, and bring forth that which pleases Him.
          "Every branch that beareth fruit HE PURGETH that it might bring forth more fruit." [John 15:2]. It works obedience, understanding, wisdom, divine nature, and the revelation of the Lord in our lives. "Herein is My Father I glorified, that ye bear much fruit." [John 15:8].
          Thus we understand, the first judgment was against us as sinners, that is past. The judgment as sons is continuously present, working for our good, that we might be found to His praise. And the third judgment is yet future, for it is the judgment of service, for rewards.
          There is a distinct difference between inheritance and rewards. There is an inheritance in Christ, because we are His. Relationship brings this inheritance, and we "are the children of God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ." [Romans 8:17]. "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of  the inheritance of the saints in light." [Colossians 1: 12].
          Besides that which is received through inheritance because of our relationship in the family of God, there are also those rewards for service. "Behold, the Lord hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of  Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, His reward is  with Him, and His work before Him." [Isaiah 62: 11].
          When He comes, He will bring us into the fulness of our salvation. "Unto them that look for Him shall He appear the second time without sin unto salvation." [Hebrews 9:28]. "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." [1 Peter1:13]. "Wherefore our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body..." [Philippians 3:20-21].
          He will finish this work within, which He began in our  spirit, carried on through the renewing of our mind, ultimately climaxing it with the redemption of our body. Our salvation will be total and complete, spirit, soul, and body. So it is a thrill to read, "Behold, thy salvation cometh." But accompanying this bringing of salvation, are also those REW ARDS which He is bringing with Him.
          We shall be judged according to our service, to receive those rewards which are in addition to our salvation, that we might be adorned according to our service. Peter once wrote of having "an entrance that shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." [2 Peter 1: 11].
          "For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of His Father with his angels (messengers); and then He shall REWARD every man according to his works." [Matthew 16:27].
          In our relationship to God, we are dealt with as sons, and receive an inheritance as sons; but in relationship to men, we are as servants of God. Kings and priests, sons and servants─ it is a dual role to be filled. Sons will reign, sharing His throne. The priests, the servants, serve─ they minister to the needs of men.
          We know that Jesus was THE SON, and He demonstrated His authority, His power, emphasizing the relationship which He has with The Father. Yet He also was THE SERVANT of all servants, coming not to be ministered unto, but "to minister, and to give His life a ransom for many." [Mark 10:45].
          As we follow "in His steps," we rejoice both in our relationship to our Father, and the inheritance we have in Him, and also in the privilege we have of SERVING. Service is a life that is lived as an expression of worship, for "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these My brethren, ye have done it unto Me." [Matthew 25:40].
          Happy shall be that servant to whom He says, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord." [Matthew 25:23].
          "And the nations were angry, and Thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that Thou shouldest give REWARD unto Thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear Thy name, small and great." [Revelation 11:18].
          Having been judged as sons, disciplined, trained, developed to spiritual maturity, and serving Him with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength, when He comes to judge the world─ finish the execution upon this world's system that which was begun at Calvary, upon the prince of this world, at the same time He brings the REWARDS to His servants. Far better to endure the processes of judgment NOW, as the house of God is being cleansed, and then be ready to receive those REWARDS, than to follow our own self-pursuits now, and have to then partake of the condemnation of the world," in that day.
          Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall RECEIVE A REWARD. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." [1 Corinthians 3:13-15].
          Part of the rewards to be given, is a GREATER SERVICE. Of our Lord, it is written, "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son." [John 5:22]. Then He in turn, says to His brethren, "He that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule (shepherd) them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of My Father." [Revelation 2:26-27].
          This also, Paul reaffirms, stating, "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world, that we shall judge angels?"  [1 Corinthians 6:2-3]. He judged the prince of this world, and now the saints shall finish up that judgment of the world, until all is restored again.
          Hear also the Psalmist, "To execute upon them the judgments written: this honour have all His saints." [Psalm 149:9].
          Only those who have been fully judged, and brought into oneness in Him, partakers of His divine nature, conformed to His image, filled with His fulness, will He entrust with this tremendous responsibility and ministry. Because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things. "Enter thou into the JOY of thy Lord." Dare we consider executing His judgments as part of the JOY of the Lord? Certainly! Because it is a joyful thing to know that all of that which has been corrupt, turned out of the way, devastated, marred, brought to ruin, shall now be JUDGED─ receiving those correctional processings which shall restore all things into the fulness of His life, harmony, and glory. All future service will be executed in an outflow of JOY. Their own judgments have brought them into this joy, and the judgments they execute shall bring all the world into this same joy" the joy of the Lord, which cannot be contained, but which shall overflow and fill all His universe.
 
 
                    Judged as sinners─ sentence was passed,
                    "The soul that sinneth, it shall die."
                    No man the process will escape,
                    It's appointed. He tells us why.
 
                    For ev'ry man has gone astray,
                    And self-will has become his god,
                    Rebellion, pride, that brings forth sin
                    Requires judgment for each clod.
 
                    But death to all the old man ways
                    Is not where this inworking ends
                    For after death comes life anew,
                    The newborn soul now upward wends.
 
                    Then judged as sons─ this, too, must be,
                    It's child-training, discipline,
                    To grow in grace and thus mature,
                    Full overcomer o'er all sin.
 
                    When judged for service─ may we hear,
                    "Well done, thou good and faithful one,
                    Enter My joy, receive thy crown,
                    The battle's finished, vict'ry's won."
 
                    For service will be tried by fire,
                    The works of self the fire consumes,
                    While that which shall be to God's praise,
                    The fire it's quality illumes.
 
                    We need not fear these judgments given,
                    But rather, praise God for them all,
                    They're part of God's unending love,
                    Reversing all of Adam's fall.

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(1)  Prinzing, Ray and Doris. WHISPERS OF HIS JUDGMENTS. (now out of print), Boise, Idaho 83705}

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