Why should he who boasts boast in knowing the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness?
True wisdom is now defined in positive terms. Instead of boasting in wisdom, might or riches, the truly wise person will boast in the fact that he understands and knows
the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness.
Three very theologically significant Hebrew words are used to describe the Lord: hesed (steadfast love
), mispat (justice
), and tsedaqa (righteousness
).1
Hesed is used about 245 times in the Old Testament. It generally describes someone who is kind and generous to another even when it is not deserved. When used of the Lord it speaks of his total commitment to his people even when they have failed to be committed to him. It is often translated into English as steadfast love
.2 It is closely related to the New Testament concept of grace.
Mispat has to do with court proceedings and speaks of justice in which, not only is the wrongdoer punished, but the oppressed are delivered. The Lord is the perfect Judge who brings about true justice and the same quality should have been true in the nation of Israel.3
Tsedaqa speaks of doing what is right in terms of social, legal, ethical, and religious standards. The Lord himself is perfectly righteous in everything that he does and Israel was supposed to be righteous in all they did too, as defined by the covenant.4
The truly wise person is the person who boasts in the fact that he knows the Lord who has revealed through his actions that he shows perfect steadfast love, justice, and righteousness. That is the only true basis for confidence. The Lord delights in these things. He not only delights in acting in this way, but he delights to see them in his people who have been treated with steadfast love, justice, and righteousness.5
24 Mais que celui qui veut se glorifier se glorifie D'avoir de l'intelligence et de me connaître, De savoir que je suis l'Eternel, Qui exerce la bonté, le droit et la justice sur la terre; Car c'est à cela que je prends plaisir, dit l'Eternel.