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In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness (Jer. 23:6 NIV).
Several years ago, I spoke in a city just off the coastline of Scotland. The city was located in Scotland's Shetland Islands. We had wonderful meetings. Many came to know Christ, and it was a blessed time. But when my wife and I arrived at the airport, we had an interesting experience. The wind was blowing incredibly hard. I found myself walking across the tarmac of the airport with a bent. I looked at my wife, and she was walking with the same bent. I then looked around, and everyone was walking with that bent. The wind had blown over all of us, and our entire upper bodies were bent backwards.
Later that day, I went for some exercise. As I walked around the city, I noticed that everyone in the city was walking with the same bent. The scene reminded me that we all walk morally and spiritually with a bent in our hearts. Every person who has ever breathed a breath of air or placed his feet on this planet has had the wind of sin blow across his/her heart. And it's been a strong wind. Consequently, we've all walked around with a bent in our moral and spiritual character. Our natural inclinations aren't to obey God. Rather, we're inclined to go our own way and do our own thing - namely to sin.
Yet, 2000 years ago, a King was sent to the world. He was the most unique King to ever grace this planet. He was the King who became a servant. He was God who became man. The Bible calls Him "the son of God" and "the son of Man." His name was Immanuel, which means God is with us. And He's the only person in all of human history to walk without a bent in His moral and spiritual character. He walked completely upright. He stood straight and tall as the winds of sin blew across the world in which He lived. Yet, He was without sin. He walked upright. He was the final fulfillment of the prophecy of Jeremiah when he wrote that a king would be sent, and His name would be called Jehovah/Tsidkenu.
Jeremiah had prophesied that God would send to Israel a righteous king, one who would rule and reign with absolute justice and righteousness. In fact, His name would be called "Jehovah/Tsidkenu" or "The Lord, our Righteousness." The complete fulfillment of that prophecy came through our wonderful Savior, Jesus. He's the only person to walk this planet without the bent of sin in his heart. He's the totally complete and righteous King.
But there's something even more wonderful about Jesus. Because of all He did on the cross, because He walked completely upright all the way to the point of death, He has become our righteousness. To be honest, I still struggle with the bent of sin. Yet, my righteousness isn't based upon my goodness or "rightness." When I come to God, I come on the basis of the one who is Jehovah/Tsidkenu. I come to God because of the righteousness of Christ. He is my righteousness.
Hallelujah! My righteousness is as "filthy rags" according to the Scriptures. But I can know and love God because His name is Jehovah/Tsidkenu - God, our Righteousness. Bow before Him today and thank Him for Jesus. He's the only reason you can come into the presence of an absolutely holy God. He is your righteousness.
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