Jeremiah 33:14-16 The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 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. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: "The LORD is our righteousness."
Making Connections: Can you remember a time when someone made you a promise? Spend a few minutes remembering the story of this promise? What are your feelings about your “story?”
We begin our Advent journey by remembering that the Son of Man, proclaimed to be King of Kings last week will, one day in the future, return in glory (Luke 21:25-36). As initial fulfillment of the promise made to the house of Israel, Jesus is the righteous Branch (Jeremiah 33:15) sprung up from Jesse's root.
Context: Find the promise to the house of Israel in 2 Samuel 7:8-16. This promise was made some 400 years before Jeremiah was prophet to Judah in the time of King Josiah of the royal line of David. King Josiah reigned in Judah (the Southern Kingdom) after the fall of Israel (the Northern Kingdom) to the Assyrians. During some Temple renovations, the “Book of the Law,” which was actually a scroll, was found and given to the High Priest Hilkiah who passed it on to the King’s secretary and subsequently read to King Josiah. Scholars believe this scroll was a form of the book of Deuteronomy. The book of Deuteronomy had its origins in the Northern Kingdom and was probably brought with refugees fleeing Assyrian destruction for safe-keeping.
This scroll was hidden and neglected for about three-quarters of a century! When King Josiah heard the words of the recovered scroll being read, he tore his clothes in the traditional sign of mourning and began a campaign of reformation in Judah, the Southern Kingdom. Under the reign of Josiah, who “did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of his father David,” the people returned to the ideals of the teachings of Moses. See 2 Kings 22-23:30a for more about the reign of King Josiah.
This scroll was hidden and neglected for about three-quarters of a century! When King Josiah heard the words of the recovered scroll being read, he tore his clothes in the traditional sign of mourning and began a campaign of reformation in Judah, the Southern Kingdom. Under the reign of Josiah, who “did what was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in all the way of his father David,” the people returned to the ideals of the teachings of Moses. See 2 Kings 22-23:30a for more about the reign of King Josiah.
It didn’t last … Josiah died a tragic death in 609 BCE, hope began to wane and the community faltered. Eventually, the dynasty founded by David came to an end as it was known. Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed at the hands of the Babylonians in 586 BCE and the people were exiled.
The prophet Jeremiah was a major figure during Josiah’s reign and in the events that followed. Jeremiah seems to be quite affected by the eventual failure of Josiah’s reform. He was highly involved in the politics of his day and experienced great rejection. He also experienced a highly turbulent relationship with God as he pleads, complains, and laments. Our Jeremiah passage opens with a formula typical of salvation oracles, “the days are surely coming” and is spoken in a time of great upheaval around the time of the exile. With the world he has known crumbling around him, Jeremiah pushes the people to see the future … standing on the promise that God made to David.
The prophet Jeremiah was a major figure during Josiah’s reign and in the events that followed. Jeremiah seems to be quite affected by the eventual failure of Josiah’s reform. He was highly involved in the politics of his day and experienced great rejection. He also experienced a highly turbulent relationship with God as he pleads, complains, and laments. Our Jeremiah passage opens with a formula typical of salvation oracles, “the days are surely coming” and is spoken in a time of great upheaval around the time of the exile. With the world he has known crumbling around him, Jeremiah pushes the people to see the future … standing on the promise that God made to David.
Going Deeper: Meditate on Jeremiah 33:14-16 imagining you are one of those exiles. Pause to think about God’s promise. Meet a God who promises to protect and restore the people, even though they are in the midst of great suffering and at the edge of despair. Even though the promises of God seem lost, Jeremiah urges the people to look forward with faith and patience. Wait … As we approach the season of Advent … the season of waiting ... we look forward with the exiles as we sit in our own despair. We seek a glimpse of the Messiah!
The word, Messiah, in religious context literally means “anointed one” and refers to anyone anointed with oil for service. In Jewish messianic tradition, messiah refers to a future King of Israel from the Davidic line that will bring peace and unity to everyone in the world.
The word, Messiah, in religious context literally means “anointed one” and refers to anyone anointed with oil for service. In Jewish messianic tradition, messiah refers to a future King of Israel from the Davidic line that will bring peace and unity to everyone in the world.
Christianity emerged in or around the year 30 CE as a movement among Jews and their Gentile converts who believed that Jesus was the Messiah. The word "Christian" refers to the Greek word for 'Messiah': Khristos (χριστος). Christians commonly refer to Jesus as either the "Christ" or the "Messiah." In Christian theology the two words are synonymous. Christians believe Jesus to be the Messiah that Jews were expecting.
Pondering: In the season of Advent, we wait in expectancy for the promise of the Messiah with all of the saints that have gone before us. What is your understanding of Messiah? Where did your understanding of Messiah come from?
Prayer: Using your creativity make an Advent Wreath for your devotional time during Advent. Visit the website of Rev. Ken Collins for information (with a humorous twist) on How to Make and Use an Advent Wreath.
Light your first (purple) candle, which is the hope candle each day leading up to the first Sunday. Sit with your candle in the silence and contemplate the promise of God in your life. To end your time in prayer, pray: Dear God, fill me with hope as I await the coming of the Messiah in my life ... Amen.
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