As we put up our Christmas decorations here last week it became clearly evident who was most excited. Without the need for reminding, or corralling, the kids excitedly decorated the trees and expressed their excitement for the prospect of Christmas. It was clearly evident seeing the expression on the faces of the kids that they were looking forward to Christmas.
For all of us, our anticipation of Christmas becomes focused in the Advent season. Advent is the time when we anticipate the coming of Christ through thoughtful introspection and spiritual preparation. Together we celebrate the promise about Christ’s coming as promised in the Old Testament, and His return in glory as promised throughout the New Testament.
For the divided nation of Israel, the promise of ``The Righteous Branch`` in Jeremiah 33 was a promise filled with profound hope—anticipating a time when an anointed king, a Messiah, and a descendant of David would appear in Israel’s history to bring righteousness and justice to the nation, and thus give God’s people the security they both needed and wanted. Jeremiah’s prophetic vision anticipates that the nation’s future will not be decided by the Babylonians, but by Yahweh himself. An abiding confidence in Yahweh as Israel’s saviour and protector is expressed throughout the Old Testament, but especially among the great prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel. Here we discover a hopeful faith for difficult times such as ours. (Sermon notes fromAdventExperience.com)
In his prophesy, Jeremiah encourages his hearers to ``Anticipate the Promise`` through recognizing 1) The Advent of the Promise (Jeremiah 3:14), 2) The Administration of the Promise (Jeremiah 33:15), and 3) The Appropriation of the Promise (Jeremiah 33:16)
1) The Advent of the Promise (Jeremiah 3:14)
Jeremiah 33:14 [14]"Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
Jeremiah used the phrase the days are coming (hinnēh yāmîm bā’îm) 16 times in his book. In a negative sense it referred to the coming destruction of Judah and the surrounding nations (cf. 7:32; 9:25; 19:6; 48:12; 49:2; 51:47, 52). However, in its remaining 9 occurrences it pointed to a future period of blessing for Israel when (a) the nation will be restored from captivity (16:14-15; 23:7-8; 30:3), (b) the righteous Branch of David will be ruling over a united monarchy (23:5-6; 33:14-15), (c) the nation will be experiencing peace and prosperity in the land (31:27-28; 33:14, 16), (d) the New Covenant with its cleansing from sin will be in effect (“The time is coming,” 31:31-34), and (e) the city of Jerusalem will be rebuilt as a Holy City that will never again be destroyed (31:38-40). These promises transcend anything that Israel has experienced throughout her long history (Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Je 33:14–16). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.).
But how did the people of God get so far away from this situation?
Please turn back to Jeremiah 25 (p.652)
God warns that rejection of Him has consequences. Because of a rebellion against God, He allowed the nation of Israel to come under captivity by a foreign power. Jeremiah talked about the Advent of the promise, at a particular time of ``day`` in the context of a divided nation of Jerusalem and Judah under captivity
Jeremiah 25:1-11 [25:1]The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah (that was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon), [2]which Jeremiah the prophet spoke to all the people of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem: [3]"For twenty-three years, from the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, to this day, the word of the LORD has come to me, and I have spoken persistently to you, but you have not listened. [4]You have neither listened nor inclined your ears to hear, although the LORD persistently sent to you all his servants the prophets, [5]saying, 'Turn now, every one of you, from his evil way and evil deeds, and dwell upon the land that the LORD has given to you and your fathers from of old and forever. [6]Do not go after other gods to serve and worship them, or provoke me to anger with the work of your hands. Then I will do you no harm.' [7]Yet you have not listened to me, declares the LORD, that you might provoke me to anger with the work of your hands to your own harm. [8]"Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: Because you have not obeyed my words, [9]behold, I will send for all the tribes of the north, declares the LORD, and for Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants, and against all these surrounding nations. I will devote them to destruction, and make them a horror, a hissing, and an everlasting desolation. [10]Moreover, I will banish from them the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the grinding of the millstones and the light of the lamp. [11]This whole land shall become a ruin and a waste, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years. (ESV)
• When we think of the advent, or coming of Christ we must consider the days for which He needed to come. Days of sin and rebellion, of worshiping other gods, including the idol of self, which brings suffering and judgement. Not desiring people to continue to live in captivity to sin and the destruction that it creates, God sent His son into the world. The Advent of Christ, comes to a people in captivity to sin.
• The Christmas voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, is absent without the Christ.
