Righteousness - Psalm 17
I like this Psalm. It is all about righteousness, though the word itself doesn’t appear until the last verse. Follow with me:
 1 Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea;
      listen to my cry.
      Give ear to my prayer—
      it does not rise from deceitful lips. 2 May my vindication come from you;
      may your eyes see what is right. Â
Who needs vindication from God, but someone who believes and obeys Him (i.e., a righteous man), while others scoff or show pangs of doubt?
 3 Though you probe my heart and examine me at night,
      though you test me, you will find nothing;
      I have resolved that my mouth will not sin. Â
I just read about this kind of “night” in the book “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality”. It’s when you feel God is absent, and you’ve hit a wall… but you are bound and determined to pass through it. It requires facing your fears, facing your temptations, facing your sinful nature. David has every reason to leave God, but he knows he has every reason not to. And so, empty and alone, he will not sin against God, but maintain his faith in Him, if only in action.
 4 As for the deeds of men—
      by the word of your lips
      I have kept myself
      from the ways of the violent. 5 My steps have held to your paths;
      my feet have not slipped. 6 I call on you, O God, for you will answer me;
      give ear to me and hear my prayer. Â
He waits on God, in an odd state of faith trumping doubt. I’ve been there, and admire David for his persistence!
 7 Show the wonder of your great love,
      you who save by your right hand
      those who take refuge in you from their foes. 8 Keep me as the apple of your eye;
      hide me in the shadow of your wings 9 from the wicked who assail me,
      from my mortal enemies who surround me. Â
 God will indeed comfort in the most horrible of circumstances… but I also know he lets you wallow in your own emotionality if it’s where you need to go. In my experience, he comforts you to strengthen you, so that you can make it through your emotional journey.
 10 They close up their callous hearts,
      and their mouths speak with arrogance. 11 They have tracked me down, they now surround me,
      with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground. 12 They are like a lion hungry for prey,
      like a great lion crouching in cover. 13 Rise up, O LORD, confront them, bring them down;
      rescue me from the wicked by your sword.
And God comes in for the save…
 14 O LORD, by your hand save me from such men,
      from men of this world whose reward is in this life.
      You still the hunger of those you cherish;
      their sons have plenty,
      and they store up wealth for their children. 15 And I—in righteousness I will see your face;
      when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.
Undoubtedly, when we die, it will be as if we have woken up from a sleep (this life) into our true life (unique spirits who praise God). Interestingly, if I’m reading this right, David does not use the word righteousness until describing his death. Well, surely we will be righteous then. But for now, we must settle for having our belief credited to us as righteousness, and letting obedience to Him (despite our sin) be our righteousness, for our sinful bodies are not inherently righteous by themselves. Yet when we die, because of our faith down here (i.e., our righteousness: belief and obedience, which I believe only comes from a spirit who loves God), we will enter His presence, being finally… righteous.