God Restores

The theology in Jeremiah 23 is rich, to put it mildly.  The lessons being taught through this prophet are ones that were to be etched in the memories of those listening.  We, too, can benefit from this teaching, despite it residing in the Old Testament, delivered to Judah, about to be exiled to Babylon.

Jeremiah returns to the rebuke of Judah’s leaders, how they have not been faithful in “attending to” the flock.  Those leaders, he writes, will soon be gone, and one day new leaders will replace them, and they will do the tending that God desires of His shepherds.  Coinciding with that, God makes reference 19 times in this book of a “remnant”, that faithful group of God-fearers in Israel/Judah who will one day (70 years from the exile) re-inhabit the land.

When they do return to the land, people such as Nehemiah and Ezra do their best to fulfill faithful leadership roles.  We know this, the re-claimed Israel forsakes their idolatrous ways under new leadership.

Shifting gears then, Jeremiah makes reference to a future “righteous branch” to reign as king, given the name “the LORD (YHWH) our righteousness.  It is likely this was written at the time Zedekiah was king, as his name means “the Lord is righteous” or “the Lord my righteousness”.  By using a terms that meant OUR righteousness, he meant a coming time when all people would acknowledge the Lord as the source of righteousness.  The “righteous branch” is a phrase used to denote the legitimate heir to the throne.  We understand this branch to be none other than Jesus. 

We are long and far removed from the days of the Exile and Restoration.  Yet I continue to see faithful “Jeremiahs” today, speaking the truth of God’s Word to a culture who wants nothing to do with Him or it.  We can be frustrated, and while I am not saying that this remnant spoken of by Jeremiah refers to us, which it does not, we must likewise keep in mind what awaits us in Glory.  One day, perhaps very soon, every knee WILL bow and confess Jesus to be Lord, saved or not.  We are ultimately on the winning side!  Man, do I praise God for that! 

I also praise God for the faithful shepherds in our midst, providing a watchful care over us by proclaiming God’s truth and challenging us to live according to His Word. 

Jeremiah, in verse 36 of this chapter, says then what could be said today.  “For you will no longer remember the oracle of the Lord, because every man’s word will become the oracle, and you have perverted the words of the living God...”

I pray this evening for us to follow God’s Word, not man’s word.  Though the world will challenge desperately for our attention, we must remember we have a God who is near, He is nor far off.  We cannot hide from Him, as He fills the heavens and the earth.  He speaks to us if we will only listen.  I pray for us to allow Him to win the battle for the affection of our hearts, as we head into this Passion Week, our Savior’s sacrifice front and center.

Holding Fast to the Name of our Creator