The last several days we have looked at prophecies about the coming Messiah given through Isaiah; today we look at one given through Jeremiah, in the 33rd chapter:
14 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’
During Jeremiah's day, Jerusalem and Judah were about to fall, just like the northern half of Israel had. Things were at an all-time low. Where could they find hope? The Righteous Branch. We have seen this issue of righteousness come up before in our study. When the Light comes, righteousness and justice come with Him. Here's a question: "What are justice and righteousness? Do we even know what they are, let alone know how to get them? To start thinking about that, let's be extremely simplistic: justice is people doing what they ought to other human beings; it is us treating one another the way God wants us to. We do not do very well at that on our own. Governments are unable to make that happen. God shows us the way. He has especially shown us the way in His Son, the Christ, who has come. That leads to righteousness, to also be simplistic: treating God the right way, living the way we should before Him, and for Him. Again, we do not do righteousness well on our own. That's why we need the Lord as our Righteousness. Christ came, in part, to live life right with God perfectly. Our lives can only be Righteous, right with God, because of Him. So that leads to this question. Is Christ my Righteousness? Only then can we begin to understand and answer the question: Is what I am doing just? Lots to think about this Quiet Christmas.
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