Thursday, December 6, 2018
Jeremiah 33:15-16 "In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David A Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell safely."
THE PROMISED BRANCH OF DAVID (3)
"Branch" is really a strange name for Jesus, isn’t it? When compared to names Isaiah uses like "Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). What exactly does the term tell us about the Savior?
For Old Testament people "Branch" was a beautiful picture of the coming Messiah. Isaiah too had foretold: "There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots" (11:1).
There too the term was connected with David. In our text Jeremiah saw the last King of Judah (a descendant of David) taken into captivity to Babylon, and Judah's capital city Jerusalem destroyed -- though soon to be rebuilt and restored.
In other words, the tree of David would be cut to the ground; but the prophet also saw a time when a Branch would grow out of that stump to "execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell safely."
Yes, the coming "Branch of David" would bring salvation to His people. And who could that possibly be? It had to be One who would live forever, who would sit eternally on His throne, ruling an eternal kingdom. For that to be the case, He would have to be One who was simultaneously David's Son (Son of Mary) and David's Lord (Son of God).
Clearly, that Branch is the One whose birth we celebrate once again: Jesus, Son of God and Mary’s Son!
Hail the day so rich in cheer For each earth-born creature!
God's own Son from heav’n draws near, Takes our human nature;
Of a virgin born is He;
Mary, by the Lord’s decree, Is become a mother.
See the miracle of love; God Himself, from heav'n above,
Came to be our Brother!
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 78:1)
