The Lord is Righteous

1. Read: Psalm 119:137-144

2. About the Text:

1) Psalm 119 is all about the word of God.

2) Every letter of every word proclaims the goodness of God and His word.

3. TSADDE

1) The emphasis in this section of Psalm 119 is righteousness.

2) The word pops up five times in eight verses.

3) Righteousness is correct action toward one another.

4) The words justice and equity are closely related to righteousness.

4. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. God is righteous.

1) “For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright” (Psalm 11:7).

2) “The Lord is righteous in all His ways, Gracious in all His works” (Psalm 145:17).

3) “And I heard the angel of the waters saying: ‘You are righteous, O Lord, The One who is and who was and who is to be, Because You have judged these things’… And I heard another from the altar saying, ‘Even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are Your judgments.’” (Revelation 16:5, 7).

2. God’s Judgments are righteous.

1) “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25).

2) “The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether” (Psalm 19:9).

3) “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).

3. God’s testimonies are righteous and faithful.

1) “For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: ‘That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.’” (Romans 3:3-4).

2) “My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness” (Psalm 119:172).

3) “Word of Righteousness” (Hebrews 5:13).

1. This section is messianic.

2. God’s Messiah is consumed by zeal.

1) Psalm 119:139 is similar to Psalm 69:9 – “Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, And the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.”

2) John 2:17 – “Then His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.’”

3. God’s Messiah is the Servant who loves His word.

1) Jesus is the Servant prophesied by Isaiah – “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles” (Isaiah 42:1).

2) Jesus always did the Father’s will – “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him” (John 8:29).

4. God’s Messiah is small and despised but does not forget God’s precepts.

1) “He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3a).

2) Even on the cross, Jesus was quoting scripture – Psalm 22:1 – “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

1. God’s righteousness is everlasting.

1) Because God is everlasting, and righteousness is one of his traits.

2) “There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand” (Proverbs 19:21).

3) “’But the word of the Lord endures forever.’ Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you” (1 Peter 1:25).

2. God’s law is truth.

1) John 17:17 – “Sanctify them in your truth; your word is truth.”

2) “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever” (1 Peter 1:22-23).

3. God’s commandments are delightful even in times of trouble.

1) “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Phil.4:4).

2) “I rejoice at Your word As one who finds great treasure” (Psalm 119:162).

3) “Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts” (Jeremiah 15:16).

4. God’s testimonies are righteous forever.

1. The LORD is righteous.

1) In His Commandments

2) In Conduct

3) Continually

2. Invitation – The righteousness of Christ.