Psalms 97:8

Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of Thy judgments, O Lord.

The judgments of God are a proper cause of gladness and rejoicing to His people

I. The Church is glad, and rejoices in the judgments of God, because it is itself redeemed with judgment.

1. By judgment the Church is redeemed from the curse of the law--judgment on Christ.

2. By judgment the Church is delivered from the captivity of Satan--judgment oil Satan.

3. By judgment the Church is freed from the bondage and tyranny of the world--judgment on the world.

4. By judgment the Church is to be redeemed from the power of Antichrist (Revelation 18:20).

5. By judgment the Church is to be redeemed from the power of sin--judgment on the Church.

II. The Church is glad, and rejoices in the judgments of God, because they are the triumphs of Christ.

1. The triumphs of Christ are of two kinds--

(1) The triumphs of His grace.

(2) The triumphs of His vengeance.

2. The one as well as the other is rejoiced in and celebrated by the Church.

III. The Church is glad, and rejoices in the judgments of God, because they diminish the amount and prevalency of sin.

1. The direct effect of judgments is to remove the barriers which hinder the progress of the truth.

2. Another effect of Divine judgments is to deter from the commission of sin.

3. The effect of the finally overwhelming judgments of God is to remove sin from its place in the moral universe, and shut it up in everlasting concealment, Hellazar-house.

IV. The Church is glad, and rejoices in the judgments of God, because they furnish a glorious manifestation of Himself.

1. They reveal His holiness--He cannot look upon sin.

2. They manifest His justice. He gives to each one according to his work.

3. They that prove His omnipresence as a moral governor. No sin escapes Him.

4. They demonstrate His truth--for they are for the most part predicted.

5. They exhibit His power--for they overwhelm the mightiest.

6. They reveal His love to the Church--for they are chiefly in her defence and rescue. (James Stewart.)