A Sermon by Nate Wilson for Christ the Redeemer Church, Manhattan, KS, 06 March 2011
All scriptures herein quoted from the NASB translation.
· Use Nick Butterworth & Mick Inkpen’s children’s Bibl storybook, The Precious Pearl.
· I had intended to share something from the lectures on the various strategies used in cross-cultural mission work over the last 500 years, which I delivered last week in Wichita and Newton, but as I kept asking God what to share from that material, I kept getting the thought that I need to proceed to beatitude #4. So, you can ask me later about the notes on the back of the bulletin, but that’s not what I’m covering this morning.
· From the first 3 beatitudes we see that the people who are blessed are
o first of all humble before God and
o secondly mourners over sin, and
o thirdly, humble before other people as well.
·
Now we have the 4th beatitude:
5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because it is
they who will be satisfied (Wycliffe/KJV/NIV=filled)
o Peinaw and Dipsaw are used to describe hunger and thirst after a long hard day of work (Rth 2:9, Isa 44:12)
o
Peinaw is the word used to describe the hunger
of the people in the great famine of Egypt during Joseph’s time (Gen
41:55),
as well as the hunger of the Israelites trapped in the city of Samaria
as it was besieged by the Syrian army and all the food ran out (2Ki 7:12)
o Peinaw and Dipsaw are both used to describe the hunger and thirst of the people of Israel in the wilderness after they came out of Egypt:
§ Exo 17:3 But the people thirsted there for water; and they grumbled against Moses and said, "Why, now, have you brought us up from Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?"
§ Psa 107:4-9 They wandered in the wilderness in a desert region; They did not find a way to an inhabited city. They were hungry and thirsty; Their soul fainted within them. Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble; He delivered them out of their distresses. He led them also by a straight way, To go to an inhabited city. Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindness, And for His wonders to the sons of men! For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, And the hungry soul He has filled with what is good.
§ Isa 48:21 They did not thirst when He led them through the deserts. He made the water flow out of the rock for them; He split the rock and the water gushed forth.
o Both words are used to describe the hunger and thirst and fatigue of soldiers after they had fought long and hard and run many miles:
§ Gideon’s soldiers after they had fought against the Midianites in their hometown and then chased the two Midianite kings, Zeba and Zalumna for some 25 miles got mighty hungry after all that physical exertion (Judges 8).
§ Sisera also got very thirsty after fighting a battle and fleeing for his life (Jdg 4:19).
§ Sampson was dying of thirst after a long fight in which he killed 1,000 Philistine men all by himself (Jdg 15:18 ).
§ Both words are used to describe King David when he was in the wilderness, first when he was hiding from Saul in Psalm 63:1 “O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is no water” (cf. Matthew 12:3/Mk 2:25). And later when he fled for some 20 miles away from Jerusalem while Absolom was trying to overthrow him (2Sa 17:29)
o
Peinw is the word used of Jesus back in
chapter 4 of Matthew to describe how hungry He was after fasting for 40
days in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2/Lk 4:2),
and how thirsty He was after He was hung up on the cross (John 19:28)
o And it’s used of Paul to describe the deprivations he underwent in his apostolic travels (1 Cor 4:11 “To this present hour we are both hungry* and thirsty*, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless” (cf. Philippians 4:12).
o Of course, it’s also used to describe those who are very poor as well (Job 24:10, Psa 146:7, Isa 58:7-10, Ezek 18:7, Matt 25:35/Lk 6:3)
o
This, by the way is NOT the hunger which is a
result of laziness and refusal to work,
and it is NOT the hunger of those who hate God and are suffering the curses
of God’s wrath.
§ Isaiah spoke often of these people: “8:21 They will pass through the land hard-pressed and famished, and it will turn out that when they are hungry, they will be enraged and curse their king and their God as they face upward… 9:20 They slice off what is on the right hand but still are hungry, And they eat what is on the left hand but they are not satisfied… 28:12 He who said to them, "Here is rest, give rest to the weary(LXX=hungry)," And, "Here is repose," but they would not listen… 29:8 It will be as when a hungry man dreams-- And behold, he is eating; But when he awakens, his hunger is not satisfied, Or as when a thirsty man dreams-- And behold, he is drinking, But when he awakens, behold, he is faint And his thirst is not quenched. Thus the multitude of all the nations will be Who wage war against Mount Zion.”
