Read Carefully
Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. Ecclesiastes 7:20
Righteous – What do you think about this verse? Does it say that everyone is unrighteous? Does it claim that everyone is fallen? Go back and take a careful look. Doesn’t it suggest that there is no righteous man who does good and never sins? But how can that be? A man who doesn’t always do good and who sins can’t be righteous, can he? Too often our theology reads the verse for us. This verse makes a claim about the righteous man, not the wicked man. It says that even the righteous man doesn’t meet God’s standard of holiness. But does that make this man wicked? Apparently not. He is still called a righteous man. What can we conclude? Righteousness must not be tied to always doing what is good and never sinning.
If this is true, then what is righteousness?
Ah, but that question isn’t Hebraic, is it? That question assumes that righteousness is “something” separate from the circumstances of the relation between God and man. Perhaps the correct question should be, “How is a man righteous?” Instead of trying to describe righteousness as if it had independent existence from the causal dynamic, perhaps we need to describe the circumstances under which the word tsaddiyq applies. In other words, we need to ask, “What circumstances cause a man to be righteous?” rather than, “What is righteousness?”
Now the answer is simple. God causes a man to be righteous. God “reckoned” (yahsheveha) righteousness to Abraham. Why did God credit righteousness to Abraham? Because Abraham believed in the Lord. The phrase is important. He’emin ba-Adonai. “To believe” is the verb ‘aman. It is primarily about stability, confidence and reliability. Abraham accepted the words of YHWH as reliable. What does that mean? He acted upon them! He altered his behavior based on what God said. He bet his life on God’s promise. And God counted Abraham’s change in behavior as tsedaqah. Abraham didn’t earn righteousness. It was given to him. Abraham changed direction because he trusted what God said.
How does a man become righteous? God lifts him up. Only God grants him righteousness. What does that mean in terms of the relationship with God? This man changes his behavior. He follows God’s words. He learns to rely on what God says. Does this mean that a man who has been counted righteous doesn’t sin? Of course not! Abraham was counted righteous, but he sinned many times after he decided to alter his path. He didn’t always follow the straight line. But he didn’t give up and neither did God. When he wandered, he repented. He came back over and over. The direction of his life aimed at God. In the end he did what mattered. “Now I know you love Me,” said God. He persevered. Righteousness was granted. Behavior changes followed.
Grace plus direction plus perseverance – that characterizes the man of faith. God sets it in motion. We follow – adjust – and follow again. How are you doing today?
Topical Index: righteous, tsaddiyq, tsedaqah, ‘aman, believe, Ecclesiastes 7:20, Genesis 15:6
“Righteousness must not be tied to always doing what is good and never sinning.”
The answer here depends on how this question is answered: On what basis does God declare Abraham — and everyone else — righteous?
The answer here depends on how this question is answered: On what basis does God declare Abraham — and everyone else — righteous?
-Agreed.-
The answer here depends on how this question is answered: On what basis does God declare Abraham — and everyone else — righteous?
Maybe I don’t understand the question as being contradictory to the statement. Of course, the answer is “on His own terms.” Right? If so, then Skip’s statement is correct and the question doesn’t need to be asked. My doing “good” or “right” has no effect on whether or not God considers me righteous.
Jimmy
Skip!! What a gift God has given to you!! That beautiful piece of art should be shown!! Until then I didn’t want to lose it, so I saved it to my computer. Hope you don’t mind!! : )
“(Abraham) bet his life on God’s promise.”
In Job, we see a similar trust in God’s promise.
But in Job we see God bet everything Job owns and values on his trust in Job:
Job 1:8 The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.”
Job 1:9 Then Satan answered the LORD, “Does Job fear God for nothing?
Job 1:10 “Have You not made a hedge about him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.
Job 1:11 “But put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face.”
How are you doing today?
adjusting!