In the last two articles we saw that the belt of the truth and the breastplate of righteousness comprise the foundational armor of the soldier of God, the one prepared to battle “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12) I have shown in many previous posts that truth is a synonym of God’s justice and that mercy equates to God’s righteousness. In fact, the terms “righteousness” and “justice” appear by many other names in Scripture. Some common pairings include “mercy” & “truth,” “grace” & “law” and “steadfast love” & “faithfulness.” God’s Law of course goes by many names in Scripture, i.e. precepts, principles, statutes, teaching, testimony, commandments, way, etc. To quickly see this consider the following Scriptural passages.  First, compare Isaiah 16:5 from the King James and English Standard Versions of the Bible:

[T]hen a throne will be established in steadfast love,  and on it will sit in faithfulness in the tent of David one who judges and seeks justice and is swift to do righteousness.  (Isaiah 16:5 ESV)

And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking justice, and hastening righteousness. (Isaiah 16:5, KJV)

The Hebrew word חֶסֶד checed (kheh’-sed) is translated as “mercy” by the King James translators and as “steadfast love” in the English Standard Version. And we see that the King James Version translates אֱמֶת ’emeth (eh’-meth)  as “truth” while the ESV uses the word “faithfulness.”

Next, if we look at Psalm 85:10, “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other,” we see that the King James translators pair the word “mercy” with the word “righteousness” and the word “truth” with the word “peace.” Then, looking at Psalm 89:14, “Righteousness and justice are the habitation of your throne: mercy and truth shall go before your face,” notice that King James again links “righteousness” to “mercy” and then links “justice” to “truth.”

Finally, we see that the writer of the majestic 119th Psalm often combines these concepts together in the same way:

I have done what is right and just: leave me not to my oppressors. Be surety for your servant for good: let not the proud oppress me. My eyes fail for your salvation, and for the word of your righteousness. Deal with your servant according unto your mercy, and teach me your statutes. I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies. It is time for you, LORD, to work: for they have made void your law. Therefore I love your commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all your precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way. (Psalms 119:121-128)

Psalm 89:14 declares that righteousness and justice form the foundation of God’s throne. Obviously the writer of Psalm 119 based his life upon these same Godly characteristics and even claims that he has “done what is right and just.” Can you and I say the same thing? The godly soldier who dares to stand against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places must not only be able to say this, he must be doing it! Our most vulnerable parts, our loins, must be girt with the belt of truth. Our hearts must become hearts of flesh and be protected by the breastplate of Christ’s righteousness. These two attributes of God must form the foundation of our lives. If not, we cannot work or fight for God, much less ever stand in his presence and behold his face.

Today the one who yearns for God’s righteousness and justice begins to faint as did writer of Psalm 119, for our eyes too begin to fail as we await God’s salvation. We do not go about proclaiming, “I am saved! You need to believe in Jesus so you can be saved too!” We realize we are not yet saved in full. We stand oppressed by the proud and arrogant who mock God’s laws. And yet we continue to work out our salvation in fear and trembling as we ask God to give us understanding and knowledge of his statutes. We cry out as did the prophets of old, “It is time for you, LORD, to work: for they have made void your law!” Yes, it is time for God to act in the world of men once again and to finally establish his throne built upon righteousness and justice, mercy and truth, grace and law.

Yea, truth fails; and he that departs from evil makes himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no justice. And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him. For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak. According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, retribution to his enemies; to the coastlands he will fully repay. So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him. And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob [note: Jacob represents all people who claim Jesus as their Savior, but have not yet made him their LORD and still walk in blatant sin and hypocrisy], says the LORD. As for me, this is my covenant with them, says the LORD; My spirit that is upon you, and my words which I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, nor out of the mouth of your descendants, nor out of the mouth of your descendant’s descendants, says the LORD, from this time forth and forever. (Isaiah 59:15-21)

Amen and amen.  Come LORD Jesus.