Devotions: Blessings from Just and Righteous Living

How blessed are those who keep justice,
Who practice righteousness at all times!

Psalm 106:3 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

This psalm recounts the many times Israel rebelled against God, and the many times God delivered them. The writings of the prophets often recounted injustice as one of the main reasons why God punished them. They did not keep justice or practice righteous living and they were miserable because of it. The Bible also says that only those whose lives show integrity, deeds show righteousness and are honest to the core can abide in God. And abiding in God is one of the key elements to being blessed. We are happy and prosperous if we are just and walk in God’s ways constantly. If we are unjust or turn from God’s ways at all, we suffer the consequences of wrong living. This does not mean that the good are always happy while the bad are always miserable. Many do not even see the connection to their circumstances and their life choices. But nothing assures us of a trouble-free life. Yes bad choices mean bad consequences, but there are many who are crooked and yet seem to prosper, and many who do only good and yet seem to always be in hard times. There is a lot more behind our circumstances than just our decisions, though those do help. The point of being blessed is not that we never suffer, but that we delight in God in the midst of suffering. That blessing is an inner satisfaction from being in God’s will and obeying His command that surpasses our temporary situations. We may be perfectly just and righteous and yet go through hard times. We may even encounter hard times (ridicule etc) because we are so just and righteous. The blessing comes from God and that inner peace and joy from our spiritual success and obedience to Him.