Sedek, sedaka: right conduct in faithfulness

FOR PREVIOUS POSTS ON THE TOPIC SEE POSTS OF FEB 29, MAR 3, 5 & 8

The Greek translation of the Hebrew word sedaka is dikaiosune and in English is translated as righteousness. This word does not adequately convey the meaning it had for a Hebrew in ancient Israel.

Righteousness to the Western mind is considered to be correct behavior with respect to some objective standard. The Hebrew sedaka can be described as the highest value in life, that upon which all life rests when it is properly ordered; a value so universal that its totality embraces everything transcendental in reality and as such escapes attempts at a precise definition.[1]

 Righteousness, when considered as an aspect of relationship, is achieved when the relationship is “in good order”. “… the easterner lives within the relationship and knows intuitively and generally when it is in good order without defining the … various aspects of the experience that have given him this knowledge….”[2]

To the Oriental mind the one who watches over the just order, be it judge, king or God, must consider as primary, protecting the rights of the weak against subjugation by the strong. In Israel the Covenant God is the supreme protector of the right of the poor, the oppressed, and the powerless. Those who represent the law must hold God’s position, a chief theme of the preaching of the prophets.

 As a society do we have the intuitive ability to recognize whether or not our various relationship are rightly ordered? Has our individualistic nature and materialistic nature skewed our idea of what a right order is?

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[1] See Glory of the Lord, Vol. 6, p163

[2] Ibid., p. 164