Life Is Not Fair. God Is.

Photo credit: Anthony Heflin

June 10, 2026

Praying Friends,

How many times have you heard it said that life is not fair?

One child gets to go on a class trip to Disney and the younger one whines, “That’s not fair.” 

Two people are working at the same company. Both are good people, and one gets promoted while the other does not. Life is not fair. 

One person deals with a life of sickness while another has never seen the inside of a hospital. It doesn’t seem fair. 

Some are born into favorable circumstances while others are born into sadness and poverty. Again, life is not fair. And on and on the list goes.

The sad reality of our sinful world is that life is not fair.

But God is!

In this section of Psalm 119:137-144 (Hebrew letter Tsadhe), the psalmist focuses on a specific aspect of God’s nature: four times he refers to God’s righteousness. You can see the theme as you read:

“You are righteous, LORD, and your laws are right. The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy. My zeal wears me out, for my enemies ignore your words. Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them. Though I am lowly and despised, I do not forget your precepts. Your righteousness is everlasting and your law is true. Trouble and distress have come upon me, but your commands give me delight. Your statutes are always righteous; give me understanding that I may live.”

Firstly, he makes a clear declaration about God’s character, “You are righteous, LORD” (Psalm 119:137). The author recognizes that God’s essence is immutably and unchangeably righteous. 

The Hebrew word for righteous appears over 200 times in the Old Testament and means just, lawful, correct, and fair. This means that God cannot do anything wrong.

His righteousness is more than just moral perfection. It is God's faithful commitment to act rightly according to His own character, covenant, and purposes.

Abraham asked the rhetorical question of the LORD, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” (Genesis 18:25). The obvious answer was yes.

The LORD is incapable of doing otherwise.

Secondly, the psalmist states the trustworthiness of God’s righteous statutes. “The statutes you have laid down are righteous; they are fully trustworthy” (Psalm 119:138).

If God is always righteous, then His statutes will be the same. His Word is dependable. God’s people long ago rested fully assured that God’s Word was reliable, and that has not changed.

We have confidence that our salvation is secure. We have faith that God will protect, care, and supply all that we need for each day. We have certainty that we will see Him and be with Him eternally. These assurances are based on the trustworthiness of God’s Word.

Then, he makes the amazing claim that God’s righteousness will not end. He said, “Your righteousness is everlasting” (Psalm 119:142).

There will never come a day when God’s righteousness will fail. This means that as His children we will be secure for eternity. In a world of chaos and trouble, we need to rest in this reality and let it soak into our souls!

Lastly, he reminds us that God’s righteous Word gives insight into how we should live. “Your statutes are always righteous; give me understanding that I may live” (Psalm 119:144).

How should we live? How should we treat one another? How should we see and interact with the world?

The answer is simple, but the outworking will take a lifetime of dependence upon God.

The Lord Jesus is the visible expression of all that God is. He is the righteous One. 

Follow Him. 

Think like Him. 

Live like Him.

And you will live in the fullness of His righteousness. As we pray for our prodigals and for revival may we keep our hearts and minds fixed on Christ.

Warmly In Christ,

Bryan and Rachel