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 bases 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? If not, we need to become able to do so for this is the calling of every son of God, of everyone whom God calls to his celestial city, New Jerusalem.

The terms “righteousness” and “justice” appear by many other names in Scripture. Some common pairings include “mercy” & “truth,” “grace” & “law” and “steadfast love” & “faithfulness. To see this compare the following Scripture as translated in 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)

Two other key verses establishing this relationship are

Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. (Psalms 85:10) and

Righteousness and justice are the habitation of your throne: mercy and truth shall go before your face. (Psalms 89:14)

Today the one who yearns for God’s righteousness and justice begins to faint as did this psalmist, 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. 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 he did, “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, 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.