THE RIGHTEOUS SAVIOR

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In Christ, Mark

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The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In His days, Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which He will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.”

Jeremiah 23:5-6

This ends today’s reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

The Old Testament Israelites in the days of the prophet Jeremiah had been receiving a lot of bad news.

We know this because through our study of the first 22 chapters of Jeremiah, we have read about God’s promise of punishment in the form of a Babylonian invasion which would leave Judah and Jerusalem in ruins, and the Israelites taken captive for a seventy year period before they would be able to return to rebuild their lives, homes, and relationship with the Lord.

Fast forward to today. We have received a lot of bad news of late as well.

Terrorism has either struck or placed people on high alert in major cities within Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Fighting continues to stoke the fires of war in Syria, a conflict that has many nations involved and refugees streaming out of the country seeking safety from nations who are apprehensive about taking them in.

Even within America, we continue to read of senseless acts of violence, sometimes manifested by differing ideologies or prejudices, sometimes mere intentional or random acts of evil as if we need reminded that our enemy Satan is alive, well, and moving in our midst.

Like the Old Testament Israelites, we could surely use some good news and we both receive it in today’s passage from the 23rd chapter of Jeremiah. Look at these two verses again here:

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In His days, Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which He will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.”  Jeremiah 23:5-6

Brighter days were ahead for the people of Israel for God was promising them hope, not just for the moment but forever. For a king was coming to lead them who was like no other before. He would be the King of all kings and Lord of all lords who would reign wisely because He would possess perfect wisdom and His rule would be perfectly just and right because He would be perfectly righteous and just in all that He would do. Ultimately, the greatest reward for the Israelites would be the everlasting salvation and safety that could only be found in Him, the Lord who would be the Righteous Savior for His people.  

What better news could God provide His people in Jeremiah’s time?

And what better news could God give us today except to remind us that the Righteous Savior Jesus, who was prophesied as coming back in the Old Testament, has come and indeed is still alive and well in our world today. He is a Righteous Savior but He is also a Living Savior who is ever seeking to find those who have yet to place their faith and trust in Him so that they might receive and accept His offer of salvation.

The Old Testament Israelites needed hope in dark times. And we need it as well today.

In both instances, that hope is perfectly fulfilled in Jesus, the Righteous Savior, who still reigns in power over all creation, having been given authority by His Father, the Lord God Almighty. He has been, is, and will always be the Savior who will one day return to save His disciples and take them away to live with Him forever. I pray you are counted in that number today.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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