Great Anticipation

The Teacher’s Bible Commentary Jeremiah and the Rulers of Judah (Jer. 22:1–23:8)

Special points.—Jeremiah’s clash with Jehoaikim catapulted him onto the stage of history as a statesman-prophet. This marked a turning point in his career. He did not leave the role as long as the state stood.

As the prophet parades before the reader the men who were kings of Judah during his ministry, he ranges from commendation (Josiah, 22:15b–16) to lamentation (Jehoahaz, Jehoaichin, 22:10–12, 24 ff.) to condemnation (Jehoaikim and, by indirection, Zedekiah, 22:13–19; 23:1–4) to anticipation (the ideal king of the future, 23:5–6).

Jeremiah makes a declaration of a coming Righteous Branch from the line of David who will reign as King and deal wisely and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. This was an insert of good news. Something to look forward to after the apparent destruction heading Jerusalem’s way.

Great Anticipation

Anticipation, or being enthusiastic, is an emotion involving pleasure, excitement, and sometimes anxiety in considering some expected or longed-for good event.

In order to understand these introductory verses of chapter 23 you must dissect chapter 22 where Jeremiah pronounces the fault found in Jehoaikim and gives him a warning. “Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place”. The warning is clear if you obey this word you will be spared but if you disobey this house will become desolation. That warning is befroe us today. We have a choice obey the Lord and live or disobey and perish!

The Teacher’s Bible Commentary Jeremiah and the Rulers of Judah (Jer. 22:1–23:8)

The maintenance of justice was a major duty attached to sacral kingship in the Near East. In Judah, the obligation was intrinsic to both the Mosaic and the Davidic covenants. A proper discharge of this responsibility was essential to the preservation of the stability and continuity of the covenant community

The Teacher’s Bible Commentary Jeremiah and the Rulers of Judah (Jer. 22:1–23:8)

The maintenance of justice was a major duty attached to sacral kingship in the Near East. In Judah, the obligation was intrinsic to both the Mosaic and the Davidic covenants. A proper discharge of this responsibility was essential to the preservation of the stability and continuity of the covenant community (cf. 21:12).

America has that same warning today we must maintain justice. Especially God’s people. We must maintain a level of integrity. We must treat people fairly we must do right by the least among us!

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So a timely message for those in office is:

Kings, Presidents, Governors, priests, and pastors are called to be good role models before their people. Unfortunately that was never the case with any of the kings of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and with many of the kings of Judah as well. Chapter 22 informs us that King of Israel Jehoahaz has already surrendered to Syria.

Jeremiah message to Josiah son Jehoaikim would be carried away into captivity because he was selfish and heartless and his son Jehoiachin who only reigned 3 months was not any better.

In we learn all we need to know about King Jehoiachin. He was only eighteen when he became King of Judah and reigned only for three months. The Bible tells us that he was one of the evil kings of Judah. When Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem, Jehoiachin not personally surrendered to him but also gave his mother, his servants, his officers, and his palace officials to the King of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar carried away with him 10,000 captives which included all the artisans and smiths. Only the poorest citizens of Jerusalem were left behind. Therefore, God pronounced a curse on Jehoiachin in just prior to the beginning of our passage of Scripture for this morning:

Thus says the LORD:

Record this man as childless,

a man who shall not succeed in his days;

for none of his offspring shall succeed

in sitting on the throne of David,

and ruling again in Judah.

Kings of Israel and Judah are often called shepherds. Jehoiachin and many of his peers were poor shepherds who “scattered God’s flock of both Israel and Judah, drove them away, and did not attend to them.” They did not set a godly example before their people; they led their nations into sin, and thus both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms were led into captivity.

peers were poor shepherds who “scattered God’s flock of both Israel and Judah,

drove them away, and did not attend to them.” They did not set a godly example

Yet the writer gives us great hope of good leadership. Leadership that will tend to the remnant that will cause the people to multiply and be fruitful.

In this month of pastor appreciation pastors must know if they are to be appreciated then they must be the shepherds that God intended. Shepherds that will care for the sheep and cause them to have faith, and not be afraid and fulfilled. This comes through proper instruction. We must know The Lord shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory! We must know the Lord instructs us not to be afraid because he s with us! We must be reminded if God be for you he is more than the whole world against you. We must be reminded he gives us peace that surpasses all our understanding.

before their people; they led their nations into sin, and thus both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms were led into captivity.

The psalmist said he is our shield and buckler.

When we look to the world instead of The Lord for our examples we continue to miss the mark. Yet we have a high priest who is our best example and he gives us cause to have great anticipation.

