Jeremiah 33:14–16

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. ¹⁵In 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. ¹⁶In 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.'

It was a dark day in the life of Judah; not unlike the dark days we live in now. Not just the political and economic situation in the world, terrorism, threats to religious freedom, but even our church calendar is synchronized with the seasons as the days become shorter and the darkness of night surrounds us. For the chosen people of God to whom Jeremiah was speaking they ",,,sat down by the rivers of Babylon and wept when they remembered Zion." "They hung their harps on the willows," and no song was heard. Their heads hung low. They ate the bread of tears. They were cut off from God, worship in the temple had ceased. They were living in exile. King Zedekiah, the last king of Judah in the lineage of King David would soon be put to death. Jeremiah the prophet had been arrested and put in jail. They were lonely and depressed. Anxiety filled their hearts. Their sins were set before their eyes, and they felt the heavy hand of God pressing down upon them.

Then the Word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet and said, "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of Israel...I will gather you from all the countries to which I drove you in my anger. I will bring you back to this place, and I will make you dwell in safety. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. I will rejoice in doing you good. I will bring this city to health and healing and I will restore the fortunes of Judah and rebuild them as they were at first. I will cleanse you from all the guilt of your sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of your sin and rebellion against me. In this place shall be the voice of mirth and gladness and of the bridegroom and the bride, the voices of those who sing as they bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord."

"Behold the days are coming when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah." The days of darkness and gloom, the days of depression and despair, the days of guilt and sorrow will come to an end. "I will cause a righteous branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell securely." This is the word of the Lord.

The people of Judah in exile waited with anticipation for this promise to come true. In the midst of sorrow there was a ray of hope that gave them strength to endure for a little more time. Historically, this promise was literally fulfilled 70 years later when the temple was rebuilt and Jerusalem restored and Zerubbabel, of the lineage of David, was made governor of Judah.

But this promise was made not just to Israel, but to all the nations. This prophecy was again fulfilled 500 years later when an even greater Branch from the house of David sprang up in Bethlehem, the Son of a virgin, Unto us a child was given, and his name was called, Wonderful Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the prince of peace. A righteous branch who rode into Jerusalem on a donkey to take his place on the throne of David and execute justice and righteousness. That Branch was Jesus and his throne was a branch that had grown into a tree made into a cross. There all righteousness was fulfilled by him hanging on that cross, suspended halfway between heaven and earth to die for the sins of all mankind. There, justice was executed, sin was punished, your sin was paid for. All oppression would cease, all injustice was set to rights, atonement was made for your sin and salvation came to Judah and to all the world.

All Scriptures point to the cross. And it was there on the cross that the Scriptures are fulfilled. That the promises are brought to pass. For the sacrifice of Christ on the cross for our sins is where you are delivered out of bondage, brought back from exile and into the promised land, and where the New Jerusalem is restored for all eternity. On the cross Jesus removed all barriers between you and God. The gates of heaven have been opened for all to enter into the kingdom of God and dwell before the throne of glory. It is on the cross of Christ that you are saved and where you dwell securely. There, by his death on the cross, Christ fulfilled all righteousness. The Law was fulfilled. Righteousness is now completed. It is done! It is finished! All the demands of God's holy law have been met and righteousness is now complete.

That branch of David was given the name: "The Lord is our righteousness." And that is where it all comes to play today in our life, in the life of the church. The Lord is your righteousness. The Lord Jesus is the offering you bring to the Father to receive his grace. It is all a matter of faith. Because when you look at your life, all you see is the darkness reflected by cold, dark nights of December. All you see is self-willed, loose, contentious people with all their shortcomings and faults. Perhaps you are as the people of Israel sitting in sorrow on the banks of the rivers of Babylon. For some of you, your harps have been hung up and there is no music, no song in your heart. The mirth and singing of the bridegroom is no more. The joyful song of the bride is silenced. You eat tears for your bread, and hang your head in sadness. Depression and melancholy weigh you. Before your eyes are nothing but your sin and guilt. You feel the heavy hand of God pressing down on you. With David you confess: "I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight."

"But days are coming," declares the Lord, "when I will fulfill the promise I made to you." The Branch of David will come again. He comes each and every time you hear the Word of God proclaimed, and each and every time you receive the body and blood of Jesus at the altar. And he is coming again at the resurrection of the dead. And when he comes you will be raised from the dead. You will be raised out of your dungeon of depression and sadness, and all sin will be removed from you. He will make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all. He will establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father. He will not come humbly, riding on a donkey, but will come with glory and power, accompanied by all the saints with majesty and might. He will come and you will be saved and your heads will be lifted up. He will cleanse you with hyssop and you shall be clean; he will wash you, and you shall be whiter than show. He will create a clean heart in you and renew a right spirit within you. And he will restore unto you the joy of your salvation and uphold you with a willing spirit. For the Lord is our righteousness. It is a matter of faith. You don't see righteousness because it is not in this world. It is not to be seen in the goods in the market place. It is not to found in your home or work. It is in heaven with Christ, for he is your righteousness, and he is seated at the right hand of the Father from whence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.

He shall lift you up out of this world of despair and sorrow. He will restore joy unto you. He will renew the city and you shall dwell securely in the New Jerusalem for all eternity.

This Advent we turn our eyes toward heaven and look for his coming in the clouds. He came to Bethlehem as a humble baby, born of a virgin, wrapped in swaddling clothes. He entered Jerusalem meek and lowly, mounted on a donkey, a beast of burden to die on a cross for you, and he ascended into heaven in the clouds. Now, he is coming again in the clouds. Coming in might and majesty, riding on the wings of angels and accompanied by armies of saints. He comes as your king. He comes as your savior. He comes as your righteousness in order to present you to his father as his bride, clothed in white, without spot or wrinkle, that you may dwell in his house forever. Amen.