Our Lord Fulfills His Gracious Promise

OUR LORD FULFILLS HIS GRACIOUS PROMISE (Outline)

November 30, 2008 --

ADVENT 1 --

Jeremiah 33:14-16

INTRO: During Advent we learn about the promises of God concerning his plan of salvation for mankind. Unlike man, God always keeps all of the promises that he makes. Advent can be considered the season of “promises made, promises kept”. The prophet Balaam was hired to curse Israel. Each time he tried Balaam could only bless God’s people. Man can try but he will not change any of God’s promises. "God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? I have received a command to bless; he has blessed, and I cannot change it"(NUMBERS 23:19,20). God promised blessing at the birth of his Son, Jesus. God’s promises are made. God’s promises are kept.

OUR LORD FULFILLS HIS GRACIOUS PROMISE.

I. Jesus is a Branch from David’s line.

II. Jesus is the Lord our righteousness.

I. JESUS IS A BRANCH FROM DAVID’S LINE

A. Jeremiah would direct his attention to the tribe of Judah. Unbelievers already conquered Israel.

1. The nation of Israel was divided: Judah, the southern and Israel the northern kingdom.

2. Bad kings had ruled over Israel from beginning to end. God’s judgment was harsh.

B. Verse 14. The Lord declared that better days were to come. The future was still in God’s hands.

1. The Lord God Almighty promised to carry out his promise made long ago to his people.

2. In Genesis 49 (esp. verse 10) the Lord promised that the scepter would not depart from Judah.

C. Verse 15a. The Lord puts his “time stamp” on all the events to take place. God is in control.

1. Verse 15b. A descendant from David’s line would rule over Judah.

2. This king would do what is just and right in the land. Jesus always did what was just and right!

D. Time and again God’s prophets provided a very clear picture of the Savior who was to be born. Today Jeremiah speaks of “a righteous Branch”. This comparison may be lost on us today. There are olive trees in and around Jerusalem that are thousands of years old. An olive tree grows and expands. The outside trunk of the tree is dead. Still it continues to grow by sending forth a branch from the inside of the core of the tree. God’s Old Testament people knew this and understood this example from today’s verses. This comparison was not uncommon. "A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit"(ISAIAH 11:1). Jesse was David’s father: “Branch from David’s line”.

E. There are some today who still try to deny that Jesus was from the house and line of David. Worse there are many who try to extinguish that very fact that David even existed. There are those who feel there is not enough (or even any) archeological evidence that links David to any significance. The Bible makes it very clear the importance of David in the history of the world. Yes, even also in the history of God’s plan of salvation. Jesus is the righteous Branch from David’s line. "So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David"(LUKE 2:4). Remember Mary was also from the house and line of David.

F. Promises made and promises kept fittingly describe the very nature of our gracious God. We note the time stamps in today’s verses: “the days are coming, in those days” (2 times), and “at that time”. All of these terms remind us of the infinite care God has established in carrying out what he wants done when he wants it done. God promised a Savior to Adam and Eve. The angels proclaimed the coming of the Savior to Mary and Joseph in a most miraculous way. Everything was timed to perfection. "But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons"(GALATIANS 4:4,5). During Jesus’ lifetime there was peace in the land of Israel. The Roman government provided this peace. God’s gospel was freely proclaimed. The Jewish nation did not always appreciate the Romans. But they were there to further God’s eternal plan.

OUR LORD FULFILLS HIS GRACIOUS PROMISE.

Jesus is a righteous Branch from David’s line.

II. JESUS IS THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS

A. Jeremiah was an Old Testament prophet of doom and gloom. He was sent to preach God’s judgment.

1. Today’s verses were a bright glimmer of hope in the midst of God’s stark preaching.