Mispat and Sedaqah
March 7, 2024
David Cloud, Way of Life Literature, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061
866-295-4143,
fbns@wayoflife.org
“Give the king thy judgments [mispat], O God, and thy righteousness [sedaqah] unto the king's son. He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment” (Psalm 72:1-2).

“... righteousness [
sedaqah] and judgment [mispat] are the habitation of his throne” (Psalm 97:2).

“Blessed
are they that keep judgment [mispat], and he that doeth righteousness [sedaqah] at all times” (Psalm 106:3).

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of
his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment [mispat] and with justice [sedaqah] from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this” (Isaiah 9:6-7).

“Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness [
sedaq], and princes shall rule in judgment [mispat]” (Isaiah 32:1).

“The LORD is exalted; for he dwelleth on high: he hath filled Zion with judgment [
mispat] and righteousness [sedaqah]” (Isaiah 33:5).

Judgment and justice (or righteousness) lie at the heart of God’s law. He is a God of judgment and righteousness, and He demands that man exercise judgment and righteousness in every type of dealing.

Mispat refers to every aspect of justice: “divine law, individual or collective, including the act, the place, the suit, the crime, and the penalty” (Strong). Mispat is law and order. Mispat refers to the law of God itself (“statues and judgments [mispat], which I teach,” De. 4:1) and it refers to the right use and application of the law of God and decisions based on the law.

Sedeq or sedaqah means “blameless conduct, integrity; right actions and right attitudes, as expected from God” (Complete Word Study Bible). Sedeq or sedaqah are translated “righteous” about 90 times in Scripture. It is also translated “just” (Le. 19:15) and “justice” (Job 8:3).

Judgment [
mispat] is the law and application of the law and decisions based on the law, and righteousness [sedaqah] is right conduct based on the law.

Judgment and righteousness encompass all right doing before God and right dealings with man, such as truth, honesty, purity, holiness, equity, love, kindness, mercy, retribution of law breaking, deliverance of the oppressed (Pr. 31:8-9), and care for the needy (Ps. 82:3-4). Judgment and righteousness lie at the heart of God’s rule. Justice [
sedeq] and judgment [mispat] are the habitation of God’s throne (Ps. 89:14). He is a God of judgment and righteousness, and He demands that men exercise judgment and righteousness in every type of dealing. Mispat is used 81 times in the law of Moses (Exodus to Deuteronomy), and sedeq/sedaqah about 20 times.

David exercised judgment [
mispat] and justice [sedeqah] (1 Ch. 18:14).

Judgment and righteousness are fundamental characteristics of Christ’s eternal kingdom. “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment [
mispat] and with justice [sedeqah] from henceforth even for ever” (Isa. 9:7). “Give the king thy judgments [mispat], O God, and thy righteousness [sedaqah] unto the king's son. He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment” (Psalm 72:1-2).



- Receive these reports by email
- www.wayoflife.org

______________________

Sharing Policy: Much of our material is available for free, such as the hundreds of articles at the Way of Life web site. Other items we sell to help fund our expensive literature and foreign church planting ministries. Way of Life's content falls into two categories: sharable and non-sharable. Things that we encourage you to share include the audio sermons, O Timothy magazine, FBIS articles, and the free eVideos and free eBooks. You are welcome to make copies of these at your own expense and share them with friends and family. You may also post parts of reports and/or entire reports to websites, blogs, etc as long as you give proper credit (citation). A link to the original report is very much appreciated as the reports are frequently updated and/or expanded. Things we do not want copied and distributed are "Store" items like the Fundamental Baptist Digital Library, print editions of our books, electronic editions of the books that we sell, the videos that we sell, etc. The items have taken years to produce at enormous expense in time and money, and we use the income from sales to help fund the ministry. We trust that your Christian honesty will preserve the integrity of this policy. "For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward" (1 Timothy 5:18). Questions? support@wayoflife.org

Goal:Distributed by Way of Life Literature Inc., the Fundamental Baptist Information Service is an e-mail posting for Bible-believing Christians. Established in 1974, Way of Life Literature is a fundamental Baptist preaching and publishing ministry based in Bethel Baptist Church, London, Ontario, of which Wilbert Unger is the founding Pastor. Brother Cloud lives in South Asia where he has been a church planting missionary since 1979. Our primary goal with the FBIS is to provide material to assist preachers in the edification and protection of the churches.

Offering: Offerings are welcome if you care to make one. If you have been helped and/or blessed by our material offerings can be mailed or made online with with Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or Paypal. For information see: www.wayoflife.org/about/makeanoffering.html.



Bible College
Information

Way of Life Literature

Publisher of Bible Study Materials

Way of Life Literature

Publisher of Bible Study Materials

Way of Life Bible College