In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’ Jeremiah 33:15-16 ESV
Yahweh Tsidkenu – the Lord is our righteousness – was prophesied by the prophet Jeremiah. This is the name by which it (Jerusalem) will be called. Jeremiah constantly prophesied against the sinfulness of the people of Israel and pronounced impending judge on them. He was hated for this. This is no different in the times in which we now live, where the darkness hates the light for it exposes its wickedness. Pronouncing judgment on sin isn’t being judgmental, it’s merely stating what is inevitable. A righteous and holy God detests sin regardless of the size and extent of it. All sin is contrary to his character and he cannot tolerate one iota of it. He pronounced judgment on sin at the time of Adam stating that if he ate the fruit of the forbidden tree he would surely die.
However, God doesn’t leave us in despair to face a hopeless future of judgment. He is also a God of hope. The righteous branch of David will spring up and execute justice and righteousness. But do we really want justice? If God gave us what we deserved the righteous judge would certainly pronounce us guilty with the subsequent consequences. As much as he is righteous, he is also full of grace. The God of all righteousness never merely forgives sin in order to bestow grace. That would undermine his absolute righteousness as sin has to be judged according to his divine law that states that the wages of sin is death.
Our despair can be removed because the branch of David is Yahweh Tsidkenu himself who became flesh, died in our stead for our sin and imputed his own righteousness onto us. He has not merely given us his righteousness, but he himself is our righteousness apart from whom we have none. It is not enough to know this, but to live by this righteousness that he has freely given to all who believe. Yahweh Tsidkenu, our righteousness.
Excellent message Amen