The predicted restoration in Jeremiah 3:14(“the days are coming”) is not to be looked for in the immediate time of the return from the Captivity. Only in a limited and preliminary way were these promises fulfilled in Zerubbabel and Sheshbazzar after the Captivity (cf. Ezra 1:8; 2:2; also 2:40–54; 8:15–20). Ultimately, they are combined in the highest sense in Christ (cf. Ps 110:4) and are yet to be fulfilled in the reign of Messiah on earth (Feinberg, C. L. (1986). Jeremiah. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Volume 6: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel (F. E. Gaebelein, Ed.) (591). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.).
God will fulfill the promise (He) made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. That both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah are named may be taken to suggest that the promise entails a united kingdom, as before the division which took place in the reign of Solomon’s son Rehoboam, around 922 B.C. (Van Harn, R. (2001). The lectionary commentary: Theological exegesis for Sunday's texts, volume one (448). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.)
There will be realised the promise of Jeremiah 23:5–6 in terms of the united people of God (30:3; 31:31). The promise is described as ‘gracious’/‘good’ (cf. 29:10) not only because it conveys good to the people, but also because it comes from their covenant king’s determination to do them good. It is a promise that bestows covenant benefits guaranteed by the LORD himself. In this it shares the same characteristics as the blessings divinely bestowed on covenant obedience (Deut. 28:1–14). Not one word fails of all the good promises that he makes (1 Kgs. 8:56) (Mackay, J. L. (2004). Jeremiah: An Introduction and Commentary, Volume 2: Chapters 21–52. Mentor Commentaries (277). Fearn, Ross-shire, Scotland: Mentor.).
• There are some on our Christmas shopping list that just seem too hard to buy for, because they seem to have everything. What is the greatest gift? God answered that question with His personal presence. Often for those who seem to have everything, they most want our presence.
God would perform, as he had promised to Judah and Israel, and to which their return out of captivity and their settlement again in their own land was preparatory (Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: Complete and unabridged in one volume (Je 33:10–16). Peabody: Hendrickson.)
• In our celebrations of Christ this advent season, we are preparing for eternity. His coming again will usher in the eternal age of celebrating Him. But before that happens, we must wait, which is the hardest thing to do.
Please turn to Psalm 25 (p.459)
As a child waits for Christmas day, considering this on the first Sunday of Advent, it seems to be eternity away. How do we wait when we have so many plans, so many expectations and so much unresolved; we wait by turning our focus away from our plans, and our expectations, or those put upon us. When our eyes are off ourselves, we turn to God.
Psalm 25:1-10 [25:1]To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul. [2]O my God, in you I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me. [3]Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous. [4]Make me to know your ways, O LORD; teach me your paths. [5]Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. [6]Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. [7]Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of your goodness, O LORD! [8]Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. [9]He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. [10]All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.(ESV)
Advent is a time of waiting: “Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord and of your steadfast love, for they have been from of old” (Psalm 25:5-6). Just as the Jewish people were waiting for the appearance of their Messiah, so, too, the Church during this season of Advent is reminded that God’s people wait patiently for the appearing of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior: “You are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long” (v. 5). Not only do we wait for God’s appearing, but we live in the expectation that God will come to us; that he will be merciful and show his steadfast love. The Advent promise continues to strengthen our hearts.
Illustration: (7128 Still Waiting)
Waiting! Yes, patiently waiting!
Till next steps made plain shall be;
To hear, with the inner hearing,
The Voice that will call for me.
Waiting! Yes, quietly waiting!
No need for an anxious dread;
Shall He not assuredly guide me,
Who giveth me daily bread?
Waiting! Yes, hopefully waiting!
With hope that needn’t grow dim;
The Master is pledged to guide me,
And my eyes are unto Him.
Waiting! Yes, expectantly waiting!
Perhaps it may be today
The Master will quickly open
The gate to my future way.
Waiting! Yes, trustfully waiting!
I know, though I’ve waited long,
That, while He withholds His purpose,
His waiting cannot be wrong.
Waiting! Yes, waiting, Still waiting!
The Master will not be late;
He knoweth that I am waiting
For Him to unlatch the gate.
(J. D. Smith as recorded in Tan, P. L. (1996). Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations: Signs of the Times. Garland, TX: Bible Communications, Inc.)
