Living in the Spirit
July 30, 2014
Scripture Reading: Psalm 17:1-7, 15
As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness. —17:15
Does the word “justice” pop into your mind when you read the word “righteousness”. As with many words in any language, time and application subtly change the understanding of what a word really means. I think many short cut self-righteousness to righteousness thus making the word a negative.
The Biblical use of the word “righteousness” has to do with justice. Righteousness is something that is accurate and just. I am afraid the questions that righteousness raise in our society get lost in the cacophony of voices trying to own its meaning. What is right? What is just? What is accurate?
Isaiah uses the illustration of a plump line to describe righteousness—God’s plumb line. We humans, I fear, are drawn to use our own measure of what is right and what is just and even what is accurate. We can conjure up studies done by “reputable” scholars who can prove just about anything for the right amount of money or to prove their and our ideologies. We quote scripture that supports our ideas of truth while ignoring vast sections of scripture that challenge us to a better way. We spend an inordinate amount of time and energy defining what is right or just for others, but fail to do the introspection necessary to determine whether that very act of passing judgment is right or just.
The Psalmist calls us to wake up to God’s righteousness and hold our perception of what is right and just and accurate up next to God’s plumb line of justice and righteousness until our perceptions are like God’s.
Prayer: Let me see and understand your plumb line of justice and then guide me as I line up with your way, your truth, and your life. Amen.
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.