The Righteous Branch

August 19, 2012

Lesson: Jeremiah 23:1–8

Key Verse: Jeremiah 23:5

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Introduction

It is the Triune God who would bring salvation to His chosen people. This act of grace assures us the keeping of His promises. His promises are assured in His covenant that speaks of His everlasting presence with His people: “The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; of the fruit of thy body will I set upon the throne. If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne forevermore. For the Lord hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest forever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it” (Psa. 132:11–14). However, it is most hypocritical for the Lord’s people, who are called by His name, to turn from such a gracious and loving covenant; such a rebellion is revealed as a broken covenant: instead of obeying the voice of the Lord, “Yet they believed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not” (Jer. 11:8). Yet the Lord intervened, bringing light into their darkness, that they may repent and know the grace of God in a chosen Savior. This chosen Savior is the Son who is “a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth” (Jer. 23:5). Christ as our Redeemer executes “the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king” (S. C. # 23). In other words, “Christ Jesus, being both God and man, executes the offices of Prophet, Priest, and King, on earth and in heaven. Christ continues to walk with us in our daily lives as our Teacher, Advocate, and Sovereign Ruler; to whom we, in every thought and action, are to honor and obey” (Disciple, The Teacher and Student).

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False and True Shepherds—Jeremiah 23:1–4

Ezekiel is called upon to speak these words to the shepherds of Israel: “Thus saith the Lord God unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? (Ezek. 34:2). The nature of the false shepherd is to wear their sheep’s clothing well, hiding their true desire to feed themselves as wolves, relishing the meat of the sheep. Jeremiah’s message is the same: “Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! Saith the Lord.” Paul warns the saints at Corinth, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel: for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:13–14). The nature of such false shepherds is again revealed by Paul to the saints a Philippi: “Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things” (Phil. 3:19).

Their judgment come from the Great Shepherd of the Sheep: “Therefore thus saith the Lord God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the Lord.”

True shepherds are those who have been chosen to feed the sheep of the Good Shepherd, who bear His image in righteousness, truth, and justice. The Lord, who dwells with His people, will bring salvation to His people, for we like sheep go astray. He will bring repentance to the hearts of those whom He loves, and He will bring them from darkness to light, from famine to an abundance of feeding: “And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.”

The Lord will then raise up under-shepherds who will feed His sheep: “And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, and neither shall they be lacking, saith the Lord.” Therefore the under-shepherd, even each one of us, must look to Christ, for in Him alone we find saving grace and food to feed our souls that we may serve Him well. Christ reveals Himself as our Good Shepherd: “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. …I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. And the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father; and I lay down by life for the sheep” (John 10:11–15). Christ willingly laid down His life for the sheep; for in Him we have forgiveness of sins and life abundantly. Thus the under-shepherd willingly lays down his life for the sheep of Christ’s pasture, revealing the love of Christ for one another.

Discussion: What does it mean to be a faithful shepherd of the sheep?

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Christ the Branch—Jeremiah 23:5–8

Christ is spoken of by Jeremiah the prophet, for we see that “the day” spoken of has come; the day when “I will raise unto David a righteous branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.”

From the royal family of Jesse and of the house of David there has come, according to promise, “a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots” (Isa. 11:1–9). The Lord gathers His people by raising “unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely; and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Though Assyria would be a rod, or tool of God’s indignation (Isa. 10:5), He would appoint a rod of His own, His Son, “The Lord our Righteousness.” Though God would cut down Israel for their sins, He would raise up a Righteous Branch for their redemption; for “the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the Lord” (Isa. 59:20). We look upon Christ as did David, who testified, “As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness” (Psa. 17:15). Righteousness declares the honesty, justice, and integrity of Christ. He is able to save because He is able to carry out the will of God for the redemption of His people. He is able to fulfill the moral character of God’s people in their stead. He is able to obey the moral law for us.

No longer will the people of God look back from whence they were delivered: “the days come, saith the Lord, that they shall no more say, the Lord liveth, which brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.” They will now say, “The Lord liveth, which brought up and which led the seed of the house of Israel out of the north county, and from all countries whither I had driven them; and they shall dwell in their own land.” The people of God have their own land, an inheritance kept in heaven.

Christ is divine in nature, truly man as well as truly God. He shall with righteousness “judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.” Christ reigns, clothed in righteousness, truth, and faithfulness. Christ calls to Himself those who are poor in spirit that they may see God, the meek that they may have a glorious inheritance.

The character of Christ’s kingdom is revealed in that the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the goat, the calf and young lion will graze together. This peaceful fellowship is complimented by the picture of a child leading them. Disorder and cruelty shall be absent from the Kingdom of our Savior. The world shall be reconciled to God and to one another. This is both the peculiarity and the promulgation of the kingdom that we bear and broadcast the reconciling work of Christ our King. For “all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them, and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:18–19).

Out of corruption will come righteousness; Out of disorder will come order. The peace that passes all our understanding is seen in the picture of a child leading the wild beasts, or playing in the nest of the wildest snake without fear. When we are in a state of peace or favor with God, then we are being made after the image of Christ, worthy of living in His Kingdom. This state of acceptance begins here and is perfected in the new heavens and earth. It is a peace brought about by the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. Christ reconciles us to the Father, saying, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). Jesus promises His disciples strength and victory in a world of sin and hopelessness: “These things I have spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

The nature Christ’s kingdom is revealed through His chosen people, His congregations, today, if we have ears to hear and eyes to see. Without fear we are to reveal righteousness, truth, and justice in our relationship with our Lord, and with one another. Thus, we become light and salt on this earth. We fulfill the Great Commission given us by our Lord as we are discipled by the Spirit through His Word, and so disciple others, teaching nations of Christ and His righteousness, that many may find life, and find it abundantly in Him.

Discussion: What is important about Christ and His kingdom to the people of God?

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Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2012 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.