Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“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. ”
NL Daily Devotion for Sunday, December 1, 2019
by Dr. Kimberly Leetch, Clergy Stuff
Main Idea: God fulfills God’s promises, as God did for Israel, and will continue to do for us.
Jeremiah was among the last prophets to prophesy before Jerusalem was conquered by Babylon. Judah (the southern kingdom) had been slowly forfeiting their land and their freedom by failing to keep their covenant with God. Jeremiah prophesies that their impending captivity and exile were a natural consequence of their disobedience to God.
Captivity and exile, however, wouldn’t be the final judgment on Judah. Jeremiah prophesied that God would send someone from the line of David to redeem all of Israel and sit on the throne of a united and free kingdom. This would fulfill God’s promise that Israel would be ruled by the righteousness of the line of David.
Christians understand this prophecy to mean the coming of Jesus. Babylon, that captured Jerusalem, eventually fell to Persia. During this time, Jews were permitted to return to Jerusalem, but Persia remained in power. Persian eventually fell to Greece, which eventually fell to Rome. It was into this time of Roman rule that Jesus arrived. The Jews hadn’t been truly free in centuries and were weary for a savior.
Jeremiah’s prophecy once again shows that God is faithful, even when people aren’t faithful to God. God promised a savior, and in this time of Advent we await the savior promised.
It can be helpful to remember what God does not promise. God never promised that our lives would be pain and hassle-free. God didn’t promise that if we work hard enough and live righteously that we would be rewarded with wealth and good health. God didn’t promise that life would be fair or just.
God did promise that whatever happens God will walk with us and offer us hope, courage, and strength to get through the difficult times. God promised that there would be justice ultimately.
God promised eternal life in God’s kingdom. Amen.
An
Exceptional
People
Blog Posts
SIGN UP NOW