In the Lord I put my trust; how can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain”? For look! The wicked bend their bow, They make ready their arrow on the string, that they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart.
If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?
The Lord is in His holy temple, the Lord’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men.
The Lord tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates. Upon the wicked He will rain coals; fire and brimstone and a burning wind shall be the portion of their cup.
For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright. Psalms 11:1-7
Right after studying the bonus beatitude, I was listening to Psalms 11 in my car on the way to work and I was strongly reminded of the great gift of knowing God for who He is! His nature is a gift to us because it is a sure foundation for our lives. The Psalmist applauds God’s righteousness and how He loves to behold His children who live in His righteousness. Note—it is not OUR righteousness—it is HIS. We receive His righteousness when we are born again.
“For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.” Romans 5:17-19
OUR righteousness is as filthy rags. (Isaiah 64:6) CHRIST’s righteousness is our free gift. God desires all humanity. He desires to give us the comfort of His righteousness.
Why is His righteousness comforting?
Because it is part of His unfailing nature, and we can count on it to be the same—always! His righteousness within us means our name is written in the Book of Life and our eternity is secure. Because God is righteous, He cannot lie—ever. We can always trust His Word!
His work is honorable and glorious, and His righteousness endures forever. The works of His hands are verity and justice; all His precepts are sure. They stand fast forever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness. Psalms 111:3, 7-8
There is no one we know who is like God. There is none greater we can trust. There is none who loves us more or gives us more. He gave His last drop of blood to give us His righteousness so we can have a relationship with Him.
Trusting Jesus as Lord and Savior has been the most comforting, wise, and strengthening decision I’ve ever made.
