Lord’s Day 11/06 righteousness

by Mark on December 5, 2009

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Je­ho­vah Tsid­ke­nu is a name for God which means “The Lord Our Right­eous­ness.” This is easily forgotten today with the emphasis on doing good deeds for God.

Preaching the Gospel to yourself is a great reminder that deeds do not save. It is the Gospel of grace through faith alone that saves. Jesus Christ is our righteousness not our good works.

The poem below by Robert Murray M’Cheyne is a great reminder of the Lord Our Righteousness.

Je­ho­vah Tsid­ke­nu

I once was a stranger to grace and to God,
I knew not my danger, and felt not my load;
Though friends spoke in rapture of Christ on the tree,
Jehovah Tsidkenu was nothing to me.

I oft read with pleasure, to sooth or engage,
Isaiah’s wild measure and John’s simple page;
But e’en when they pictured the blood-sprinkled tree
Jehovah Tsidkenu seem’d nothing to me.

Like tears from the daughters of Zion that roll,
I wept when the waters went over His soul;
Yet thought not that my sins had nail’d to the tree
Jehovah Tsidkenu – ’twas nothing to me.

When free grace awoke me, by light from on high,
Then legal fears shook me, I trembled to die;
No refuge, no safety in self could I see, -
Jehovah Tsidkenu my Saviour must be.

My terrors all vanished before the sweet name;
My guilty fears banished, with boldness I came
To drink at the fountain, life-giving and free, -
Jehovah Tsidkenu is all things to me.

Jehovah Tsidkenu! my treasure and boast,
Jehovah Tsidkenu! I ne’er can be lost;
In thee I shall conquer by flood and by field,
My cable, my anchor, my breast-plate and shield!

Even treading the valley, the shadow of death,
This “watchword” shall rally my faltering breath;
For while from life’s fever my God sets me free,
Jehovah Tsidkenu, my death song shall be.

~Robert Murray M’Cheyne, November 18, 1884.

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  • Mark-
    Excellent post. The poem you quote has actually been adapted to a hymn that I love to sing. It is to the tune, "My Jesus, I love Thee", and it's broken up like this:

    I once was a stranger
    To grace and to God,
    I knew not my danger
    And felt not my load;
    Though friends spoke in rapture
    O Christ on the tree,
    Jehovah Tsidkenu
    Was nothing to me.

    Like tears from the daughters
    Of Zion that roll,
    I wept when the waters
    Went over His soul;
    Yet thought not that my sins
    Had nailed to the tree
    Jehovah Tsidkenu...
    'Twas nothing to me.

    When free grace awoke me
    By light from on high,
    Then legal fears shook me,
    I trembled to die;
    No refuge, no safety,
    In self could I see,
    Jehovah Tsidkenu
    My Saviour must be!

    My terrors all vanished
    Before the sweet name.
    My guilty fears banished,
    With boldness I came
    To drink at the Fountain,
    Life–giving and free.
    Jehovah Tsidkenu
    Is all things to me.

    In treading the valley,
    The shadow of death,
    This watchword shall rally
    My faltering breath...
    And when from life's fever
    My God sets me free...
    "Jehovah tsidkenu"
    My death song shall be!
  • Thanks, Nathan! I would love to hear this song. Maybe I will send it to my pastor who heads our music.
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