In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’ Jeremiah 23:6
In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’ Jeremiah 33:16
Jehovah-Tsidkeenu the Lord our righteousness. Here the title in Hebrew is ‘tsedeq’ meaning rightness, righteousness. The title is in the masculine noun form.
This rightness or righteousness has to do with justice, fairness, proper weights and measurement, accuracy, vindication, all held within a sovereign’s seat. This ‘seat’ of justice and rightness is the position now held by Jesus Christ the Messiah. There were two ‘pillars’ of theocracy that held this righteousness of the kingdom in the old covenant represented by the two pillars before the temple.
The following is from Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament.
“The Davidic kingdom and the Levitical priesthood were the two pillars and bases of the Old Testament theocracy, on which its existence and continuance depended. The priesthood formed the medium of approach for the people into divine favor. The kingdom assured them of the divine guidance.”
“Both of these pillars were broken with the destruction of Jerusalem and of the temple; the theocracy the appeared to have ceased to exist. At this time, when the kingdom, with its ordinances of justice and of grace, bestowed by God, was being dissolved, the Lord, in order to keep His people from despair, declares that these two institutions, in accordance with His promise, shall not fall to the ground, but shall stand for ever. By this, God’s own people received a pledge for the re-establishment and renovation of the kingdom of God. Such is the object of this promise. – As to the kind and mode of reinstitution of both of these ordinances, which were abolished when the state came to ruin, the prophecy now before us gives no explanation; but in the emphatic confirmation of the prophecy which follows, we find brief indications which clearly show that the restoration spoken of will not be a reinstitution of the old form which is now perishing, but a renovation of it, in its essential features, to a permanent existence.”
The destruction of the Temple in 70AD was devastating to the Israeli people. It shattered their faith in many ways. But God had already replaced the pillars with eternal ones in the new covenant. The Davidic king line was completed in Jesus Christ, and Jesus (the new High Priest) expanded the Levitical line of the priesthood to anyone who was completed with the indwelling Presence of the Holy Spirit.
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. Revelation 1:4-6
Do you understand the gravity of the priesthood? The importance of ‘right standing’ before a Holy God and righteous King? This is why the ministry of the Holy Spirit of conviction of sin is so important. In the Old Covenant priests had a long line of rituals and requirements to be made ‘righteous’ and ‘clean’ each and every time before they served in ministry before Jehovah.
Is the Holy Spirit leading you to do certain things to help you understand the seriousness of your position as ‘priest’ before Him? Is He giving you any disciplines to do to help you allow the Holy Spirit to have a greater space in your daily life?
It is the Holy Spirit that seals us before His Righteousness.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:30