FIGURATIVE: Although Jesus’ blessing can be considered literally for those who are literally hungry and thirsty because they have been denied justice and righteousness, it is also used figuratively, as in they have a craving for God’s righteousness, just like that merchant that wanted that precious pearl badly enough to give up everything he had in order to get it.
o Psa 42:2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God?
o Luke 1:53 "HE HAS FILLED THE HUNGRY* WITH GOOD THINGS; And sent away the rich empty-handed.” From Mary’s prayer, (quoting Psa 107:9) praising God for His salvation through sending Jesus – spiritually applying this concept.)
o John 4:13 Jesus spoke of thirst figuratively to the woman at the well, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst* again; 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst*; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."
o John 6:35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger*, and he who believes in Me will never thirst*… John 7:37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty*, let him come to Me and drink.
o
Matthew Henry: Some understand this as a
further instance of our outward poverty, and … makes it in vain for them
to seek to have justice done to them; they hunger and thirst after it,
but such is the power on the side of their oppressors, that they cannot have
it; they desire only that which is just and equal, but it is denied them by
those that neither fear God nor regard men. This is a melancholy case!
Yet, blessed are they, if they suffer these hardships for and with a
good conscience; let them hope in God, who will see justice done, right take
place, and will deliver the poor from their oppressors, Psalm103:6. Those who
contentedly bear oppression, and quietly refer themselves to God to plead their
cause, shall in due time be satisfied, abundantly satisfied, in the wisdom and
kindness which shall be manifested in his appearances for them.
But it is certainly to be understood spiritually, of such a desire as,
being terminated on such an object, is gracious, and the work of God's grace in
the soul, and qualifies for the gifts of the divine favour.
So what exactly is this righteousness which we would be blessed to hunger and thirst after?
Definitions:
· Thayer state of him who is as he ought to be, righteousness, the condition acceptable to God,
· Strong adds “justification” – made right
· Jameson, Fawcett, & Brown: “spiritual and entire conformity to the law of God… which alone God regards with approbation (Psa. 11:7; Psa. 23:3; Psa. 106:3; Pro. 12:28; Pro. 16:31; Isa. 64:5, etc.).
· Adam Clark: Righteousness here is taken for all the blessings of the new covenant - all the graces of the Messiah’s kingdom - a full restoration to the image of God!
· Matthew Henry: Righteousness is here put for all spiritual blessings. (See Psa. 24:5; Mat. 6:33). They are purchased for us by the righteousness of Christ; conveyed and secured by the imputation of that righteousness to us; and confirmed by the faithfulness of God. To have Christ made of God to us righteousness, and to be made the righteousness of God in him; to have the whole man renewed in righteousness, so as to become a new man, and to bear the image of God; to have an interest in Christ and the promises - this is righteousness.
· The first place this word occurs in the Bible is Genesis 15:6 “Then he [Abraham] believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.” This statement is repeated six more times throughout the old and New Testaments: Psalms 106:31, Romans 4:3,9,22 Gal 3:6, James 2:23. From the beginning to the end of Scripture, righteousness is believing in the Lord.
· Righteousness is also equated with “keep[ing] the way of the Lord” (Genesis 18:19), “observ[ing] all the [10] commandments” (Deuteronomy 6:25), as well as obeying the particular applications of the 10 commandments listed in the rest of the law (Deuteronomy 24:13, Jeremiah 22:3).
· Job 36:3 "I will fetch my knowledge from afar, And I will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
· Psalms 5:8 O LORD, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes; Make Your way straight before me.
· Psalms 7:17 I will give thanks to the LORD according to His righteousness And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
· Psalms 11:7 For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness; The upright will behold His face.
· Proverbs 8:8 The Wisdom of God says, “All the utterances of my mouth are in righteousness; There is nothing crooked or perverted in them… 18 Riches and honor are with me, Enduring wealth and righteousness… 20 I walk in the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice…”
· Jeremiah 23:5 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, "When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In His days Judah will be saved, And Israel will dwell securely; And this is His name by which He will be called, ‘The LORD our righteousness.’” (cf. Jeremiah 33:15)
· Jeremiah 50:7 “All who came upon them have devoured them; And their adversaries have said, ‘We are not guilty, Inasmuch as they have sinned against the LORD who is the habitation of righteousness, Even the LORD, the hope of their fathers.’”
· Daniel 9:7 “Righteousness belongs to You, O Lord, but to us open shame, as it is this day--to the men of Judah, the inhabitants of Jerusalem and all Israel, those who are nearby and those who are far away in all the countries to which You have driven them, because of their unfaithful deeds which they have committed against You.”
· John 16:8 “And He [the Holy Spirit], when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness* and judgment…”
· Psalms 119:172 Let my tongue sing of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness.
· Isaiah 42:21 The LORD was pleased for His righteousness' sake To make the law great and glorious.
· 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness*;
· Deuteronomy 9:4 "Do not say in your heart when the LORD your God has driven them out before you, 'Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in”
· Job 29:14 "I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; My justice was like a robe and a turban.
· Job 33:26 Then he will pray to God, and He will accept him, That he may see His face with joy, And He may restore His righteousness to man.
· Job 35:2 "Do you think this is according to justice? Do you say, 'My righteousness is more than God's'?
· Psalms 24:5 He shall receive a blessing from the LORD And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
· Isaiah 33:5 The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness.
