By Andrew Williams
Series: He Is (Week 3: The Names of His Righteous Character)
Opening Prayer
Lord, our Righteousness, we thank You for the incredible gift of Your perfect record, which covers our imperfect lives.
Today’s Scripture (NLT)
Jeremiah 23:6
“And this will be his name: ‘The Lord Is Our Righteousness.'”
The prophet Jeremiah is speaking of a future King, a righteous Branch who will come from the line of David. This is a messianic prophecy, pointing directly to Jesus. And the name this King will be called is Yahweh Tsidkenu, “The Lord Our Righteousness.”
This name reveals one of the most profound truths of the Gospel. “Righteousness” means being in a right standing with God, meeting His perfect standard of holiness. We know from Scripture that on our own, “no one is righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10). We are all stained by sin and fall short. This name declares that the only way we can be made right with God is not by our own efforts, but by receiving righteousness as a gift from Him.
To know God as Yahweh Tsidkenu is to rest in the “great exchange.” On the cross, Jesus took our sin, and in return, He gives us His perfect righteousness. When God the Father looks at a believer, He doesn’t see our record of failure; He sees the perfect record of Jesus. Yahweh Tsidkenu is the name of grace, reminding us that our right standing with God is based entirely on who He is, not on what we do.
Disciple’s Life Tip: Interact with God as Yahweh Tsidkenu. When you feel the weight of your own sin or inadequacy today, stop and thank Yahweh Tsidkenu that you are clothed in His righteousness. Verbally declare, “I am not righteous on my own, but in Christ, I am the righteousness of God.”
Closing Prayer: Yahweh Tsidkenu, I stand in awe of Your grace. Thank You for being my righteousness when I had none. May I live in the freedom and confidence that comes from being made right with You. Amen.
