For now, the divisive elections are over. Now, together, we see history unfold. But, still, deep inside, each of us desires to be “right.”
Our own experience can define much of our “righteousness” – our way of life – the “right” way to squeeze a tube of toothpaste – and other “right” ways. We find our identity in Our Family, Our “Tribe,” Our Team, Our School, and Our Political Party. Our Gender, Our Generation, Our Place, Our Race, and Our State show us who we are. From them, we develop our complicated life narrative.
Righteousness and the Bible
The Bible shows us another righteousness – God’s righteousness. His unchanging character is revealed most concisely in the moral law. He never lies – so he teaches us not to lie. He is no thief – so he instructs us not to steal. We eventually crash into irresistible obstacles built into the universe when we go our way.
“Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people” (Prov. 14:34) tests our understanding. So put on your history specs and learn from the kings of Israel and Judah.
First, a little context – Saul, David, and Solomon reigned over twelve united tribes. Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, rejected the counsel of elders. Instead, he took the advice of peers, increasing taxation. The nation split.
As Americans who broke away from Britain because of taxation, we might side with the ten northern tribes, Israel. They were “right” – and they had greater population numbers on their side too!
Founded in 931 BC, Israel began with the reign of Jeroboam and ended with Hoshea in 722 BC. That 209-year history is just three decades shorter than our American history.
Still, the Bible describes ALL nineteen kings of Israel and their nine dynasties as evil.
- Seven (!) took power by murder.
- Two, Jeroboam (#1) and Omri (#6), took power by leading a rebellion.
- Elah (#4) was a drunkard.
- Three reigns were abbreviated: Zimri (#5) for seven days – Zechariah (#14) for six months – Shallum (#15) for one month.
- But, ponder, Jeroboam 2 (#13) ruled 41 years.
The average reign of these wicked kings was 12.7 years. Then Assyria carried Israel away into captivity. “Sin condemns any people.”
The twenty kings of Judah – the two southern tribes – also began ruling in 931 BC. These kings ruled until the Babylonians took the nation captive in 586 BC – 136 years after Israel fell. This span is one way to recognize a “righteous” difference.
But, more to the point, the Bible describes eight of these twenty kings as “doing right in the eyes of the LORD.” These “good” kings ruled for an average of 32.9 years. On the other hand, Judah’s twelve evil kings reigned for an average of 11.3 years – a difference of 21.6 years – another “righteous” difference.
Note: the moral flaws of each of these “good” kings brought hardship to both the king and others. Rather than airbrushing such sin, the Bible spotlights it!
One of the most wicked kings, Manasseh, the 14th king of Judah, reigned 55 years – ten with his father and another thirteen years in great wickedness. His sin led to his captivity. After twelve years in the dungeon, he called upon the LORD and was delivered and restored. That led to twenty years of righteous rule. Who could have imagined such a heart change for wicked Manasseh?
Are You Convinced?
We come again to: “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people” (Prov. 14:34). How will our nation be exalted? Can we agree? – by God’s “righteousness.”
Another Look at Righteousness
The Bible’s answer to the obvious question: “How do we become ‘righteous?'” may surprise us.
William Tyndale (1494–1536), an English Bible translator, took the Anglo-Saxon word, “rihtwis” – we would say: “rightways” or “rightwise” – and coined our word, “righteous.” The King James (1611) translators used Tyndale’s new word 516 times! The overall message of the Bible is this: we become “right” with the character of God by the grace of God. Aha.
Such news is difficult for us to hear. We are proud of our own self-righteousness – and we may get stuck in our narrative. But, eventually, many realize we are too broken to produce the “righteousness” of God that consistently demonstrates a deep love for God and our neighbor.
Surprisingly, the Bible tells us the righteousness of God is possible. But, it comes by faith – the faith bought on the cross by Jesus, the only Righteous One, and given to those who believe – given in advance to those who lived before Jesus (the “good” kings of Judah were graced by the righteousness of Jesus) and after him (Christian, and those who will believe – even sinners like us are saved by his grace). Rom 5:19: “Through the disobedience of the one man (Adam) many were made sinners, so through the obedience of the one man (Jesus) many will be made righteous.” What profound good news.
If you ask Christians: “What two creative works of redemption did Jesus accomplish on the cross for you?” – most would say: “He died for our sins.” But, what about his second work? 2 Cor 5: 21 “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Even as Jesus did not sin to be made sin for us – so, we do not do righteous acts to become the righteousness of God. Jesus gives us His righteousness. “Righteousness is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’ (Rom 1:17 quoting Hab. 2:4; also, see Rom 3:21,22, Gen 15:6, Heb 11:7). As a Pharisee, Paul tried to repent of his sin. As a Christian, this chief of sinners repented of his self-righteousness.
Transformed by a new righteous source of life, humble followers of Jesus can live by faith – thanking and pleasing God. When we fail, we repent, depending not upon our righteousness but the transforming righteousness of Christ. Such is the righteousness that exalts a nation.
