What's in a Name? - 12

The Compound Names of God …

 

Jehovah-Tsidkenu (tsid-KAY-noo) - The Lord is our Righteousness.

            Jesus is the King of Kings and the One who came from David’s family bloodline. He is also the One who passes on His righteousness to us as God’s children.

            Paul speaks of our righteousness being given to us by Christ in Romans 3:22-23, “All people sin and fall short of God’s glory, but God freely makes us righteous through faith in Jesus Christ.” Being righteous involves being in a right relationship with God. Once we become “saved” from our sins, we are then in right standing with the LORD. Listen to Ezekiel 36:26-27, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”

            When we pray to the LORD, who is our righteousness, we are speaking with the one who has stepped in on our behalf to restore us to His likeness and right fellowship with Him. Being ‘righteous’ isn’t just following God’s Law. Christ fulfilled the Law by virtue of his death. So, what is being said here is that being righteous isn’t merely a matter of our outward behavior, but a matter of the heart … of our thoughts, motives, and desires, of which only God knows. The goal isn’t only to do what God says, but to become like Him in everything we think, say, and do. Therefore, righteousness is primarily a relationship, not something we simply attain. It is a direction, thru loyalty, and commitment, resulting, in part, in hope. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

Richard Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Resources: The Names of God, Ann Spangler, Zondervan, 2009; The Names of God, Rose Publishing, 2009.