God Our Righteousness

God is good. He is righteous. Bible talks about His righteousness and how our aim should be more like him. To be righteous in His sight. But, we all fall short. He does not. However, Jesus made that sacrifice on the cross so that we can be declared righteous. Thank God for that. This is why He was called Yahweh Tsidkenu or a variation of this in Hebrew, which is “God Our Righteousness.”

Jeremiah 23:5-6

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD [Yahweh], “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness [Semah Saddiq]; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS [Yahweh Sidqenu].

Israel had turned from God, and God sent them to exile. But God made this promise to them. They would return to their land. The walls would be built and their temple. It happened under Cyress as God had said. He also would send a King, a Branch of Righteousness. But He did not come as they expected, as a great warrior king to free them from Roman oppression. But God the Father sent His One and Only Son to this earth, to pay for the sins of the Jews and Gentiles alike. He died on the cross for all of our sins, paying the full price. Jesus also fulfilled the promise that all the nations on earth would be blessed. Unfortunately, the religious leaders and many of the nation did not recognize Him and many still don’t. But all who confess the name of Jesus in their hearts will be saved (Romans 10:8). And one day, most likely in the very near future, He will return and take His people home, and will judge the world with righteousness. He is the Branch of Righteousness, the Branch of David. And the time to trust in him is NOW so that you may be reconciled to God. Repent and believe. Our salvation is through Jesus Christ who paid for our sin, who became our sacrifice, who is God in the flesh.

2 Corinthians 5:18-21

Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Righteous God the Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ to be the righteousness of God and to to sacrifice Himself so that we can be declared righteous in His sight. Those who believe and trust in Him will be called the righteousness of God and will have life with Him in heaven for all eternity. And God declared centuries before that Jesus would come to establish His new covenant with Jews and Gentiles alike centuries before.

Isaiah 42:5-9

Thus says God the LORD [Yahweh], who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it: “I, the LORD [Yahweh], have called You in righteousness [tsedaqah], and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house. I am the LORD [Yahweh], that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved images. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.”

As the Father describes Himself and the works of His hands, who created all things (in which He created the world with Jesus (See John 1:1, 14 and Colossians 1:15-17), He also describes His Son in whom He called to be the new covenant, the light to the gentiles, the Word who became flesh, the Savior of the world, the Righteousness of God.

Romans 3:21-26

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

God is righteous and so mighty and powerful that only righteousness can be in His presence. But he also wants a relationship with us; therefore, He sent His one and only perfect Son to take our place on the cross and pay for our sins that we may be declared righteous and redeemed by His sacrifice so that we can be in His presence and live forever with Him. Knowing that, let us praise and honor Him because of His righteousness and share the good news to everyone around us.

Psalms 40:9-10

I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness [sedeq] in the great assembly; indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O LORD [Yahweh], You Yourself know. I have not hidden Your righteousness [tsedaqah] within my heart; I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great assembly.

There is so much more to say about our great God. We should tell everyone about the good news of God’s righteousness and faithfulness. We should let everyone know that Jesus Christ is Lord and that He sacrificed Himself to save us from our sins. That is something that I need to do more of. That I need prayers to have the boldness and desire to share the good truth of eternal salvation through faith in Jesus.

Psalms 119:142-151

Your righteousness [tsedaqah] is an everlasting righteousness [tsedaqah], and Your law is truth. Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, yet Your commandments are my delights. The righteousness [tsedaqah] of Your testimonies is everlasting; give me understanding, and I shall live. I cry out with my whole heart; hear me, O LORD [Yahweh]! I will keep Your statutes. I cry out to You; save me, and I will keep Your testimonies. I rise before the dawning of the morning, and cry for help; I hope in Your word. My eyes are awake through the night watches, that I may meditate on Your word. Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness; O LORD [Yahweh], revive me according to Your justice. They draw near who follow after wickedness; they are far from Your law. You are near, O LORD [Yahweh], and all Your commandments are truth.

Our God is a mighty God, creator of all the earth; there is no other God besides Him. He is eternal He is powerful; He is loving and He is merciful; He is righteous and so much more; He is indescribable. Because of His love and mercy, by faith we can be declared righteous and have eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ, who was God in the flesh, who became a man to pay for our sons on the cross, who was raised from the dead and lives forever.