Reading the book of Isaiah recently, I've found myself confused. At times it seems God is schizophrenic. One moment He is railing judgment against Israel, and the next moment He's promising to be close and to be with them and to comfort them. Make up your mind. Are you judging them or are you drawing near?

In this question, I've found a wonderful answer. It is yes. He's both judging them and drawing near, because God is near in judgment.

We usually think about the judgment of God as His final decision about someone. We think God's patience has run out and He's finally decided to judge them and be through with them once and for all. There certainly will be a day of final judgment when unbelievers will be eternally separated from God, but until that day happens, God doesn't distance Himself in judgment. He draws near.

Isaiah begins with chapter after chapter of God judging wayward Israel and Judah. However, nestled in the midst of these judgments are wonderful promises. For instance, Isaiah 4:4, 5 says, "When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion . . . by the spirit of judgment and the spirit of burning, then the Lord will create above every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and above her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night. For over all the glory there will be a covering."

God promises to cover His people with glory. The purpose of the "spirit of judgment" is not to cast them away. The purpose of the judgment is to wash away their filth and sin. The purpose of the judgment is to prepare the way for the glory.

The cross is the greatest picture of God drawing near in judgment. At the cross we find the due reward of our sin. We find God exposing the wickedness of man and revealing His justice and wrath. We also find it as the place we can draw near to God. Ephesians 2:15 says, "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." In God's judgment, He brought us near.

What does this mean for you today? It means that you can stop resisting His conviction. You can stop running from His righteous judgments. You may fear coming to Him because you think He'll judge all the wickedness in your life. Here's the good news: God has already judged our wickedness, and in judging us He's come near. There's an invitation from God today: "Come. I've drawn near."

-Micah