By Rony Kozman, Ph.D.
Assistant professor of Biblical Studies, Samford University
THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD’S NAME
Jeremiah 23:5–6; Romans 3:10b–13, 21–26
God promised a King who is defined by righteousness. (Jer. 23:5–6)
In Jeremiah 22, God tells Jeremiah to go to the house of the king of Judah and tell him to practice justice and righteousness, which includes rescuing those who have been robbed and taking care of the aliens, orphans and widows. If the king obeys, then the house of David will prosper, but if not, David’s house will be ruined.
Then Jeremiah pronounces judgment on three kings for acting in unrighteousness and in injustice: Shallum son of Josiah, Jehoiakim son of Josiah and Coniah son of Jehoakim. They are contrasted with King Josiah who did practice justice and righteousness.
In Chapter 23, Jeremiah pronounces, “Woe to the shepherds” (the kings) because they “destroy and scatter the sheep” (v. 1). God is going to bring judgment upon them and gather His sheep and raise up rulers who will care for the sheep.
God promises that He will raise up a king from David’s line who “will reign wisely as king and administer justice and righteousness in the land.”
When this Son of David comes, Judah and Israel will be saved, and the king will be called “the Lord is our righteousness.” In other words, because the Son of David will rule with justice, God will deliver his people.
There is no righteousness apart from God. (Rom. 3:10b–13)
We have all been like the kings who Jeremiah condemns — unrighteous and unjust. Paul makes clear to us in verse 10 that all humans are unjust.
Paul gives us a portrait of human beings whose throats, tongues, lips, mouths, feet and eyes are full of sin.
Paul’s portrait of the human being shows us a person whose whole body is ruled by sin, and this is a portrait of both Jews and Gentiles. Paul tells us that “both Jews and Greeks are all under sin” (v. 9).
God’s righteousness has been fully revealed in Jesus. (21–26)
How then can we find ourselves on the side of God’s saving justice, if we are unjust? God has revealed His righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ.
God justifies us by His grace. But how can God be just if He is justifying those who are unjust? After all, it is a miscarriage of justice to justify the ungodly. How then does God maintain His justice? In verses 25 and 26, Paul answers this question.
The blood of Jesus demonstrates God’s justice since through Christ’s blood, our sins can be forgiven and God can justify us.
Not only does God remain just while acquitting us, but He also rescues us from the tyrannical, enslaving and oppressing power of sin that dominated us (Rom. 6:6, 8:2).
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