It Starts Small

Last month, we focused our hearts and minds on Understanding the Love of God. Paul gives us a command:

¹¹ But you, man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.

1 Timothy 6:11

For the month of March we are going to look at righteousness. Saying God is righteous and knowing God is righteous are two different things. To start with I think we should examine the definition and meaning of the word righteousness.

The English definition of righteous is virtuous, honorable, or morally right.

In the Word of God, there are several Hebrew words for righteousness:

ṣadîq: just, lawful, righteous

ṣāḏaq: to be just, be righteous,

ṣeḏeq: justice, rightness, righteousness

In the New Testament Greek, the word used is dikaiōs and means just, agreeably to right.

As you see the various definitions and uses of this word form the foundation to help us understand what it means that God is righteous. 

As we put all these words together here is what it means that God is righteous:

• God is just in all he does.
• God is upright in his ways.
• God operates with honesty.
• God always does the right thing that is appropriate for the moment. 

It is important that you understand that righteousness is not something that God does, it is something that God is. Just like we learned God is love and love is God. It is who God is, not what He is.

To put it another way, righteousness is part of God’s character. Since he is righteous that means that there is no other way for him to act because he must remain true to who he is. Every action God takes towards you will always be right, just, and honest.

Lets look over some scriptures that speak about God’s Righteousness:

For you have upheld my just cause;
you are seated on your throne as a righteous judge.

Psalm 9:4

And he judges the world with righteousness;
he executes judgment on the nations with fairness.

Psalm 9:8

Like your name, God, so your praise
reaches to the ends of the earth;
your right hand is filled with justice.

Psalm 48:10

Righteousness and justice are the foundation
of your throne;
faithful love and truth go before you.

Psalm 89:14

The heavens proclaim his righteousness;
all the peoples see his glory.

Psalm 97:6

Righteousness will be a belt around his hips;
faithfulness will be a belt around his waist.

Isaiah 11:5

When we ponder over these scriptures we can see that ever detail and aspect of God is righteous. It is not something He has, it is who He is. The very throne of God is righteous. His right hand is righteous and He exercises His power and authority in a just and right way.

Even the heavens declare and proclaim to the world God’s Righteousness.

Ponder: What stands between us and believing God is righteous?

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