Jer
23:5 Behold, the days come, says Jehovah, that I
will raise to David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and act wisely,
and shall do judgment and justice in the earth.
Jer
23:6 In his days Judah shall be saved,
and Israel shall dwell safely. And this is His name by which He shall be
called, JEHOVAH, OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. [1]
When
Jeremiah spoke this prophecy, the kingdom of Judah was about to fall. The land
of Judah was full of idolatry, oppression, violence, and political revolution.
The Northern kingdom of Israel had gone into captivity 100 years before and
Judah seemingly learned nothing from God's judgment upon them. It was under
these conditions God gave this prophecy of Jehovah-Tsidkenu.
The Meaning of the Word "Tsidkenu".
The word "Tsidkenu" is derived from "Tsedek" and means "righteousness." "Tsedek" is translated hundreds of
times as: right, righteous, righteousness, just, justify, declare innocent. A
simple definition of righteousness is 'doing
that which is right'. This name
speaks of the fact that God will always do that which is right…because He is
righteous!
Whatever God does is right, just and straight. He
never lies or twists or deceives. Righteousness is at the very essence of His
Character and He will do right. “righteousness
as applied to God, means the
perfection or holiness of His nature; exact rectitude; faithfulness.” Webster
Dict.
Psalm
119:142, Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
“It
signifies, not only God’s inherent righteousness and perfection of nature, but
also his method of treating others; his plan of redemption; his method of
saving others. And the word δικαιοσυνη,
(dikaiosune) which answers to it, in the Septuagint and in the New
Testament, is used with the same latitude of meaning, and in the same sense;
particularly in that remarkable passage, Rom_3:25-26 Thy merciful method of dealing with sinners
and justifying the ungodly will last as long as the earth lasts; and thy law
that witnesses this, in all its pages, is the truth.” A.C.
He
is always Righteous and forever will not change.
Applications.
1. The Messiah who is coming to save
Israel and set up His Kingdom is “THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS”. He will judge
with equity and set up righteous government on the earth where He will reign
from Jerusalem.
2. Because God is always righteous in his
dealings with men, those who accuse God are just trying to excuse themselves.
They say God did this or that unfair thing to me. Meaning God is unjust and
unrighteous. For example: A son died in a terrible accident or from a cot
death. Then they blame God. Perhaps the son crossed the double line at high
speed after a party where he had been drinking. Why blame God for what man has
done?
3. Many Muslims who died in an accident
say “Incha Allah” (The Will of Allah) in a fatalistic way. They were speeding
around a corner on the wrong side of the road. This was not the will of Allah.
It was dangerous driving.
[1] Dr.
Blayney thus accounts for his translation: - “Literally, according to the Hebrew
idiom, ‘And this is his name by which Jehovah shall call, Our Righteousness;’ a
phrase exactly the same as, ‘And Jehovah shall call him so;’ which implies that
God would make him such as He called Him, that is, our Righteousness, or the author and means of our salvation and
acceptance. A.C.
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