8.31.25 ~ Righteousness Squared

Good morning!

“You shall follow/tzedek what is altogether just/zedek, that you may live and inherit the land which the LORD your God is giving you. (Deut. 16:20)

Deuteronomy 16:20 tells us to pursue/tzedek righteousness/tzedek in order to live and inherit the Land. This verse is sandwiched between putting judges and officers in your gates  (Deut. 16:-20) and the section on the Prophet, like unto Moses, that we should listen to (Deut. 18:18-20). The question that enquiring minds want to know is, "Why double emphasize tzedek tzedek"? Could it have anything to do with having a wedding garment (Rev. 19:7,8)? Enquiring minds really, really want to know :-)

“Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous/zedek acts of the saints. (Rev. 19:7,8)

The word righteousness/zedek emphasizes two sides of a coin. One side is justice/din. The other, mercy/chesed. Justice/din or judgment/mishpat is black or white; that's the law and there is no question about it. Righteousness can also give what is undeserved, mercy. That can be confusing when it's only one or the other. Sometimes doing what is right is more than strict justice or undeserved mercy. It's looking beyond the 'physical evidence' and evaluating based on all the circumstances that are not tangible; the 'heart's condition and motive' (Isa. 11:3-10; Jn. 7:24). 

The double usage of Tzedek Tzedek emphasizes us looking deeper into the matter and doing more than anyone could expect. It's going the extra mile. It's giving your shirt and your coat. It's not hasty. It's handling life matters yourself by giving the benefit of the doubt to the other person; examining the heart of the matter rather than just the appearance. 

Decisions made in anger, rage, or passion are not tzedek tzedek. God commands His people to pursue righteousness (1 Tim. 6:22; 2 Tim. 2:22). In order to do that, we have to think correctly (Phil. 4:8). Good thoughts are a prerequisite to pleasing our Creator (Deut. 25:13-16; Mic. 6:8; Heb. 11:6). He wants us to live life to the fullest (Deut. 4:1; Eze. 18:5,9; Rom. 10:5; 1 Jn. 1:1-4; Jn. 15:11; 16:24; 2 Jn. 1:12) and inherit the land...all connected to the olive tree!

As you head into this 1st day of the week, with the fall feast season rapidly approaching, may we be focused on preparing our wedding garments!

Shalom,
Alan

Shabbat morning zoom call: "Living as a victorious warrior without forgetting the stranger"(Deut. 20)

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