Jehovah Tsidkenu • Deshen Daily

In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. (Jeremiah 23:6, KJV)

Jehovah Tsidkenu image showing Jesus on the cross

The Law demanded righteousness from the people(a near-impossible task) to be righteous. But they were promised a time when God would become their righteousness; He would be Jehovah Tsidkenu.

“THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” in Jeremiah 23:6 translates from “Jehovah Tsidkenu.” The Prophet Jeremiah spoke prophetically about the Messiah’s days during King Zedekiah’s reign in Judah. Interestingly, Zedekiah means “the Lord our righteousness.” Thus, through Jeremiah, God announced the coming of a true king of righteousness, who would not only embody righteousness but also impart it to His people.

But what does it mean that the Lord is our righteousness? In the New Testament, particularly in the book of Romans, righteousness assumes several fascinating meanings. However, in Zedekiah’s time, as conveyed by Jeremiah, righteousness meant being just or right, particularly as prescribed by the Law—in simpler terms, being a Law-abiding person.

Yet, here’s the complexity: the people had to achieve righteousness by adhering to the Law. This righteousness, derived from following commandments, Paul refers to as “the righteousness of the Law” (Romans 10:5). Every Israelite knew adhering to the Law was an impossible task. Peter even declared,

“Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?” (Acts 15:10, KJV)

He described the Law as a yoke impossible to bear.

Contrasting sharply with this earned righteousness is the righteousness that God freely bestows. It was almost inconceivable for the Israelites under the Law to grasp that righteousness could be a gift from God.

Jehovah Tsidkenu—The Lord our righteousness—means that God grants us righteousness as a gift, and more profoundly, He Himself has become our righteousness. As Christians, God has not only declared us righteous; He has made Christ our righteousness. To comprehend how righteous you are, look at Jesus. Words barely capture the mystery and wonder of what God has done for us in transforming sinners into saints, the wicked into the righteous, and rebels into His children.

He is Jehovah Tsidkenu, fulfilled in Christ for us!

Meditate

Please take a moment to reflect deeply on what you just read. If necessary, reread it to fully understand it.

Apply the Word

This truth faces one significant challenge among us, God’s people: believing it. We have been so smashed by sin all our lives that accepting what God declares about us in Christ as true is challenging. Yet, I challenge you to renew your mind and think of yourself as God sees you.