Jeremiah 23:6 “In his days Judah will be saved
and Israel will live in safety.
This is the name by which he will be called:
The LORD Our Righteousness.”

The various names given for God are an interesting and important study. As several commentaries and translation introductions point out, the covenant Name for God is recorded as YHWH, because no devout Jew would want to say it for fear of breaking the 3rd Commandment. However, that commandment is to not misuse His Name; it isn’t a prohibition from speaking His Name at all. In any case, we wind up with some confusion in English as to the distinctions among the various names that are used, particularly in the Old Testament. The NIV, wisely enough, chooses to use LORD (all caps) when the Hebrew has YHWH, and this is one of those times. This is important, because Adonai is generally translated “Lord,” but Baal, which is used for heathen deities, also means “lord.” Even the Hebrew people mixed those up sometimes! What God is saying through Jeremiah here is that He Himself is our righteousness, and when the Messiah reigns, there will be no question of that. This is what Paul was talking about in Ephesians 2:8-10, where he says that we are saved by grace through faith, and not by what we do. We can never be good enough by our own effort to approach God for anything but judgment, but Christ has become our righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:30) so that we may be saved.

I have certainly learned that I can never be “good enough” on my own! Sins of commission (things I do) and omission (things I fail to do) require frequent repentance! If I didn’t have the promises of God, I would completely give up. However, I do have those promises, so I can walk in peace. Those promises are Good News indeed to anyone who hasn’t heard or doesn’t yet believe them, so I, along with other believers, am charged with sharing them with as many as possible. I’ve got to keep it straight in my own heart and mind that this isn’t a system of religion, this is encountering a Savior who loved us enough to take the penalty for our sin so that we might receive His righteousness. Sometimes when I feel powerless in the face of my own weaknesses I have to remind myself of the basics of the Gospel, and know that His grace is sufficient for me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Father, thank You for this reminder. Sometimes I seem to have no control at all over what I am doing, such as when I woke my wife up repeatedly last night because of whatever it was I was dreaming, though I have no memory of it. Thank You that Your grace is sufficient there too, for her and for me both. Help me never take Your grace for granted but always apply myself to full obedience, in gratitude for what You have already done to save me. Thank You. Praise God!