Psalms 71:16 “I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only.”
It has always been difficult for man to accept that “we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6) and “that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing” (Romans 7:18). But, the Psalmist both accepts it and owns it as sure truth and confesses it in his petitions before his Perfectly Righteous God; even declaring, “My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.” (Psalms 71:15). In the Apostol Paul’s day, many in Israel were bringing great peril upon themselves “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” (Romans 10:3). Clearly, they had “a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge” (Romans 10:1); that is, those who are “righteous” have been “made righteous” (fit for Eternal Heaven) by the shed blood of our blessed Savior and not by any good works or religious exercise on our part (Romans 5:19). To claim otherwise is to deny the effectual, sacrificial work of our Lord and Savior. Paul warns that such denial comes with great peril, reminding Israel and us of what “the Lord of Sabaoth” did to “Sodoma” and “Gomorrha” (Romans 9:29). The “Lord of Sabaoth” is the same as “the Lord of hosts” in (Isaiah 1:9). Apparently, they did not believe that “the Lord” would do such a thing, but in just a few years they found out! Therefore, Paul strongly urged Israel, and any who hold such untruths, to repent and to “confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” (Romans 10:9) and explains that “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13). That is, “saved” from the great impending perils that would soon come upon them because of their false doctrines and practices; in which, instead of worshiping God for His “righteousness”, they were “going about to establish their own righteousness”, taking the glory unto themselves instead of glorifying God!