God’s Word of Joy
Introduction
Jeremiah 23:1-8: Israel’s leaders were supposed to care for the people; for not doing so, they will be punished. The LORD will gather the people who were scattered and return them to their homeland. The prophet speaks the LORD’s message of the coming of a righteous king from the line of David who will rule with justice.
Scripture Reading
Hope for the Future
1How terrible will be the Lord‘s judgment on those rulers who destroy and scatter his people! 2This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says about the rulers who were supposed to take care of his people: “You have not taken care of my people; you have scattered them and driven them away. Now I am going to punish you for the evil you have done. 3I will gather the rest of my people from the countries where I have scattered them, and I will bring them back to their homeland. They will have many children and increase in number. 4I will appoint rulers to take care of them. My people will no longer be afraid or terrified, and I will not punish them again. I, the Lord, have spoken.”
5 The Lord says, “The time is coming when I will choose as king a righteous descendant of David. That king will rule wisely and do what is right and just throughout the land. 6When he is king, the people of Judah will be safe, and the people of Israel will live in peace. He will be called ‘The Lord Our Salvation.’
7“The time is coming,” says the Lord, “when people will no longer swear by me as the living God who brought the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt. 8Instead, they will swear by me as the living God who brought the people of Israel out of a northern land and out of all the other countries where I had scattered them. Then they will live in their own land.”
Today’s Key Verse: Jeremiah 23:5a
The LORD says, “The time is coming when I will choose as king a righteous descendant of David.”
Reflect
By what name will the righteous king be known (verse 6)? What does this name mean to you? Reread verses 5 and 6. How is the righteous king described? How is the future described?
Do you ever envision a time when all people will live in peace?
Pray
You, Lord God, are the living God who rescues us from sin and death and offers us eternal salvation. Teach me to do what is right and just and to extend your redeeming love to all I meet. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Malachi 1:1-14: The prophet Malachi reminds the people of Israel of God’s love for them.