When Judgment Brings Joy, and Justice Brings Healing

When David penned Psalm 58, he looked at a world full of injustice. Rulers were corrupt, the wicked seemed to prosper, and the cries of the righteous often felt ignored. Yet, he concludes with this powerful affirmation:

“So that men will say, ‘Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely He is a God who judges in the earth.’” (Psalm 58:11, NKJV)

This single verse shifts the tone of the psalm. Evil may seem to flourish, but it is temporary. God sees, God knows, and God will act. The righteous are not forgotten, and the wicked will not prevail forever.

Does this sound familiar? It sounds like the times in which we are living. All of human history has had to deal with injustice. But what carries the righteous through?

David speaks of a “reward for the righteous,” and Jesus expands this thought in the New Testament:

“Rejoice in that day and leap for joy! For indeed your reward is great in heaven…” (Luke 6:23, NKJV).

Jesus points His followers forward, beyond the struggles and injustices of today, to the eternal joy awaiting them. This reward is rooted in God’s eternal justice and mercy.

Revelation helps us understand how God’s justice will unfold. After Christ returns, there will be a thousand-year period in heaven (Rev. 20) when the redeemed will have the opportunity to look over the record of this world.

Why is this time period needed? It is not because God needs help with His judgment that the process has already been completed, but because we need the process. We will look back at the injustices of history, at the wicked who refused God’s mercy, and we will come to the same conclusion as Christ Himself: God was fair.

He gave chance after chance, call after call, appeal after appeal, but they chose wickedness.

This period will also allow for grieving and mourning. As redeemed humans, we will grapple with the reality of lost loved ones and the weight of human rebellion. God, in His mercy, gives us time to process this pain so that when eternity begins, our hearts are fully healed.

“And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” (Rev. 22:2, NKJV).

Here is the ultimate fulfillment of Psalm 58:11. God not only brings judgment but also healing. The curse is broken, and pain is gone. Nations that once warred against each other will be healed in the presence of Christ. Justice doesn’t just end evil; it ushers in peace, wholeness, and restoration.

Psalm 58:11 is not just about a far-off future; it changes how we live today.

• Trust God’s timing: Injustice may look like it has the upper hand now, but God’s justice is certain.

• Rejoice in hope: Like Jesus said, rejoice because eternity is promised.

• Find comfort in the coming review: The thousand years assure us that nothing will remain unexplained. God’s fairness will be fully revealed.

• Look forward to healing: Revelation promises that every wound will be bound up, every tear wiped away, every division reconciled.

Psalm 58:11 anchors us in the assurance that God is both Judge and Healer. He will reward the righteous, expose the wicked, and ultimately bring healing to His creation. The thousand years in heaven remind us of His patience and fairness. The tree of life demonstrates His restoring power.

The righteous are never forgotten. Evil is not ignored. And when the story is fully told, every voice in heaven and earth will say:

“Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints!” (Rev. 15:3).