THEOSISAugustine of Hippo
The purpose for which the sovereign Father has bestowed His judgment and justice upon the sovereign Son is clearly illustrated when it states, "To judge thy people with justice," indicating the intention of rendering judgment upon His people. Such phrasing is reflected in the Proverbs: "Proverbs of Solomon the son of David, for the knowledge of wisdom and discipline" (Proverbs 1:1), which underscores the need for wisdom and guidance. Therefore, the judgment granted is meant for the governance of His people, implying that His judgment is for their benefit. When He refers to "Thy people," it aligns with His later mention of "Thy poor," and what He describes as justice is later echoed through judgment, exhibiting a stylistic repetition that emphasizes a key point.
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This teaches that the people of God ought to embody a spirit of humility rather than pride. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). Consider the profound humility of Job prior to the loss of his immense earthly fortune. This observation is vital since there are individuals who are quicker to donate their wealth to the needy than they are to present themselves as humble supplicants before God. These individuals may mistakenly take pride in their supposed achievements, believing their success is due to their own efforts rather than God's grace, leading them to live in a manner that is less than virtuous, despite their outwardly commendable actions.
It is noteworthy how the order of words was altered; instead of initially stating, "O God, Thou gavest Thy judgment to the king, and Thou gavest Thy justice to the king's son," with judgment preceding justice, the order is reversed: “To judge Thy people with righteousness, and Thy poor with judgment.” This rearrangement clarifies that judgment is synonymous with justice, as the order does not change the essence of the meaning. What is deemed unjust is commonly seen as wrong; thus, injustice cannot be recognized as justice. By substituting judgment and reiterating it through the term justice, or vice versa, it becomes evident that His definition of justice refers specifically to that which does not represent an evil judgment. In the declaration, "Judge not according to persons, but judge with right judgment" (John 7:24), He indicates that it is possible to judge wrongly, as He emphasizes the necessity of right judgment. The distinction is drawn between the prohibition of one and the command of the other. When He mentions judgment without additional qualifiers, it implies an inherent understanding of just judgment, as exemplified when He states, “Ye leave the most important works of the Law, mercy and judgment” (Matthew 23:23). Jeremiah also conveys, “You shall gain your wealth not by judgment” (Jeremiah 17:11). Here, He does not suggest generating wealth through judgment that is wrong or unjust, nor through judgment that is right or just, but rather indicates that true wealth is not acquired through judgment at all, signifying that only what is fair and just should be deemed worthy of judgment.