Psalm 119:137-144 (KJV)
137 Righteous art thou, O LORD, and upright are thy judgments.
138 Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.
139 My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.
140 Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.
141 I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts.
142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.
143 Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights.
144 The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.
You cannot get good enough to get God. Instead you have to get God in order to get good enough. Why? Because our righteousness is equal to filthy rags compared to His righteousness. Besides, how can an unholy sinful people approach a holy sinless God? Dr. Henrietta C. Mears answers the question; "The way to God is by sacrifice. The walk with God is by separation."
In four of the eight verses of this stanza, the psalmist speaks of God and His righteousness. And since our righteousness is as filthy rags, it is imperative that we are clothed with God's righteousness. Laodicea, the seventh church that Jesus addressed in Revelation was given a remedy for their problem. Part of that remedy included putting on "...white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear..." (Revelation 3:18).
Part of the central theme of this stanza is the psalmist's zeal for those who have forgotten God's Word. Sometimes, when we face hardship, it's hard to sing, "God is a good God, yes He is." But our circumstance doesn't change God! What seems impossible to you, is simply another opportunity for God to show forth His Almighty power. Three key words, describing God's righteousness are found in this stanza:
1) Upright...
This means "to be straight or even; to bring in order." God's righteousness will never lead you astray. The path that we are to walk on is called the "straight and narrow" path. When we are clothed with God's righteousness, we are "made straight" and "brought in order." I for one am willing to admit that before I knew the Lord, everything was out of order in my life. But once I was born again, things begin to change for the better. This is the power of His righteousness.
2) Faithful...
This means, "firmness; moral fidelity; steadiness; stability; security." God's righteousness will give you security and stability, and cause you to be steady and firm. Today people are looking for stability and security, but the only place you will find it is in His righteousness. But there's something else in this definition that stands out to me - moral fidelity. With divorce rates off the charts and some couples just choosing to live together rather than marry, and with an overall lack of relational commitment, it is comforting to know that God's righteousness is not here today and gone tomorrow! He is faithful.
3) Everlasting...
This means, "eternal; always." God's righteousness will never end. It will transcend every generation and culture. It has existed before time began in creation and it will continue when time is ended. What really lasts forever today? Nothing that we make, invent, or design does. Sure, there are good people who do good things, and live a good life. But God's righteousness is forever!
It is hard for us as limited human beings to comprehend our illimitable God. To us, life begins at conception, then there is the pain and yet beauty of birth, but after a period of time (hopefully a long time), that life is over. But God existed before time, and is not constrained to time like we are. This is why we MUST be clothed with His righteousness.
When we stand before God, if we do not have on the wedding garment (His righteousness) we will not be invited in and welcomed to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Remove the garment of heaviness, the garments of sin and shame, and put on the garment of praise today. Be clothed with His righteousness. His righteousness is upright, faithful, and everlasting.
