The Old Testament never tires of legal or juridical imagery in depicting the relation between God and His people. When God acts, it is an act of judgment-whether He punishes the enemy or delivers His people from oppression. Even God's acts in dealing with sinful Israel are acts of judgment. He sends them into captivity so that He might judge and sift out a faithful remnant. It separates the righteous from the wicked and thus makes the 'remnant' to appear. . . .
Judgment is creative as well as revelatory.
Whatever God does, He upholds the law and sees that justice prevails. Cited in ibid.