(All Scripture from NRSV) 14 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.
15 In 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.
16. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called, "The Lord is our righteousness."
Jeremiah is confined in the court of the guard when he receives this message. God certainly uses those who are jailed for his purpose. The chapter and vision begin quite negatively. The Chaldeans (Babylonians) are coming to fight. God has hidden his face in anger and will allow this tragedy to happen. But in verse 6 he says he will 'Bring it to recovery and healing; I will heal them..." The focus suddenly moves from doom and destruction to hope and healing.
The metaphor for healing in this passage is the righteous Branch.
What do we know about this righteous Branch?
Simply from the passage itself.
1. It will spring up.
2. It will spring up for David.
3. It is a he.
4. He shall execute justice in the land.
5. He shall execute righteousness in the land.
6. Because of this Branch, Judah will be saved.
7. Because of this Branch, Jerusalem will live in safety.
Multiple green lights flash to the listeners.
To spring up, a plant must be ALIVE.
The Disney movie, Wall-E, the main character is post-apocalyptic story about a robot left on the planet earth for clean up after humans leave the earth because they destroy it with trash. Wall-E's only companion is a cockroach until ship lands and a sleek robot named Eve emerges. Wall-E immediately falls in love. He shares everything with Eve; until Eve finds a living plant, opens a compartment, houses the plant and shuts down. Wall-E sits by her for what seems like forever until a the ship returns to collect Eve. He attaches himself to her ship and travels to her mother ship where he finds humans who have lived for generations. There the captain discovers that Eve has brought a sign of life on earth and that is safe to return.
Wall-E was not marketed as a Christmas movie. But it is.
The Branch grew out of a dead land and brought life to the people. The Branch (plant) changed every person's (and robot's) life.
This is what the Righteous Branch will do. He will bring light and life to a dry, dead, parched land.
And with Life he will bring Justice. Hebrew: Mishpat.
This is a great Word study on Mishpat.
To be continued....
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