Study Number 17 JEHOVAH TSIDKENU – THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

Righteousness is not a WORD that we meet in every day language. We use justice or  being straight or right. It means being what we ought to be.

II. Jehovah is the Source of Righteousness

A. Jehovah is Himself perfect righteousness. (Deuteronomy 32:4) He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.

(Isaiah 45:21) Tell them, and bring them near; yes, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time? Have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside Me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside Me.

B. God’s Electing Purpose. Is God Unrighteous? For those who like to blame God here is the Apostle Paul the Master teacher and debater taking the self righteous Jews to task. Roams 9:10-17

Rom 9:10  Nor is that all: later on there was Rebecca too. She was soon to bear two children to her husband, our forefather Isaac--  v11  and even then, though they were not then born and had not done anything either good or evil, yet in order that God's electing purpose might not be frustrated, based, as it was, not on their actions but on the will of Him who called them, she was told,            v12  "THE ELDER OF THEM WILL BE BONDSERVANT TO THE YOUNGER."  v13  This agrees with the other Scripture which says, "JACOB I HAVE LOVED, BUT ESAU I HAVE HATED." v14  What then are we to infer? That there is injustice in God? v15  No, indeed; the solution is found in His words to Moses, "WHEREVER I SHOW MERCY IT SHALL BE NOTHING BUT MERCY, AND WHEREVER I SHOW COMPASSION IT SHALL BE SIMPLY COMPASSION."

v16  And from this we learn that everything is dependent not on man's will or endeavour, but upon God who has mercy. For the Scripture said to Pharaoh, v17  "IT IS FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE THAT I HAVE LIFTED YOU SO HIGH--THAT I MAY MAKE MANIFEST IN YOU MY POWER, AND THAT MY NAME MAY BE PROCLAIMED FAR AND WIDE IN ALL THE EARTH."

Remember these things:

1.  God’s will and Purpose is firstly not dependant on man’s actions but on God election and Will. Vv11:12

2.  God is never Unjust. He shows mercy to whoever He wants to show mercy; and when he shows compassion it is simply compassion. V.15

3. Everything God does is for the manifestation of His Power and the Glory of His Name in the                earth. V.17

Moses before Pharoah

 Compare Exo_9:15, Exo_9:16 : For now, saith the Lord, I had stretched forth my hand, (in the plague of boils and blains), and I had smitten thee and thy people with the pestilence; and you have (by this plague) been cut off from the earth; (as thy cattle were by the murrain); but in very deed for this cause have I raised you up - I have restored you to health by removing the boils and blains, and by respiting your deserved destruction to a longer day, that I may, in thy instance, give such a demonstration of my power in your final overthrow, that all mankind may learn that I am God, the righteous Judge of all the earth, the avenger of wickedness. A.Clark