The Righteous Branch

Jeremiah 23:1–6 ESV

“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the Lord. Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 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. “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. 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.’

Opening Prayer

The Problem: Shepherds who scatter.

Jeremiah 23:1 ESV

“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord.

God summarizes the wicked leadership of unrighteous kings as being like shepherds.

responsible to lead.

These “shepherds” were placed over the people

They used their position to glorify themselves

They didn’t see their position as one appointed to represent God.

read Jer 22:15-16 (Josiah, Jahoahaz (3 months), Jehoiakim, Jehoachin…)

about Jehoiakim

installed by Emperor Nico

used position for personal gain

Jeremiah 22:15–16 ESV

Do you think you are a king because you compete in cedar? Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Is not this to know me? declares the Lord.

A good shepherd represent God in word and deed

responsible to care for and protect Gods people

What do you do when people are hurting

How do you guard God people from attacks from the devil that would harm their faith.

Jeremiah 23:2 ESV

Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the Lord.

They scattered the flock (driven them away)

The failed to attend the flock

“I will attend to you for your evil deeds”

Whether kings, pastors, or elders ... a couple of principles are true

You should honor your shepherds and make their job a blessings

This is the point made in Heb 13:17

Hebrews 13:17 ESV

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

You should be careful you you follow as your shepherd

The Solution: A God who gathers.

Jeremiah 23:3 ESV

Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply.

The remnant

God always keeps a remnant

A remnant are outside their home

A remnant lives for the future not the present

A remnant believes on the promise of God

Be a part of the remnant.

“where I have driven them”

But I thought “shepherds” drove them out

God guided where they went

He promises to bring them back.

Notice the creation language.

Once back in their fold, “they shall be fruitful and multiply”

God did not create us to just exist

We assigned the tack to be fruitful and multiply

But we cannot really do this outside the proper relationship from God.

Jeremiah 23:4 ESV

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 Promise: The Righteous Branch.

Jeremiah 23:5 ESV

“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 Davidic line rus through Judah.

Jeremiah was a prophet to this part of the linage.

Jesus tried to tell that He was he fulfillment of this promise

but they didn’t believe Him.

God did not say I will “OFFER” a righteous branch

He said HE will “raise up”

So this is yet to come.

Some would say it is happening partially through the church

It will happen fully after Jesus’ millennial reign.

Jeremiah 23:6 ESV

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.’

In HIS DAYS

Judah will be saved

Israel will dwell securely

The name of this King:

“The Lord is our Righteousness” ESV

The Lord = YAHWEH

Our righteousness = the source of where we find righteousness

Closing Prayer