· Isaiah 46:12 "Listen to Me, you stubborn-minded, Who are far from righteousness. 13 "I bring near My righteousness, it is not far off; And My salvation will not delay. And I will grant salvation in Zion, And My glory for Israel.
· Isaiah 57:12 "I will declare your righteousness and your deeds, But they will not profit you.
· Ezekiel 33:12 "And you, son of man, say to your fellow citizens, 'The righteousness of a righteous man will not deliver him in the day of his transgression… a righteous man will not be able to live by his righteousness on the day when he commits sin.' 13 "When I say to the righteous he will surely live, and he so trusts in his righteousness that he commits iniquity, none of his righteous deeds will be remembered; but in that same iniquity of his which he has committed he will die.
· Matthew 5:20 "For I say to you that unless your righteousness* surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
· Matthew 6:1 "Beware of practicing your righteousness* before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
· 1 Corinthians 1:30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness* and sanctification, and redemption,
· Philippians 1:11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness* which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
· Titus 3:5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness*, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
· Psalms 4:1 “Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.”
· Psalms 7:8 “The LORD judges the peoples; Vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and my integrity that is in me.”
· Psalms 18:20 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.
· Psalms 23:3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.
· Isaiah 1:21 How the faithful city has become a harlot, She who was full of justice! Righteousness once lodged in her, But now murderers… 26 "Then I will restore your judges as at the first, And your counselors as at the beginning; After that you will be called the city of righteousness, A faithful city." 27 Zion will be redeemed with justice And her repentant ones with righteousness.
· Isaiah 42:6 "I am the LORD, I have called You in righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over You, And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations,
· 2 Corinthians 5:21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness* of God in Him.
· 1 Peter 2:24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness*; for by His wounds you were healed.
· Psalms 71:2 In Your righteousness deliver me and rescue me; Incline Your ear to me and save me.
· Proverbs 10:2 Ill-gotten gains do not profit, But righteousness delivers from death.
· Isaiah 51:1 “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, Who seek the LORD: Look to the rock from which you were hewn And to the quarry from which you were dug… 5 My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth, And My arms will judge the peoples; The coastlands will wait for Me, And for My arm they will wait expectantly… 7 Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, A people in whose heart is My law; Do not fear the reproach of man, Nor be dismayed at their revilings. 8 For the moth will eat them like a garment, And the grub will eat them like wool. But My righteousness will be forever, And My salvation to all generations.”
· Isaiah 61:10 I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
· Daniel 9:24 “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy...”
· Romans 1:17 For in it [the Gospel] the righteousness* of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."
· Romans 3:21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness* of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness* of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;… 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness*, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness* at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus… 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS*."…5 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness*, 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness* apart from works… 9 Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, "FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS*."…11 and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness* of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness* might be credited to them… 13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness* of faith… 22 Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS*…’”
· Romans 10:3 For not knowing about God's righteousness* and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness* of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness* to everyone who believes. 5 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness* which is based on law shall live by that righteousness. 6 But the righteousness* based on faith speaks… 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness*, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
· Philippians 3:9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness* of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness* which comes from God on the basis of faith,
· 2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness* of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
· Psalms 106:3 How blessed are those who keep justice, Who practice righteousness at all times!
· Matthew 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness*, and all these things will be added to you.
· Ephesians 6:14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS*,
· 2 Timothy 2:22 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness*, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
· Psalms 22:31 They will come and will declare His righteousness To a people who will be born, that He has performed it.
· Psalms 40:9 I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great congregation; Behold, I will not restrain my lips, O LORD, You know. 10 I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation; I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great congregation.
· Psalms 145:7 They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness And will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.
· Psalms 9:8 And He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity.
· Psalms 96:13 Before the LORD, for He is coming, For He is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness And the peoples in His faithfulness.
· Psalms 98:2 The LORD has made known His salvation; He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations… 9 He is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness And the peoples with equity.
· Isaiah 11:4 But with righteousness He will judge the poor, And decide with fairness for the afflicted of the earth; And He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked. 5 Also righteousness will be the belt about His loins, And faithfulness the belt about His waist.
· Isaiah 16:5 A throne will even be established in lovingkindness, And a judge will sit on it in faithfulness in the tent of David; Moreover, he will seek justice And be prompt in righteousness.
· Acts 17:31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness* through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead."
· Revelation 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness* He judges and wages war.
· Thayer: to feed with herbs, grass, hay, to fill, satisfy with food, to fatten
· Strong – Literally “pastured” or placed in a “garden” (recapitulation of Eden?)
· Vincent: “expresses complete satisfaction”
Throughout the Old Testament, God is spoken of as the one who feeds the creatures of the earth:
· Job 38:27 To satisfy the waste and desolate land And to make the seeds of grass to sprout?
