I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;
I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.
Psalm 7:17 NIV
Thanks for Righteousness
Each year, the Dutch celebrate “Liberation Day,” a national holiday marking the end of Nazi occupation in the Netherlands during the Second World War. Canadian soldiers led the charge against the German occupiers 80 years ago, and on May 5, people lined the streets in the town of Apeldoorn to honour Canada’s contribution and thank the 7,600 Canadians who died freeing the Netherlands from Nazi occupation. For the Dutch, May 4th is Remembrance Day, while May 5th is Liberation Day — marking the anniversary of Germany’s surrender of the Netherlands to Canadian Lt.-Gen. Charles Foulkes.
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The God we know through faith in Jesus Christ is a righteous God, holy in every way. In fact, His righteousness is so overwhelming that no sin or sinner can draw close to Him. His holiness will destroy both the sin and the sinner. So, how can King David write, in Psalm 7:17, “I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.” David expresses thanks to God for His righteousness. He does so because He understands just how much this righteous God loves His people. His desire is to make us righteous, too. He did that by sending Jesus, by whose death and resurrection our sins can be forgiven, and we can stand before this righteous God because Jesus’ righteousness has been implanted in us. Christian, through Jesus Christ, you stand before God pure and holy. That is worth offering to God eternal thanks and spending eternity worshipping Him for the great gift of Jesus’ righteousness in you. He has done all of this for you because He righteously loves you.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley