God’s Saving Word: Justice and Peace
Introduction
Jeremiah 23:1‒8: Because Israel’s leaders failed to care for the people and caused them to scatter, God will punish them and will bring the people back to their homeland. God promises to choose a righteous king who will rule wisely and with justice.
Scripture Reading
Hope for the Future
23 How terrible will be the Lord’s judgment on those rulers who destroy and scatter his people! 2 This 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. 3 I 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. 4 I will appoint rulers to take care of them. My people will no longer be afraid or terrified, and I will not punish them again.[a] 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. 6 When 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. 8 Instead, 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 23:5
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.”
Reflect
Reread verses 1‒4. Israel’s rulers were to care for the people. What does God say to these leaders? What is to be their fate? What does God promise for those who had been scattered and living in exile? Reread verses 5 and 6. How is the righteous king described? By what name will he be called? What do you think the name conveys?
Pray
Righteous Lord, you are “The LORD Our Salvation.” I thank and praise you that you are my source of safety and peace. You rule with justice and mercy and in you I place my trust and hope. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Jeremiah 30:1‒24: The LORD promises to rescue the people living in exile.