THE BRANCH OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Jeremiah 23:5-8.
“Behold… the word of the LORD,” (JEREMIAH 23:5). The prophet uses the image of a righteous Branch growing out of a felled tree – which so wonderfully typifies God’s dealings with His people. Just when the tree of David seems to be left without hope, without offspring, this Branch emerges to establish justice and righteousness in the world (cf. Psalm 72:1-2). At a time when it seemed that the kingdom of Judah was being cut to its very roots, there could be no greater reassurance (cf. Isaiah 11:1).
The last king of Judah was Zedekiah, whose name means ‘my righteousness is the LORD’ – which is somewhat ironic since it is on record that he did what was evil in the eyes of the LORD, and did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet ‘who spoke the word of the LORD’ (2 Chronicles 36:11-12).
In a deliberate play on words, the name of the rightful king in Jeremiah’s prophecy – the one who brings salvation, and a safe dwelling place for His people (cf. Psalm 23:6) - is ‘the LORD our righteousness’ (JEREMIAH 23:6). This King is Jesus, and He becomes our righteousness - making us righteous - when we put our trust in Him (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:21).
So what will God do with us when we lack leadership in our churches, and have in our midst those who would seek to devour us (cf. John 10:10) and lead us astray (cf. Matthew 24:24)? If we are truly His, He will discipline us (cf. Hebrews 12:6), but He will not cast off forever (cf. Lamentations 3:31-32). When we are as ‘sheep without a shepherd’ (cf. Matthew 9:36), He will personally take care to gather again His people and bring them back to the fold (cf. Jeremiah 23:3).
We are familiar with this idea from Psalm 23:3 – the LORD ‘restores’ us – or ‘brings us back’ – a concept which those who have been backslidden will well understand. The lost sheep is restored to the flock (cf. Luke 15:4-6). The lost flock is restored to the land (JEREMIAH 23:7-8).
