The Lord our Righteousness

Jeremiah 23:6 “In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’

Throughout Old Testament scripture we witness prophecy. Not random fortune telling events but often a response to the indictment against the people of the day.

During the days of Jeremiah Israel was entrenched in idolatry, so much so that God declared that even if Moses or Samuel pled their case He would not relent from judgement. God instructed Jeremiah to demonstrate to the people the impending judgement against the myriad of sin prevalent among the nation.

It’s not uncommon to hear people complain that God is too harsh, too judgmental, or unloving in His approach. It can be quite surprising to read of God’s judgments upon the nations and not be shocked at the severity of the punishment.

Why has the Lord been so adamant about purity, holiness, and obedience, doesn’t He want people to have fun, live their lives, and just get along? You may hear critics of the Bible say things like this but it’s often because they haven’t heard the entire story.

Jeremiah 1:14-16 “Then the LORD said to me, “Out of the north disaster shall be let loose upon all the inhabitants of the land. For behold, I am calling all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north, declares the LORD, and they shall come, and every one shall set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its walls all around and against all the cities of Judah. And I will declare my judgments against them, for all their evil in forsaking me. They have made offerings to other gods and worshiped the works of their own hands.”

A Stubborn nation

Israel up to this point had been a model of what a nation looks like who trusts in the God of Heaven. They had been delivered from slavery in Egypt through a series of miraculous events and that story sent ripples of fear and awe of God’s power and authority. The Lord blessed the people, He fought wars on their behalf, He protected them, and also blessed the land. But as idolatry entered into their practice, their hearts turned away from God and toward things made by man.

Time and time again the Lord would issue a warning, He would bring famine, disease, and all kinds of hardship to remind them to stop trusting in their themselves and trust Him. The Lord would raise up wicked leaders from other nations to bring about His judgement, and then render judgement upon those nations as well. A good king would arise and tear down many of the altars and then a wicked ruler would take his place and be more evil than his predecessors.

If all we can do is draw conclusions that God is harsh, we missed the point altogether. In the midst of complete depravity, the Lord would remind the people of a promise that was to come.

Jeremiah 23:5 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.”

The promise of the Messiah was God’s answer to the myriads of people perishing in their sin. The sacrifices at the Temple had become corrupted, the priests of the Lord were only serving themselves. The law of the Lord had been forgotten and Israel looked just like the people they had originally deposed from the land.

Jeremiah was faithful to deliver God’s rebuke and reminder of what was to come. The Babylonians were about to burn the Temple to the ground, ransack the city, and for those who survived, lead them off to Babylon as slaves. The sad and solemn reminder of what idolatry does to a nation.

What were the people to do once the Temple was gone? How would the sacrifices for sin be administered?

The Temple was not God’s permanent plan. It was a way for God to dwell among His people. Instead of the top of a mountain in fire and smoke, the presence of the Lord was evident at the place where God had called them to repentance.

When the Lord promised destruction upon the wicked nation, He always left them with hope.

Jeremiah 23:7-8 “Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when they shall no longer say, ‘As the LORD lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ but ‘As the LORD lives who brought up and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where He had driven them.’ Then they shall dwell in their own land.”

Even though God had promised destruction, He also promised to return a remnant back to the land. He knew exactly who would be returning and not one of them would be lost.

vs. 4. “I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the LORD.”

The Lord knows every single person who is His. He might paint broad strokes when dealing with a nation, but when it comes down to it, He knows every single person included. Personally, I believe that as a nation begins to completely turn against God it is reflective of God knowing the hearts of every single person in the land. When the land becomes utterly desolate of righteousness, and little chance for change, the Lord finally tears it down.

The Lord knows your heart. He knows if you are His or if you have rejected Him. He knows those who will turn to Him and those who will never soften their hearts. He is omniscient, He knows it all.

Jeremiah 23:11-12 “Both prophet and priest are ungodly;
even in my house I have found their evil,
declares the LORD.
Therefore their way shall be to them
like slippery paths in the darkness,
into which they shall be driven and fall,
for I will bring disaster upon them
in the year of their punishment,
declares the LORD.”

Whether it was people separated from God or people who claimed to be His in His own house, the Lord was aware of everyone who dwelled there.

This is a somber reminder to us. We are not hidden from God’s sight. He is intimately acquainted with all of our ways. He knows our hearts, He understands our minds, and He sees if what we do is true or hypocritical. Still the Lord loves us and calls us to repentance.

He instructs us as to which counsel is false and which is true. He reminds us of what the consequence will be for our actions and gives us a choice to return.

He is always loving.

There is never a time He doesn’t love you. He knows your weaknesses and lovingly corrects and guides you back to Him. He doesn’t want to lose you.

Will you hear the voice of God speaking to you? Like Jeremiah calling out in the streets, the Lord calls out to us….return to me and know my goodness. There is life and peace in Him. He will keep you secure and there is a future and a hope.

Because our sin is not absolved simply by being sorry, the Lord made a way to take the sin upon Himself. Jesus bore our sin, He took our punishment and suffered that we might have life.

Jesus became righteousness on our behalf that we might know Him and dwell with Him forever. There is no other way to eternal life. Apart from His perfect sacrifice is only those who strive to practice works, and no work is sufficient to compensate for sin.

He is righteousness and that means perfection. He makes His people perfect (without sin), so they might return to the land that He promised.

Not one will be missing. Will you be there?

I hope so.