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¹³⁷ Righteous are you, O Lord,
    and right are your rules.
¹³⁸ You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness
    and in all faithfulness.
¹³⁹ My zeal consumes me,
    because my foes forget your words.
¹⁴⁰ Your promise is well tried,
    and your servant loves it.
¹⁴¹ I am small and despised,
    yet I do not forget your precepts.
¹⁴² Your righteousness is righteous forever,
    and your law is true.
¹⁴³ Trouble and anguish have found me out,
    but your commandments are my delight.
¹⁴⁴ Your testimonies are righteous forever;
    give me understanding that I may live.

There is one word which comes up again and again in this section - righteous. “Righteous are you, O Lord” (verse 137), “you have appointed your testimonies in righteousness” (verse 138), “your righteousness is forever” (verse 142), your testimonies are righteous forever” (verse 144). 

The Psalmist is emphasising that there is a match between the character of the Lord and the character of his word. He is not a hypocrite. Because of that we can rely on the word of God. We can build our life on them. We can be passionate about the Bible (verse 139). This isn’t worshipping a book. It is expressing our zeal for him. 

But there’s more to this section that this emphasis on righteousness underlines. We might still be feeling a slight sense of discomfort with the way the Psalmist keeps talking about the fact he loves God’s law and God’s commands. We don’t usually talk about that when we think about other laws even if we may see them as necessary. We might even feel it makes the Psalmist sound a little bit smug or proud?

But the Psalmist loves all of God’s word because it reveals who God is to him. And he is righteous. You might expect that to be a terrifying thought to the Psalmist. After all, we aren’t righteous - and, indeed, the Psalmist knows he is a sinner. But somehow this righteousness gives him hope and brings him joy and comfort.

Later on in God’s word we see how this is the case. It is because of God’s righteousness that we are saved. In Romans we are told that a righteousness has been revealed from heaven - a way for God to save sinners while remaining just and merciful. This is the righteousness revealed at the cross.

The Psalmist has a sense of that already. How? Because he knows God’s word is his covenant law - rooted in his saving promises and committed relationship with his people.

This begins to show us why the Psalmist is so full of joy and passion when he comes to God’s word. In it the Lord speaks to him of his salvation. Is this how we see the Bible? God gives himself to us in Christ. He shows us his righteousness - his saving righteousness. He calls us to be righteous as we obey him, because we are already righteous in Christ. We don’t read the Bible as a work to please him, but as a wonderful blessing from him.