So Righteous!

Proverbs 11:8-10, CEB

The righteous are saved from distress,

    and the wicked take their place.

The godless destroy their neighbors by their words,

    but the righteous are saved by their knowledge.

When the righteous succeed, a city rejoices;

    When the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.

                The word translated “righteous” occurs over 30 times in the book of Proverbs. In almost every case, it is a noun referring to righteous people being compared to those that are not (the wicked, godless, etc).  So what exactly does it mean to be “righteous?”  In our own culture, righteous often means someone who consistently does the “right things.”  In other words, it is a description of someone’s behavior.  They do the things on the “do” list and they avoid the doing the things on the “don’t” list.”

                While the biblical notion of righteousness does include behavior, it is more of a relational word.  Righteousness in Hebrew thinking is tied to the notion of “shalom.”  Shalom is often translated in English as peace, but it a much richer word than that in Hebrew. Shalom is God, humanity, and creation all related to each other as God intended.  Perfect shalom is the world as it should be according to the will of God.  To be righteous then, is to be one who is participating in those relationships in the ways God intended.  So when we see people described as “the righteous” in Proverbs, we should think of people in right relationship with God, people, and creation. 

                When you hear that description, who are the people that you know that come to mind? Who are “the righteous” in your estimation?  For me, they aren’t people who always get it right.  They make mistakes and even do foolish things sometimes.  However, they are people who work at keeping their relationship with God current and fresh and they prioritize key relationships in all they do.  It shows in how they spend their time and how they treat people.  I am inspired and even sometimes convicted by their relentless “righteousness.”  And getting back to proverbs, when I read the proverbs that describe the righteous, I see these people being described.

Question:  How have you been shaped by the actions and attitudes of “the righteous?”

Prayer:  Lord, we want to be among the righteous. Make us wise in Your ways.  Give us the resolve to live your wisdom in our families, churches, and wherever we find ourselves.  Amen.

Song:  Al Green – None But the Righteousness