DECEMBER 11
JEREMIAH 23:1–8

We have no righteousness of our own; therefore,
we place our hope in the presence and reign
of the perfectly righteous one, Jesus.

​

Are you tired of another day of devastating news about some
horrible thing happening somewhere in the world? Does
your battle to cobble together a marriage of unity, understanding,
and love discourage you? Are you exhausted by friendship hassles
and family drama? Are you sick of hearing about the power of
corrupt politicians or failed church leaders? Does your struggle to
parent your children get you down? Does the moral state of the
surrounding culture make you weary? Are you tired of all of the
pain and loss around you? Do you look at all of these things and
wonder what can be done? Sometimes it seems as though there’s

more darkness than light in our world. Sometimes we find our-
selves wondering where the true, wise, and moral leaders are. Often

we wonder whether there’s anything that can be done to right the
course.
Into the darkest of days in the time of the prophets, when it
seemed as though things were about as bad as they could get and
the end of the people of God was near, Jeremiah delivered words

of hope. These words were not about human wisdom, human in-
tervention, or new human solutions. When it comes to eradicating

evil and setting the human community on a new course, human
wisdom, strength, and righteousness fall short. This does not mean
that we shouldn’t fight for what is right or fight against what is
wrong, but it does mean that we are not the hope that we need.
This is why the words of hope in the Old Testament—promises of

what is to come—are so important. They speak comfort into sad
and tired hearts:
Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise
up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and
deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.
In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And

this is the name by which he will be called: “The Lord is our righ-
teousness.” (Jer. 23:5–6)

You may be thinking, “How do these words comfort us? Aren’t

they the promise of a better earthly king for the children of Is-
rael?” The New Testament writers understood these words to be

specifically about and fulfilled by Jesus alone (see Matt. 2:2; Luke
1:32; 19:38; John 1:49). Ultimately there is only one solution to
the many things that break our hearts and complicate our lives: it
is the reign of the risen and ascended King Jesus. The righteous
Branch has come and is now sitting at the right hand of the Father.
His reign guarantees the final defeat of evil and the ushering in of a
kingdom of righteousness and peace forever. In the midst of all the
bad news that seems to flood into our lives every day, this is very
good news. There is a righteous Branch, his will shall be done, and
the scourge of evil will end forever.
 

Prayer

I praise you, King Jesus! You are the righteous branch, promised
of old. You have defeated evil and are ushering in a realm of
righteous and peace! I extol your perfect rule and majestic reign
over all things. May I rest secure in your everlasting kingdom.

In your name I pray, amen.