Righteousness

 •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 10
Solomon is best known for his wisdom. His father connected this divine quality with righteousness. When charging his son respecting certain offenders who had hitherto been spared, David said, "Thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do.... Do therefore according to thy wisdom." 1 Kings 2:9, 69Now therefore hold him not guiltless: for thou art a wise man, and knowest what thou oughtest to do unto him; but his hoar head bring thou down to the grave with blood. (1 Kings 2:9)
6Do therefore according to thy wisdom, and let not his hoar head go down to the grave in peace. (1 Kings 2:6). Righteousness was to be exercised with divine wisdom, thus there would be no mistakes.
Long after Solomon's day, Isaiah wrote, "Behold, a King shall reign in righteousness." Ch. 32:1. That King is Christ. Isaiah's prediction follows several dreary chapters exposing the unrighteousness both of Israel's king and people. He goes on to say, "the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever." Surely our hearts cry, "Lord Jesus, come!" This poor distracted world needs the righteousness and peace that He alone can establish. Jeremiah gives us a similarly delightful word concerning Him: "Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and He shall reign as King and do wisely, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth." Jer. 23:55Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. (Jeremiah 23:5) (R.V.) The Gospel of Matthew presents to us our Lord as the King, and, remarkably, His first utterance recorded therein contains the word "righteousness." At Jordan, when John was disposed to refuse Him baptism, He said, "Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness." Matt. 3:1515And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him. (Matthew 3:15). Thus He would Himself practice what in the day of His power He will administer to the world as we read in David's great psalm of the King, "Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness." Psa. 45:77Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. (Psalm 45:7). W. Fereday