The margin of our Bible hath preserved the original Hebrew, JEHOVAH Tzidkenu, in both places where meet with this glorious name of the Lord Jesus, (Jeremiah 23:6; Jeremiah 33:16) and a most blessed and soul-comforting name it is for the present and everlasting joy of a poor sinner, conscious that in himself he is void of all righteousness. For doth any one ask the questionWherefore we call Jesus JEHOVAH? The answer is direct; Jesus is not only JEHOVAH by reason of his own personal GODHEAD, but JEHOVAH the Father hath commanded his people to call him and to know him by that name. And if it be farther askedWherefore do you call him your righteousness? The answer is, Because he is so, and is the very righteousness in which all his people become justified before God; and in confirmation of it JEHOVAH hath commanded the people so to call him, and so to apprehend and know him. And reader, do but attend to the several blessed causes by which it is confirmed and assured to the heart and conscience, and very fully will it appear to you, in all its glory, if so be God the Holy Ghost be your teacher. That Jesus is JEHOVAH in common with the Father and the Holy Ghost, the whole Bible confirms. (See in proof if but a single passage, Isaiah 45:22-25) And that he is our righteousness, the Holy Ghost hath asserted in numberless places of his blessed word. (See but two passages among many that might be brought forward, 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
But what I more particularly beg the reader to observe with me on this glorious name of our Redeemer, is, that JEHOVAH Jesus our righteousness is the very righteousness of his people. Let the reader remember that Jesus is not said to be a righteous person, but righteousness itself. Angels may be, and sometimes are, called righteous, and so are the servants of God; but none of them can be called righteousness. This belongs only to God our Saviour: all other righteousness is derived, and is from him; but the righteousness of the Lord Jesus is essentially and necessarily his own. He is righteousness itself; and his GODHEAD both proves his righteousness, and his righteousness demonstrates his GODHEAD. This is one sweet feature of this name of our Lord; and there is another included in it, namely, that this righteousness is ours. For by virtue of union and oneness with him, all that he is as the Head of his body the church, he is for and in his people. Hence he is said to have been made sin for them when he knew no sin that they might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21) "And he is made of God to them wisdom and righteousness, sanctification and redemption." (1 Corinthians 1:30) And what crowns the whole is, that Christ and his righteousness being so for ever, so must his people be in him. His person being infinite, so must be his righteousness; and therefore, he is said to have saved his people with an everlasting righteousness, by reason of which they shall not be ashamed nor confounded, world without end. Well might the Holy Ghost command the church to exclaim, "Surely shall one say, In the Lord have I righteousness and strength." (Isaiah 45:24) I would only add, as a farther confirmation of the interest the church hath in Christ and the oneness there is between them, the church also is called the Lord our righteousness, because her glorious Husband is so; thus proving her marriage by taking the name of her husband. (See Jeremiah 33:16) Oh, the blessedness in that one title, JEHOVAH our righteousness!