· Ps. 81:16 "But I would feed you with the finest of the wheat, And with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."
· Ps. 104:13 He waters the mountains from His upper chambers; The earth is satisfied with the fruit of His works.
· Ps. 104:16 The trees of the LORD drink their fill, The cedars of Lebanon which He planted,
· Ps. 132:15 "I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her needy with bread.
· Revelation 19:21 And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse, and all the birds were filled* with their flesh.
The majority of instances of this word Chortazw in the NT are in the gospel narratives of Jesus feeding the 5,000 and the 4,000. Over and over again, the phrase “they all ate and were satisfied” is repeated in the Gospel accounts. (Matt. 14:20 /Mark 6:42/ Luke 9:17/John 6:26, and Matthew 15:37/Mark 8:8). Perhaps this is a picture of the future given to us, where Jesus feeds people and all are satisfied.
· In Luke’s parallel to the beatitudes, we have a little different phrasing of the beatitude which brings out a contrast between the now and the eternal future: Luke 6:21 "Blessed are you who hunger* now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh… 25 "Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry*. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
· This passage brings out a contrast between a life focused on temporal things (laughing and eating well now) vs. eternal things (“you will be satisfied… you will laugh”)
· David also spoke of this contrast in Psa 17:14 “From men with Your hand, O LORD, From men of the world, whose portion is in this life, And whose belly You fill with Your treasure; They are satisfied with children, And leave their abundance to their babes. 15 As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake.”
· The importance of staying focused on the righteousness of Christ rather than on temporal things is also found in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians 4:12 “I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.”
The promises which the apocalyptic books of Isaiah and John offer are very similar to Jesus’ statement that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied:
Isa 35:1 The wilderness and the desert will be glad, And the Arabah will rejoice and blossom; Like the crocus… 6 Then the lame will leap like a deer, And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy. For waters will break forth in the wilderness And streams in the Arabah… 7 The scorched land will become a pool And the thirsty ground springs of water; In the haunt of jackals, its resting place, Grass becomes reeds and rushes…Isa 40:28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. 29 He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. 30 Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, 31 Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary… 41:18 "I will open rivers on the bare heights And springs in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water And the dry land fountains of water… Isa 49:10 "They will not hunger or thirst, Nor will the scorching heat or sun strike them down; For He who has compassion on them will lead them And will guide them to springs of water. (cf Revelation 7:16 "They will hunger no longer, nor thirst anymore; nor will the sun beat down on them, nor any heat) Isa 55:1 "Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost… (cf. Revelation 21:6 Then He said to me, "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts* from the spring of the water of life without cost.) Jer 31:25 "For I satisfy the weary ones and refresh everyone who languishes." (cf. Rev. 22:17)
1. Let us look beyond instant gratification to eternal satisfaction. Live out the truth that whatever is NOT righteous will NOT be satisfying. Let us be willing to wait for satisfaction until God is ready to give it to us.
2. Let us look outside of ourselves to Christ in faith for Him to give us His righteousness, not seeking to justify our own goodness or redefine what is right based upon our feelings.
3. “We must truly and really desire [righteousness], as one who is hungry and thirsty desires meat and drink, who cannot be satisfied with any thing but meat and drink, and will be satisfied with them, though other things be wanting. Our desires of spiritual blessings must be earnest and importunate; ‘Give me these, or else I die; every thing else is dross and chaff, unsatisfying; give me these, and I have enough, though I had nothing else.’ Hunger and thirst are appetites that return frequently, and call for fresh satisfactions; so these holy desires rest not in any thing attained, but are carried out toward renewed pardons, and daily fresh supplies of grace.” (Matthew Henry)
4. “When the uneasy sensation termed hunger takes place in the stomach, we know we must get food or perish. When the soul is awakened to a tense of its wants, and begins to hunger and thirst after righteousness or holiness, which is its proper food, we know that it must be purified by the Holy Spirit, and be made a partaker of that living bread (John 8:48), or perish everlastingly. Now, as God never inspires a prayer but with a design to answer it, he who hungers and thirsts after the full salvation of God, may depend on being speedily and effectually blessed or satisfied, well-fed, as the word χορτασθησονται implies.” (Adam Clarke)
5. Read and listen to the Bible. That will satisfy hunger for righteousness like nothing else – it will train you in what righteousness is and how to do it!
6. Walk in obedience to the commands in the Bible, putting on the breastplate of righteousness, pursuing righteousness, practicing righteousness as God defines it in His Word.
7. We can be bringers of righteousness to those who are hungry and thirsty for it: Isa 21:14 Bring water for the thirsty, O inhabitants of the land of Tema, Meet the fugitive with bread… 32:2 Each will be like a refuge from the wind And a shelter from the storm, Like streams of water in a dry country, Like the shade of a huge rock in a parched land. Matthew 25:35 “For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty*, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in.”