The Hebrew word zedek or ṣad·dîq means to be right, upright, just, righteous. A form of the word occurs 15 times in Psalm 119. Five of those instances are in this octet of Tsadhe (119:137-144).
I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. (Psalm 119:7)
Praise and worship is not righteous because it makes me feel worshipful or fits in with my personal musical or liturgical preferences. True praise comes as I learn God's true and righteous laws.
How I long for your precepts! In your righteousness preserve my life. (Psalm 119:40)
God does not bless my life or preserve my life because I do what seems right in my own eyes. The righteous God preserves my life because he is righteous.
At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws. (Psalm 119:62)
True righteousness (and true rightness) isn't mine because of a house-of-card collection of opinions I cherish, but because I've made it a priority to study God's righteous Word and to pray to God about his righteous laws at all hours of the day, 24-7.
I know, Lord, that your laws are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me. (Psalm 119:75)
Knowing the truth of the righteousness of God's laws comes by faithfully living according to His ways even in the midst of the worst of times. When the world seems to be going mad, I don't resort to my own opinions or react to my own fears or desires. I seek to discover the truth and live the truth in his righteous laws.
I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws. (Psalm 119:106)
When I ask believers what their core political principles are, I get back all kinds of answers, almost all having to do with politics and opinions and platforms. Instead, we should be moved in every aspect of life - including politics - by a personal oath, confirmed by a plan of action, to make every decision based on the core principles of God's righteous laws.
I have done what is righteous and just; do not leave me to my oppressors. (Psalm 119:121)
Another thing I hear from many politically-minded Christians is that we have to vote a certain way in order to protect our freedom of religion and thought and practice. The scriptures seem to teach a different approach. Do what is righteous (live in a way that reflects the righteousness of God) and trust God to protect or deliver us from oppressors.
My eyes fail, looking for your salvation, looking for your righteous promise. (Psalm 119:123)
Even when it seems like righteousness isn't enough, even when you're tired of waiting for this godless culture to either turn to God or be punished by God, never stop looking to God for the righteous response.
You are righteous, Lord, and your laws are right. (Psalm 119:137)
I've said more than once in this series of blog posts that the best definition of righteousness I've found is the character of God. Righteousness is that which matches up with and flows from the inherently righteous character of the eternal God. Actions are righteous if they mirror the actions of God. Statements are righteous if they mirror the statements of God. Attitudes, emotions, priorities, missions, purposes, principles, and character are righteous in so much as they reflect the character of God.
The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy. (Psalm 119:138)
The Word of God can be fully trusted because God can be fully trusted. They are "true truth" because God is the source of truth. Any "truthiness" comes not from God or his Word but from us, when we rearrange the words and ideas to fit our own agendas.
Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness and your law is true. (Psalm 119:142)
Wow! Why would I ever chase after any other definition of truth? All the other truthiness changes with the whims of culture and the daily viral obsessions people grab onto.
Your statutes are always righteous; give me understanding that I may live. (Psalm 119:144)
Always righteous. Not subject to change. All we have to do is look at them from God's perspective, not from our own point of view or the world's fractured opinions. Ask God to help you see the through his eyes. Dare to take a stand for God's righteousness, rather than the principles and politics of the moment.
All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal. (Psalm 119:160)
We like to pick and choose which words of God we're going to fiercely champion and which ones we're going to quietly ignore. How many times have you posted a meme on Facebook about the evils of homosexuality? How many memes have you posted about the evils of divorce? Is there a difference because your divorced Christian friends might be offended, but you don't really know any gay or lesbian people?
Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous laws. (Psalm 119:164)
Again, it's important to make pray and praise a priority in your daily life. Schedule times to study God's Word and pray about what you're reading. While you're wrestling with some of God's less culture-friendly laws, praise God for his unfailing righteousness.
May my tongue sing of your word, for all your commands are righteous. (Psalm 119:172)
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