What does "the LORD is righteous" reveal about God's character and justice? Setting the scene “The LORD is righteous; He has cut the cords of the wicked.” (Psalm 129:4) Zooming in on “righteous” • The Hebrew word ṣaddîq points to absolute moral correctness—always thinking, acting, and judging in perfect harmony with His own holy nature. • Because God is righteous, He is never neutral about evil. His purity demands that He deal with sin and protect the upright. What this reveals about God’s character • Moral purity – “Holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:3). There is no flaw, bias, or shifting shadow in Him (James 1:17). • Consistent faithfulness – He never departs from His covenant promises (Deuteronomy 7:9). • Truthfulness – “God is not a man, that He should lie” (Numbers 23:19). • Impartiality – He shows no favoritism; all stand equal before His standard (Acts 10:34). • Compassion wrapped in holiness – His righteousness drives Him to rescue, not just to condemn (Psalm 34:17). How His righteousness shapes divine justice • Just Judge – “All His ways are justice, a God of faithfulness without injustice” (Deuteronomy 32:4). • Vindicator of the oppressed – “For the LORD will vindicate His people” (Psalm 135:14). • Punisher of evil – “He will repay each one according to his works” (Romans 2:6). • Defender of covenant order – By “cutting the cords of the wicked,” He restores what evil tried to bind or break. • Foundation for the gospel – At the cross God is “just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26). Living in light of His righteousness • Trust His judgments even when the wicked seem to prosper; their “cords” are temporary. • Align your ethics with His unchanging standard—no situational morality. • Rest in the assurance that wrongs will be righted, whether now or when Christ returns (Revelation 19:11). • Confess sin quickly; the righteous God graciously forgives and cleanses (1 John 1:9). • Reflect His character—“He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous” (1 John 3:7). Because “the LORD is righteous,” His justice is never arbitrary, His salvation is never uncertain, and His people can walk in confident, obedient hope. |
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