We are called to pray for the Righteous. Not just those who are currently righteous, but that God would call more people to follow the path of righteousness. “The LORD loves righteousness and justice.” (Psalm 33:5) Righteousness is a difficult path to follow. Living life brings temptations which seeks to topple the righteous.
The question comes, “What is righteousness?” Definitions of Righteousness are: upright, just, straight, innocent, true, sincere. The Lord is Righteous. Righteousness is becoming like God.
“Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.” (Genesis 6:9) “Abram believed the LORD, and he credited it to him as righteousness.” (Genesis 15:6) Isaac and Jacob are also called Righteous. “Phinehas stood up and intervened, this was credited to him as righteousness for endless generations to come.” (Ps 106:30-31)
The Righteous seek to be like God. But they do not seek to meet a theological criteria, they are active in their pursuit of righteousness. Righteousness is an action. The Bible says, “If we are careful to obey all this law before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.” (Deut 6:25)
The Jews contrast "Tzadik" (Righteous) with “Hasid” or Pious. The live lives of study and spiritual devotion. The Tzadik are men of action. They actively show their righteousness. “For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.” (Romans 2:13)
Psalm 15 says, “LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill? He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the LORD, who keeps his oath even when it hurts, who lends his money without usury and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.”
Righteousness is a choice. It does not happen by accident. It is like being a Proselyte. One must choose to live a life above and beyond the normal, a life that overtly seeks to please God. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” (Mt 5:6)
Paul notes, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) Jesus Christ came, giving His life as atonement breaking down the barrier which keeps us from God. In Him we find righteousness. “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” (Eph 2:19-22)
“Ill-gotten treasures are of no value, but righteousness delivers from death.” (Pr 10:2)
We must pray for the righteousness, that they can be strong, and that they will not fail. We must pray that more people will seek righteousness. “I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.” (Ps 40:10)
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