El Tsaddik

 

For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): “I am the LORD, and there is no other. I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, ‘Seek me in vain.’ I the LORD speak the truth; I declare what is right. “Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, you survivors of the nations! They have no knowledge who carry about their wooden idols, and keep on praying to a god that cannot save. Declare and present your case; let them take counsel together! Who told this long ago? Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me.” (Isaiah 45:18-21 ESV).

 

Has someone ever made a promise that you just knew they couldn’t or wouldn’t keep? You wanted to believe, but deep down you knew that what they promised wouldn’t happen. God’s declarations and promises, however, are completely reliable. We see this in our reading and its full context today where God promises to “raise up” Cyrus, the Persian king, to return the exiled people of Israel to Jerusalem. It is also in today’s verses that we find the compound name El Tsaddik (pronounced “tsah-deek”), “the Righteous God,” which highlights God’s justice, lawfulness, and righteousness. El Tsaddik promises to return his people to their homeland to show that he keeps his word and to show the nations of the world that he is God “and there is no other.”

 

Keeping his promise, God uses Cyrus to return the Jews to their land, and they begin to rebuild Jerusalem, the city of God. Another, even bolder promise shows up in the Old Testament as well, and it includes us. The Lord promises to send his anointed one, the Messiah, the “righteous Branch” of Israel, and he is called “The LORD Our Righteous Savior” (Jeremiah 23:5-6). In Jesus Christ, who delivers us from sin and takes the punishment we deserve, we see God’s words and deeds completely line up.

 

Our God has no need to be careful about over-promising. Others may let you down, but El Tsaddik, “the Righteous God,” provides justice and always keeps his promises.