Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and truth go before Your face. (Psalm 89:14)
In the previous devotion, we highlighted the concept that the Kingdom of God is defined by righteousness, justice and truth. Therefore as followers of Messiah, we are charged with pursuing and exhibiting these attributes as we fulfill our mission to be a light to the nations. On that note, Jewish commentators put forth the notion that our acts of righteousness and justice are actually stored in the base of God’s Heavenly Throne, hence the statement, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne.” This might not be so far fetched as it first sounds because the Bible does say that God stores our tears in a bottle (Psalm 56:8); the prayers of the saints are likened to the heavenly incense upon the Golden Altar (Revelation 8:3-4).
In this vein of thought, Jewish literature relates a story that speaks to this issue. It recounts how a very devout and very wealthy Hasmonean king gave away his fortune to those who were desperate and in need. When asked by friends why he would deplete his own resources in such a way he replied, “My ancestors stored their wealth in a place where other men could take it. However, I have stored a treasury of merits in a place far removed from human grasp.” In other words, he stored his treasure at the base of God’s Holy Throne.
Perhaps tears being stored in a bottle or righteous deeds being stored in the base of God’s Throne is all metaphor, but there is ample reason to believe that God keeps track of our deeds. Not only does He record them, He recalls them and will reward those who walk upright before Him. As Messiah taught us: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19-21). And so may our heart always be inclined to do what is pleasing to God and to conduct ourselves in a way that Heaven takes note — literally!
Blessings and Shalom,
Bill
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