0557. Righteousness

Righteousness

"Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Thy Law is the truth" (Psa_119:142).

The word "righteousness" is characteristic of God’s spotless holiness. God only is righteous. The judgments of God, are based upon His righteousness. Therefore we will now consider this word. It occurs twelve times in our Psalm, and is translated, "righteousness," "right," "righteous," as the case may be. Once, in Psa_119:121, it is translated "justice." Let us consider a few of the more striking passages.

1. Psa_119:137 : "Righteous art Thou, O Lord." Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Holy One. Christ was the Lamb without spot or blemish. The angels may well acclaim, "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty. The whole earth is full of Thy glory." Our Lord God is the Holy God.

2. Psa_119:123 : "My eyes fail for Thy salvation, and for the Word of Thy righteousness." Our Lord God is holy, and so is His Word. The Word of God proclaims the character of God. The standard of the one, is the standard of the other. Therefore, if God Himself is righteous, His Word is righteous.

This verse however seems to us, to carry an additional message. The salvation for which David’s eyes failed, was a salvation based upon the righteousness of God, and proclaimed by the Word of God. It was a righteousness made possible through faith, by the shed Blood of Jesus Christ. This "message," or "word" of righteousness, is to all and upon all who believe. Paul desired to stand before God clothed in the righteousness of Christ, and not with any robe of his own righteousness. This is God’s Word concerning righteousness.

3. Psa_119:142 : "Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Thy Law is the truth." This is of course true of the righteousness in God. It is also true of the righteousness imputed to saints. With God there is righteousness for evermore, He neither tempts any to sin, nor can He be tempted of any. God is impeccable, Christ was impeccable in His earth life, He is now and will always be the impeccable Christ. He did not sin because He could not sin. His righteousness is an everlasting righteousness. And, bless God, the righteousness imparted to us, is also an everlasting righteousness.

4. Psa_119:40 : "Quicken me in Thy righteousness." This passage is anticipating the quickening of regeneration, which is so clearly set forth in the New Testament. For example, Eph_2:1 reads, "You hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins." This quickening, or, this new life is a quickening in righteousness. The new man is created, according to Ephesians 4, "in righteousness and true holiness." Therefore, saints are known as the "quick," in contra-distinction from the wicked, who are the "dead." The verse may also anticipate the quickening of our mortal bodies when the Lord descends from Heaven with a shout.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR