What does it mean that God is Jehovah-Tsidkenu?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah refers to God as "Jehovah Tsidkenu," or "The Lord Our Righteousness," as he praises God for His promises to the nation of Israel and for the righteousness He alone provides. Human beings cannot be righteous on our own. We may think that our good deeds can gain us righteousness in God's sight, but nothing can present us before Him in this way except the pure righteousness that comes directly from Him. This righteousness comes from Jesus' sacrifice through death on the cross for our sins (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24). The Lord, Himself, provides us with the righteousness needed to stand before Him as we trust in Christ (Romans 3:21-23, 10:4). Because righteousness is central to the character and being of God (Psalm 89:14, 119:137) and because He provides His perfect righteousness to us, we ought to live in ways that reflect this gift with goodness and doing right at the forefront of our actions and words (Proverbs 21:3).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Not only is God the source of all righteousness, but He also guides us in paths of righteousness. With His help, we can live righteous lives that bring glory to God (Psalm 23:3).
• The very foundation of God's throne is built on righteousness and justice; they are central to His being and integral to everything He does (Psalm 89:14).
• The psalmist praises God for His righteousness being and that all His laws are based on goodness and righteousness (Psalm 119:137).
• The greatest desire God has for how we live is that we would display righteousness in our words, thoughts, and actions; He desires this even more from us than sacrifice. Our conduct directly displays our faith and dedication to Him (Proverbs 21:3).
• The prophet Jeremiah speaks of the promises of God made to Israel and Judah and, in gratitude, addresses God by the title "The Lord our Righteousness," or Jehovah Tsidkenu (Jeremiah 33:16).

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• The gospel of Jesus Christ and His sacrificial gift of salvation reveal God's righteousness to us. Our faith in Christ provides us righteousness before God through our acceptance of Christ's gift of grace. If we are righteous, we are living by faith in Christ (Romans 1:17).
• All people have sinned and, so, are naturally separated from God. When we turn to God through faith in Christ and accept His gift of salvation, we are given righteousness from God. This righteousness comes apart from keeping the law, which was never meant to save us but to show us our sin and need for salvation. Instead, true righteousness is given through salvation in Christ (Romans 3:21-23). Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Testament law and has made righteousness available to anyone who believes in Him (Romans 10:4).
• Jesus' death on the cross was a sufficient payment needed to cover our sins and make us righteous before God. God made Jesus, who was perfect and sinless, to be sin in our place in order to give us His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24). Because of this, we are Christ's ambassadors to the world.
• The apostle Paul declares, in his letter to the church in Philippi, the attitude that all believers should have. We should desire nothing more than to know Christ. Everything else to us should be, as Paul says, rubbish. Gaining the righteousness of God that comes through faith and not from ourselves should be our highest goal (Philippians 3:8-9).
• When we become righteous in God's sight, we do what is right. Gaining God's righteousness should not leave us unchanged, but, rather, should transform us to act and live in the way God asks of us (1 John 2:29, 3:7).

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Though we may try, we cannot appear before God as righteous through our own effort. We must rely on Him to provide the righteousness we need to be right with Him. Everything about God is righteous, and so the righteousness He gives us is perfect. We gain this righteousness when we choose to accept the gift of Jesus' sacrifice and place our faith in Him.

Once we are saved, Christ's righteousness is imputed to us, and we are made new creations, we can truly live for righteousness. Our lives become about living out the righteousness we have received and reflecting His goodness in what we do. We do what is right toward others and in our actions when we are alone. We act with kindness and goodness for the glory of God and in order to show others what righteous, godly living looks like. We choose to reflect God’s character in the everyday moments of life, not just in church or during spiritual conversations. We tell the truth when dishonesty would benefit us, refuse to entertain gossip even when everyone else joins in, show patience instead of anger in stressful moments, honor God with our thoughts when temptation comes, and treat people with kindness and integrity whether they deserve it or not.

Again, we live this way not to earn God’s approval but to reveal the righteousness given to us by faith in Him. As we spend time with God in prayer and His Word, confess sin quickly, obey the Holy Spirit in big and small decisions, and intentionally pursue what is good and honorable, God transforms our hearts and actions to look more like Jesus. In a world that celebrates selfishness, compromise, and outward appearances, righteous living becomes a powerful testimony that points people to the goodness and holiness of God.

UNDERSTAND

• Righteousness is at the very core of God's being; it is His foundation.
• We cannot attain true righteousness through our own effort.
• We gain righteousness by receiving the gift of salvation through faith in Christ and demonstrate it by the way we live.

REFLECT

• In what areas of your life do you find yourself trying to become more righteous on your own effort instead of receiving it from God?
• In what areas of your life do you wish to see righteousness more deeply transform you into the likeness of Christ?
• What steps can you take to model righteous living to both other believers and those who do not know God?

ENGAGE

• How does understanding that true righteousness can only come from God inform how we seek to live?
• What does righteous living look like in a world that is very much the opposite of righteous and good?
• How does living righteously impact our witness to the world, and how is it different from perfection?