2) The Administration of the Promise (Jeremiah 33:15)
Jeremiah 33:15 [15]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. (ESV)
“Those days” are the messianic times (cf. 23:5–6). It is through the Lord Messiah, the righteous One, that the restoration and attendant blessings will be realized. Jeremiah pictures the coming Messiah as (1) the spring of living waters (2:13); (2) the good Shepherd (23:4; 31:10); (3) the righteous Branch (here and 23:5); (4) the Redeemer (50:34); (5) The LORD Our Righteousness (23:6); (6) David the king (30:9); and (7) the Agent of the new covenant (31:31–34) ( Feinberg, C. L. (1986). Jeremiah. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Volume 6: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel (F. E. Gaebelein, Ed.) (591). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
The King would come when peace (shalom) had been restored to Israel. He would come when the sounds of the bride and bridegroom could be heard in the streets of Jerusalem. He would come when songs of thanksgiving were sung in the temple. The Messiah would not come at a moment of desperate crisis. He would come when peace had returned to Israel. (Ryken, P. G. (2001). Jeremiah and Lamentations: From sorrow to hope. Preaching the Word (510). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.)
Jeremiah describes more fully the nature of the Righteous Branch which the Lord would raise up for David. David was dead; the Lord had written Jehoiachin off “as if childless” (22:30), yet he promised that one from David’s line would sit eternally on the throne, ruling an eternal kingdom (see 2 Sm 7:12–16). To be a descendant of David, this king must be human, a Jew. To rule an eternal kingdom, he must be more than human. Since there is only one who has eternal rule, and that is God, he must also be God (Gosdeck, D. M. (1994). Jeremiah, Lamentations. The People’s Bible (221). Milwaukee, WI: Northwestern Pub. House.).
• Regardless of how much we plan or occupy ourselves getting things ready, ultimately we must recognize that it is God Himself who must change hearts and orchestrate events. The good news, is that no matter how improbable the circumstances seem from a human standpoint, God can be depended on to fulfill His promises.
In our passage, this hope is expressed in the phrase “a righteous Branch.” Ancient Near Eastern usage shows that this can mean simply a legitimate ruler. The adjective from the Hebrew root ṣdq is more usually rendered “righteous,” but it could equally well carry the meaning “rightful.” It seems more than likely, however, that for our writer it includes the connotation of morality. Double meanings in Jeremiah are common and deliberate ways of expressing a richness of truth. Righteous or rightful are not alternative meanings. Rather, the king requires the one in order to be the other. The promise of a Davidic ruler is by definition the promise of a righteous ruler. (Van Harn, R. (2001). The lectionary commentary: Theological exegesis for Sunday's texts, volume one (449–450). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.).
Please turn to Luke 1 (p.855)
God will cause a Righteous Branch to spring up for David. He is the blossom of the Jewish nation, the embodiment of its highest qualities (Jeremiah Vol. I. 1909 (H. D. M. Spence-Jones, Ed.). The Pulpit Commentary (513). London; New York: Funk & Wagnalls Company.)
This was a prophecy about Jesus Christ who descended from the line of David and was promised David’s throne (Walvoord, J. F., Zuck, R. B., & Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Je 33:14–16). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.).
Luke 1:31-33 [31]And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. [32]He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, [33]and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." (ESV)
The descendant or branch will be righteous. Most translators understand this to mean he will be a righteous person, one who acts in accordance with the will of the LORD. But some commentators suggest that the expression here has more the meaning of a “rightful” or “legitimate” heir to David’s throne. FRCL has “true descendant.” TEV (Newman, B. M., Jr., & Stine, P. C. (2003). A handbook on Jeremiah. UBS Handbook Series (495). New York: United Bible Societies.)
As a righteous king, righteous in enacting laws, waging wars, and giving judgment, righteous in vindicating those that suffer wrong and punishing those that do wrong: He shall execute justice or judgment and righteousness in the land. It is the mandate of the king (e.g., 1 Kings 10:9). The observation is often made that Judah, in the time of Jeremiah particularly, needed a king who would exemplify this, since a whole string of kings had failed. The point is further made that the last king known to Jeremiah was Zedekiah, whose very name means “Yahweh is my righteousness,” but who seems to be too weak a monarch to be worthy of the name. (See Jer. 23:1–6.) It is a constant wish of the subjects that their king will create the conditions for human flourishing. In the theological framework of ancient Israel, this means ruling according to Yahweh’s demands (Van Harn, R. (2001). The lectionary commentary: Theological exegesis for Sunday's texts, volume one (449). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.).
• Some how every year we expect merchants, and parties and seasonal sentimentality to fulfill something that only Christ Himself can. When these merchants, parties and trappings of ``Christmas nostalgia` disappoint, we somehow become shocked. The grandeur and marvel of the coming of the King, can only be fulfilled in the king himself.
