Tell the Righteous!

​Meditation
Isaiah 3:10-11—Tell the righteous that it will go well for them, for they will eat the fruit of their labor. Woe to the wicked—it will go badly for them, for what they have done will be done to them.
            
God’s word to Isaiah challenged me to study the word righteous because it is in that context that things go well for people.  What I found was staggering in some ways.  But before we look at the signs and fruit of righteous living we should understand 14 lessons that teach: 

·   pure righteousness is modeled by God (Ezra 9:15; Neh. 9:8; Dan 9:7,14; Rom 1:17, 3:26; Rev. 15:3,4, 16:5,7)
·   no one will ever be as righteous as God or wholly righteous (Job 4:17; Psa. 143:2; Ecc 7:20Rom. 3:10) 
·   righteousness on earth is met by scheming and opposition (Psa. 37:12,32, 94:21)
·   to yield to the wicked is to pollute one’s well (Pro. 25:26)
·   we should not be excessively righteous or flaunt it in front of others (Ecc. 7:16; Mat. 6:1)
·   we need not fear disgrace by men or their taunts (Isa. 51:7)
·   turning from righteousness results in death (Eze 33:18)
·   leading others to righteousness makes them shine like the stars forever (Dan. 12:3)
·   righteousness comes not by hearing but by doing (Zep. 2:3; Mat. 6:33; Rom 2:13; 1 Tim. 6:11; 2 Tim 2:2; Tit. 1:8, 2:12; 1 Pet. 2:24)
·   our righteousness does not get us into heaven (Mat. 5:20; Rom. 10:3; Tit. 3:5)
·   the righteous will be separated from evil people and heaven will be filled with righteousness (Mat. 13:49, 2 Pet. 3:13)
·   it is Jesus’ blood and grace that declares us as righteous (Rom. 5:9,18,21)
·   Scripture trains us how to be righteous (2 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 5:13)
·   discipline is key to righteousness (Heb. 12:11).
 
Scripture reveals at least 18 ways we recognize righteous people because they:  
·   walk blamelessly with God (Gen. 6:9)
·   obey God by doing what is right (Deu. 6:25; Isa. 48:18; Eze 18:22; Hos. 14:9; Rom 6:16; 1 John 3:7)
·   treat people right (Deu. 24:13)
·   are gracious and give without withholding (Psa. 37:21; Pro. 21;26)
·   find refuge in God (Psa. 64:10)
·   exude wisdom in their speech (Psa. 37:30; Pro. 10:11,20,21,31,32, 15:28)
·   are teachable—allowing them to learn more (Pro. 9:9)
·   show their hope is joy (Pro. 10:28)
·   in thinking are just and justice executed is a joy (Pro. 12:5, 21:15, 29:27; John 7:24)
·   care about their animals’ health (Pro. 12:10)
·   deal carefully with neighbors (Pro. 12:26)
·   hate lying (Pro. 13:5)
·   flourish as leaders and are established by righteousness (Pro. 16:12,25:5, 28:28, 29:2)
·   keep getting back up after they fall (Pro. 24:16)
·   are bold (Pro. 28:1)
·   bring great rejoicing when they triumph (Pro. 28:12)
·   know the rights of the poor and needy and do something about it (Pro. 29:7; Mat 25:37-40)
·   live by faith (Hab. 2:4; Rom 1:17, 4:3-9,13,22; 5:1, 10:4,6,10; Gal. 3:6,11; Heb. 10:38; Jam. 2:23).
 
Look at the richness that comes to our lives when we live righteously! According to the Bible there are at least 21 past, present or future results: 
·  gaining future rewards and blessing (2 Sam. 22:21; Psa. 5:12, 58:11; Pro. 10:6, 11:18, 13:21,15:6; Isa. 33:15-16; Mat. 5:6,10; 2 Tim. 4:8)
·   receiving God’s faithful love, justice, and overwatch (1 Kin. 3:6, 8:32; Psa. 1:6, 34:15; Pro. 15:9)
·   God is with us and we will never be shaken (Psa. 14:5, 140:13; Pro. 10:30)
·   our deeds are loved by God (Psa. 11:7, 45:7; Mat. 10:41)
·   God hears our cries and prayers (Psa. 34:17; Pro. 15:29; Jam. 5:16; 1 Pet. 3:12)
·   we may experience adversity, injustice and burdens but ultimately, we will be delivered (Psa. 34:19, 55:22; Pro. 12:21; Ecc. 8:14, Isa 54:17; Mat. 5:45; 1 Pet. 3:14,18)
·   the little we have is better than the abundance of the wicked (Psa. 37:16)
·   we will not be abandoned; our children will not beg for bread (Psa. 37:25; Pro. 10:3)
·   we inherit the land and dwell in it forever (Psa. 37:29)
·   our salvation is from God; our names are written in His book of life (Psa. 37:39, 69:28; 112:6, 118:20; Pro. 10:25; Mat 25:46; Acts 24:15)
·   we will be glad, sing and praise God’s name (Psa. 68:3, 140:13; Pro. 29:6)
·   we will thrive and experience joy and victory (Psa. 92:12, 118:15; Pro. 11:10,28)
·   our path is level and like the light of dawn  (Pro. 4:18; Isa. 26:7, 58:8)
·   righteousness rescues us from trouble and death (Pro. 10:2, 11:5,6,8, 12:13,14:32; Isa. 54:14)
·  our labor leads to life, righteousness, honor, peace and confidence (Pro. 10:16, 11:19,30, 21:21; Isa. 3:10, 32:17; Jam. 3:18)
·   we will gain our desires (Pro. 10:24,11:23)
·   our root is immovable and produces fruit (Pro. 12:3,10,12)
·   our righteousness guards us (Pro. 13:6)
·   we will eat until we are satisfied (Pro. 13:25)
·   gray hair is found in the way of righteousness (Pro. 16:31)
·   living with integrity makes 0ur children and parents happy (Pro. 20:7, 23:24)
            
That’s a lot to think about . . . in reveration!
 
Inspiration
You have to expect spiritual warfare whenever you stand up for righteousness or call attention to basic values. It's just a matter of light battling the darkness. But the light wins every time. You can't throw enough darkness on light to put it out.—Thomas Kinkade
 
©2022 Daniel York  ARR.  Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)