Jeremiah 23:5 AMPC
[5] Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch (Sprout), and He will reign as King and do wisely and will execute justice and righteousness in the land.
In the devotion for yesterday, we were introduced to the Shoot and Branch as a person, as well as the purpose and mission for the person. It was clear from the prophecy of Isaiah that God intended for that Shoot and Branch to bear fruit. God does not engage in unprofitable ventures, and that is the basis of the confidence I have to say that even if it was for just one person to be saved, and to experience and enjoy the riches of heaven, Jesus would still have died on the cross. If it was just for my sake, Jesus would still have gone to the cross. As we look around today, the church of Christ is the proof of that fruit, as we see the mighty things that God is able to do in and through the lives of those who have accepted and personalised the gift that has been given. The most important question that anyone can answer is "Have I accepted the gift of Life that has been offered by God?'
We again read of the prophecy of Jeremiah, another prophet like Isaiah, who lived at least 600 years before the physical manifestation of Jesus. This is another proof of the power and unfailing nature of the Word of God. Time is of no consequence to the power of the Word and man's acceptance or rejection of it makes no difference to the impact of the Word. The confidence is in getting a word from God for whatever situation I am in, or whatever situation is ahead. That Word is older and wiser than anything or anyone else, and it is that word that will sustain me in and through whatever comes. For the people of Israel, they had sinned and were oppressed by their enemies. They had been scattered all over the world at the time, but we see God making a promise that He would bring them back again to the land He had promised their ancestor Abraham. Today, we have the reality of that promise.
Beyond the physical manifestation of the promise, we also must take note of the spiritual implication of that promise. God promised Abraham a physical territory but He also had an eternal destiny to secure. The Branch from David was about the earthly origin of Jesus, but we also know that the purpose of that Life was deeper and greater than just securing the earth. The people of Israel were to be brought back to the land of promise, and in the same way, the people of the world are to be brought back to the original position God intended before the fall of man. The verse above says that this Branch will reign as King and do wisely and will execute justice and righteousness in the land. It has to be deeper than whatever the present earth has to offer. His kingship is an eternal one, without limits or boundaries, and He will promote that which is in line with His nature, which is righteousness and justice. Those who will enjoy these benefits have to be IN that kingdom. You cannot stand outside and want to claim the benefits that only citizenship alone can give you. Make sure you are connected to the Branch. God's time of favour is here.
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