Illustration: (That Masked Man)
When black and white television was just taking off in the early 1950s, one show was hosted by a cowboy wearing a mask like the Lone Ranger’s. He teased the audience about his true identity, and you can imagine our excitement when he announced one Monday that on Friday’s program he would remove his mask.
Ratings must have soared that week, because all the kids tuned in excitedly, waiting for the dramatic moment when our cowboy host would unmask and reveal himself. What did he really look like? Who was he in real life?
The day came, then the hour, then the moment. Reaching behind his head, he untied his mask. But to the audience’s consternation, just as the mask came off he turned his back to the camera, and they were left no wiser than before.
Someone has said that on Christmas evening, God took off His mask. He revealed Himself to us and allowed us to see Him as He really is. When we see Jesus Christ, we are seeing the very image of Almighty God. “No one has seen God at any time,” says John 1:18. “The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” Hebrews 1 says that Jesus Christ is the “express image” of God’s person, and Colossians 1:17 calls the Christ-child, “the image of the invisible God.” (Morgan, R. J. (2000). Nelson’s complete book of stories, illustrations, and quotes (electronic ed.) (109). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
3) The Appropriation of the Promise (Jeremiah 33:16)
Jeremiah 33:16 [16]In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.' (ESV)
The resulting safety of 33:16 is similarly a recurrent promise in the Old Testament (e.g., Ezek. 34:25; Lev. 26:5). Judah will be “saved,” a word that usually carries a very practical sense, especially in the Psalms. Jeremiah himself appeals for God to save and heal him (17:14). What he needs is rescuing from those who oppose his prophetic ministry. When the whole nation enjoys this restoration, then its capital, Jerusalem, can be renamed “The LORD is our righteousness” (Van Harn, R. (2001). The lectionary commentary: Theological exegesis for Sunday's texts, volume one (449–450). Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans.).
Salvation and safety are in store for Judah and Jerusalem because of the presence of justice and righteousness personified. By him Judah will be saved from wrath and the curse, and, being so saved, Jerusalem will dwell securely or safely, quiet from the fear of evil, and enjoying a holy security and serenity of mind, in a dependence upon the conduct of this prince of peace, this prince of their peace (Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: Complete and unabridged in one volume (Je 33:10–16). Peabody: Hendrickson.).
• There is a reason why most people experience the greatest stress during this time of year. Unresolved relations with family show a lack of peace. Unresolved use of resources to over extend result in a lack of peace. An unresolved standing and dependence on the Lord point to a present and eternal lack of peace.
• Knowing the person behind the name of the season brings peace.
The name given the Messiah in 23:6 is here given to Jerusalem. She can have the same name as the Messiah because she reflects that righteousness the Messiah bestows on her. Jerusalem will then be the embodiment of the nation’s ideal in the Messiah. The city will be marked by righteousness (cf. 2 Cor 5:21) (Feinberg, C. L. (1986). Jeremiah. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Volume 6: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel (F. E. Gaebelein, Ed.) (591). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
Please turn to Romans 3 (p.941)
In Isaiah 33 God, his work, and his word are unequivocally declared to be good. He is 'The LORD is our righteousness.' . The nature of God as good and his purposes as acts of goodness are affirmed throughout Scripture (e.g., Gen. 50:20; Ps. 106:1; Rom. 8:28). In this quality God is distinguished from capricious, often malevolent pagan deities, and also from the highly indifferent or quite unpredictable God of philosophy (Martens, E. A. (1986). Jeremiah. Believers Church Bible Commentary (207). Scottdale, PA: Herald Press.)
Here the city is called The Lord our righteousness, because they glory in Jehovah as their righteousness. In the Lord have I righteousness and strength, Isa. 45:24. And we are made the righteousness of God in him. The inhabitants of Jerusalem shall have this name of the Messiah so much in their mouths that they shall themselves be called by it. (Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: Complete and unabridged in one volume (Je 33:10–16). Peabody: Hendrickson.)
Romans 3:21-26 [21]But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it-- [22]the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: [23]for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24]and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, [25]whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. [26]It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (ESV)
How often we have anticipated events, things and times. Usually when they pass we have to clean up, pay the bill for the item or just work towards the next event. The glory and joy to Anticipate the Promise of God is that He and His promises are more wonderful than we could ever imagine. This advent, look forward to Christ. He is greater, more compassionate and fulfilling than anything or anyone else that we could ever imagine.
