Why Christmas Needs the King of Justice

Last updated on: December 16, 2024 at 4:35 pm by Elisa S. Johnston

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Why Christmas Needs the King of Justice 2024-12-16T16:35:00-08:00 Elisa S. Johnston

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During the Christmas season, Christians often focus on specific names for God. Whether we pray to Baby Jesus, write sermons on the Prince of Peace, or sing our invitations for Emmanuel to “ransom captive Israel,” there are a distinct few go-to names.

But what about the King of Justice?

As I’ve been reading the prophecies about Jesus as the coming Messiah this holiday season, I’ve been struck by how rarely we use Jehovah Tsidkenu as a name for God, let alone as one to reflect on during Christmas. Yet, it seems we should.

An image of a dark-skinned Mary and Joseph looking at a beautiful baby Jesus boy with a crown

During the Christmas season, Christians often focus on specific names for God. | Adoring the King of Justice, AI image created by the author.

Jehovah Tsidkenu

When I was in my early twenties and first studying justice in depth in the Bible, I felt like I had stumbled upon something new when I discovered Jehovah Tsidkenu in Scripture (Jeremiah 23:6). It thrilled me. Not only were there hundreds of verses about living justly in the Bible, but this one declared God as the God of Justice!

“And this will be his name: ‘The Lord Is Our Righteousness.’ In that day Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety.” (Jeremiah 23:6 NLT)

It was a cornerstone name for God, on the same level as Jehovah Jireh, Jehovah Nissi, and all the other names my childhood churches used for him. In fact, I felt it was so fundamental to my practice of justice—co-laboring with the God of Justice—that I even planned to get a tattoo of “Tsidkenu” on my left wrist! (for the day I finally wouldn’t be scared of needles).

The Etymology of The God of Justice

My Bible concordance states that the actual Hebrew words mean “Yahweh” and “righteousness,” but they are most frequently translated as “The Lord is our righteousness,” meaning He is the one who makes us right with him. It can also mean that God is righteous or embodies justice, which fits perfectly with the preceding verses describing the Messiah as a king who rules with justice, wisdom, and righteousness:

“For the time is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land.” (Jeremiah 23:5 NLT)

Christmas and Justice?

It wasn’t until this year that I realized this set of verses falls right in the middle of the Christmas prophecies. I’ve never really viewed Christmas as about justice, though. In other translations, this section refers to the Messiah as “the Branch of David.” Why do we focus so much on the “Branch of David” part of this passage instead of this significant aspect of God’s character?

When we talk about the Prince of Peace, we meditate on God’s character. When we reflect on Emmanuel, we marvel at the incredible fact that God is incarnate among us. So, when we discuss the just king from the line of David, why aren’t we focusing on God’s character of justice?

Adoring the King of Justice

One thing I love about Christmastime is that it is a diamond of many facets. Sometimes, we reflect on light; other times, we think about generosity. One year we marvel at God’s humility in coming into our physical realm and then the next, we wonder at the fragility of God in infant form.

But this Christmas, I encourage you to meditate on what it means that the King of Justice, Jehovah Tsidkenu, is the victor. It is Jesus born of Mary who reigns with justice, righteousness, and wisdom. He is the one who establishes a flourishing society.

I haven’t yet gotten that tattoo–I’m still too afraid of needles. But I hope you will find other ways to join me in adoring the King of Justice this holiday season!

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About Elisa Johnston

Elisa Johnston lives in San Diego with her family and writes at AverageAdvocate.com, Authentically Elisa on Substack, and is the author of The Life Mapping Workbook and Justice-Minded Kids. You can read more about the author here. You can read more about the author here.

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