Its verse 5 and 6 that I can hang my hat on today. For Jeremiah said

English Standard Version Chapter 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. 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

Servant First

Jesus Christ who became “The Servant-King.” Jesus is our greatest example in leadership, because just as He reminded His apostles, He still reminds us in , ““The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.”

Jesus Christ who became “The Servant-King.” Jesus is our greatest example in leadership, because just as He reminded His apostles, He still reminds us in , ““The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those in authority over them are called benefactors. But not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.”In becoming mentor to the world’s business leaders Dr. Maxwell has inspired many of them to follow the example of Jesus in servant leadership. As the Head of His Church, Jesus also is our example for leadership in our ministry for His Kingdom whether we are clergy or laity, for Peter reminds us so well in , “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.”The King of the Universe left His throne in heaven to live among us as “one who serves,” and we as His disciples, His chosen leaders in His Church, are to “follow in His steps.” Servant leadership is not an oxymoron; the words are not contradictory to one another; they are two sides of the same coin. If King Jehoiachin and his evil predecessors in Judah and Israel had been servant leaders, history would have been totally different, for they would not have “scattered God’s flock or driven them away, because they would have attended to them well.” The problem with too many local Churches today is that the leadership in both the pulpit and the pews follow morein the steps of Jehoiachin and his predecessors than they do in the steps of the Servant-King.

As the Head of His Church, Jesus is our example for leadership in our ministry for His Kingdom whether we are clergy or laity, for Peter reminds us so well in , “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.”The King of the Universe left His throne in heaven to live among us as “one who serves,” and we as His disciples, His chosen leaders in His Church, are to “follow in His steps.”

Servant leadership is not an oxymoron; the words are not contradictory to one another; they are two sides of the same coin. If King Jehoiachin and his evil predecessors in Judah and Israel had been servant leaders, history would have been totally different, for they would not have “scattered God’s flock or driven them away, because they would have attended to them well.” The problem with too many local Churches today is that the leadership in both the pulpit and the pews follow more in the steps of Jehoiachin and his predecessors than they do in the steps of the Servant-King.

The best picture we have of Jesus in a servant’s role is on the night of the Last Supper when He washed His disciples’ feet. We can almost hear Jesus speak personally to us as He did in to the Twelve and say, “You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.”

Paul paints the picture of our Servant-King this way in : “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,“who, though he was in the form of God,did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited,“but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave,being born in human likeness.And being found in human form,“he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.

Servant leaders are not powerful and proud but humble as Jesus was humble. The King of the Universe during His ministry here never lived in a palace. He was born in a stable; grew up in a humble carpenter shop in Nazareth; and had “nowhere to lay his head [].”

A servant is one who helps others, one who ministers to their needs, and one who serves out of devotion. Our calling as servant leaders is to reach out and help those who are in need by the power of the Holy Spirit, in the Name of our Servant-King Jesus, and for the glory of our Heavenly Father.In obedient surrender to the Holy Spirit we do as Jesus instructs us in : “We feed those who are physically and spiritually hungry, give water to those who are physically and spiritually thirsty, offer hospitality to the stranger.”

Let’s stop there for just a moment. The stranger is anyone who is different than I am. The stranger is a person of a different race, color, or creed. The stranger are those in Puerto Rico, US Virgin Island or any of the areas hit by a flurry of Hurricanes this season. The stranger is the folks from Rainbow Beach Nursing home. or even the 1000s of people in our city and county that are homeless, the ones we see setting up tents along the river or the highway.

By the power of the Holy Spirit, in the Name of Jesus, for the glory of God our Father we “cloth the naked and visit those who are sick and in prison.” We do it all in love because we are devoted to Jesus Christ and in meeting the needs of those who hurt and are in pain, we minister to our Servant-King Himself.

Servant leaders following in the steps of Jesus are people who are willing to make sacrifices, to give up things they value greatly in order to advance the kingdom of God “on earth as it is in heaven.”

The Holy Spirit may lead us to sacrifice some comfort, convenience, desire, luxury, pleasure, or want that we truly treasure. Servant leaders are willing to obey the Holy Spirit to the same degree as the Apostle Paul who could honestly testify in , “We are putting no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as SERVANTS OF GOD we have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in affliction, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger. . . .” By the power of the Holy Spirit at work in us, in the Name of Jesus Christ, for the glory of our Heavenly Father, as servant leaders we endure afflictions, hardships, calamities, labors, sleepless nights, hunger, whatever hardships may stand in our way, for the advancement of the Kingdom of God because we are devoted to Jesus Christ.