11/22/25

Psalms 129:4 NASB1995 The Lord is righteous; He has cut in two the cords of the wicked.

What does it mean that the Lord is righteous?

The theological word book of the Old Testament says it means He is "Just, Lawful, and Righteous.

The Holman Illustrated Dictionary says,

Righteousness itself is grounded in the character of God. He is righteous, His law is righteous, and He alone credits righteousness to man.

Wilson describes it this way; God is a righteous judge, in punishing, or rewarding, or fulfilling his promises; just in one’s cause, right; of a private person, just toward other men, obedient to divine laws, hence righteous, upright, virtuous, and pious.

How about we describe it this way? The Lord is always right in His judgment. He is always right in His blessing. He is always right in His mercy. He is always right in His grace. He is always right in His forgiveness. He is always right in His anger. He is always right in His wrath. His laws, are always right. His will is always right. His truth is always right. His Son is always right. His Spirit is always right. His word is always right. Everything He does is completely just. He has never broken His law because He is lawful. Simply put He is just right in all the ways of His law!

He, through His Son, credits us with His righteousness in salvation but not in our sin; thus, to be just, His Son was our atonement. To make it right that we receive mercy and grace having not lived in righteousness ourselves.

We might want to re-read those last two paragraphs.

Then I think it is right for us to be thankful that the Lord is righteous!

The text goes on to say of the Righteous Lord that, He has cut in two the cords of the wicked.

Notice the wording in the NASB is cut in two T W O. It means literally to cut off or amputate.

It does not say into I N T O, as cutting a chunk out. No, it says two, T W O, as to completely separate, so as never to be reattached.

The wicked means those who are morally wrong, condemned, guilty, and ungodly. It means being set in this ungodly, wicked way, like being anchored in concrete. It means to be ungodly consistently and unchanging. This person will be amputated from the body of Christ.

The cord means literally a branch that is intertwined with another.

When this happens, often the new branches that are starting to bud from the vine are forever stunted as the ungodly branch is being removed to be thrown in the fire.

We might say how is it fair that my unrighteousness affects a new branch budding from the tree? If you ask this question, I take you back to the two paragraphs that describe the righteous Lord in all things, including His Judgment of the law.

Don't get amputated! Instead, receive Him and be imputed with His righteousness before you are cut in two from God forever, and hinder the branch that is now budding from the vine.

Your eternal life or death affects the growth of others.

He gave this warning over 3000 years ago so you can not say you haven't had an opportunity to realize His righteousness.

Thank the Lord for He is righteous!

Love Bro. Scott