Many students spend sleepless nights fearing exams the next day. Young people appearing for job interviews lose sleep. Those caring for the sick experience sleeplessness because of worry. Some toss on their bed, due to pain in their bodies. Pastors and missionaries burdened by unreached people spend nights in tears. But the Psalmist wakes up in the middle of the night for entirely different reasons: “I wake up to know your righteousness in the middle of the night.” (Psalm 119:62)
God is righteous: The attributes of God are amazing, some are beyond description, and make us wonder. God is the ultimate standard for morality, which is consistent with His holiness, justice, and faithfulness. God’s thoughts, words, deeds, and judgments are always right and perfect. God’s righteousness is not obtained, accumulated or acquired, but inherent in His character and identity. Righteous God does not compromise with sin, punishes the wicked, gives opportunity to repent, if the sinner does not heed, God judges that person. God is righteous in keeping His Promises and Covenant. Because God is righteous, he has created a way for salvation by His mercy. God’s righteousness, that is revealed in His grace, transforms sinners who come to Him in faith into saints.
Knowing righteousness: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” (Matthew 5:6) Hunger and thirst are natural for a healthy person. If a person does not have hunger, it is an indicator of physical sickness or ailment. Physical hunger is not a guarantee for satisfaction. Many people in the world are hungry, and even a few starve and die. However, the Lord Jesus Christ called those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, they are blessed or privileged. Such people have the promise of God to satisfy them. This spiritual hunger and thirst should be a deep desire, a longing, and a believer should pursue it at all costs. The resurrection of the Lord Jesus is a vindication and demonstration of the righteousness of God. Paul desires to know the power of resurrection to know His righteousness. (Philippians 3:10)
Am I sleepless to know the righteousness of God?