Jeremiah 33 14-16, 23 5-6

Advent 1

Jeremiah 33: 14-16/23:5-6

November 30, 2003

“Behold the Days are Coming”

a.  McCoy

            Brothers and sisters in Christ, Six centuries before the Incarnate Son of God was born in Bethlehem of Judea, the prophet Jeremiah foretold of the Lord God's intentions to the people of God.  The Lord God would render judgment on the wicked rulers and evil spiritual leaders of Judah; permit the nation to be defeated; and allow the conquerors to force-march the Hebrew people to a foreign land.  Ultimately God would return His people from exile and raise up the Messiah - the promised Son of David.

            The sermon text for this First Sunday of the Church year is Jeremiah 33: 14-16.   This Word of the Lord God,

 "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.   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.  In 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.”

This is the Word of the Lord given through the prophet Jeremiah.

            “Behold, the days are coming,” now that is an announcement that can be good or bad, depending on the context.  For example, those who are old enough will remember laughing at Ralph Cramdon's bluff to his wife on the television show called "The Honeymooners." He makes a fist and shakes it, saying, "One of these days, Alice, behold, one of these days, pow, right to the moon!"

            But what Jeremiah is writing about is not intended to make us or the children of God chuckle.  Indeed the situation was no laughing matter with the impending doom of being conquered and the judging hand of God at the gate.  The Hebrew nation was in moral decay, spiritual shambles, political corruption, idol permissiveness, mindless perversion and societal collapse.  The shepherds of God's people were playing fast and loose with God’s Word, ignoring His will and abusing the people under their care.  Adults snubbed their noses at God as if challenging him to act, and in doing so taught their children how to put off and ignore God.  Or, in other words, it was very much like the way the political, social and spiritual climates are today in our world, our nation and our local communities.  God warns us today just as He warned the people then, "One of these days, Judah, behold, one of these days, pow, right to Babylon!"

            That is part of the Law message that the prophet Jeremiah proclaimed to the people.  But that is not what our text is talking about today when, in the 14th verse, the Lord declares, "Behold, the days are coming." No indeed, here Jeremiah gives us the Gospel ...  the Good News that was proclaimed to the faithful of the Hebrew people as well as to us.  The context of these words is one that will cause hope to live and joy to gladden the heart, even if the one who hears the words is in dire straits, personal tragedy, economic ruin, mental abuse, physical pain, marital struggles or a host of other hardships.

            Hope and joy when you hear the words, "Behold, the days are coming." It's the reaction you get when you tell a child, "Children, look at the blue paraments; see the Advent candle wreath; join the congregation's Advent singing of Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel.   "Behold, the days are coming," when we will celebrate the arrival of the Lord, our Savior Jesus Christ.  Thus says the Lord, “I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.  In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell securely.”  Here is the promise of the Savior, the virgin's son descended along David's family tree, the Son of God begotten from eternity.  Jeremiah and the prophets tell us of this One Whose Advent sets His people free.  He is called Emmanuel, God with us, the Prince of Peace Who will be born in Bethlehem of Judea.  He has many names and God reveals a new name through Jeremiah, “And this is the name by which it will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.”

            What wonderful news this is for us.  You and I, who have no righteousness of our own, are given the privilege of calling God by His Name: The Lord is our righteousness.  Without Him, our righteousness is that of filthy rags and getting dirtier all the time.  We start out sinful and unclean and continue to decay and degenerate.  The Lord's righteousness, however, is holy and perfect from everlasting to everlasting.  God's righteousness is pure and without blemish.  Christ Jesus died and rose again in order that you and your children might have His righteousness.

            Behold, the days are coming and have been when we have been given the gift of babies and children.  This is why we do not delay in giving them the Gift of the Ages -- salvation, eternal life, forgiveness, paradise, peace with God, the blessing of being a child of God, heaven itself through baptism and instruction in God’s word.  Behold the days are coming and that is why we are like those here today who care enough to bring their child to Jesus.  From Bethlehem's swaddling clothes to the tomb's burial cloths, Jesus earned the right for you and your children to be able to call Him by the Name: The Lord is our righteousness.

            Jesus came as an infant to redeem infants and give them His righteousness in the crucifying waters of Baptism where we are buried with Christ and are connected to His resurrection.  A thoughtful, loving parent may carry a baby to the baptismal font in a white baptismal robe.  That's fine; but it's not necessary.  What's important is not what or who accompanies that child to the fount.  What's important is what God gives through the water and the Word in Holy Baptism.  Behold, the day has come.  The Lord God - Father, Son, Holy Spirit - has given His Word.  Austin Tyler Musack now wears the robe of Christ's righteousness, earned in the Life and Death of Jesus; guaranteed in the Resurrection and Ascension of the Christ.  These are the blessing of God given to Austin today.  At night, whether that little one is sound asleep or wide awake, you may speak the God-given truth into that newborn's ear, "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made.  And this is the name by which [He] will be called: 'The LORD is our righteousness.” His name will be called Jesus because He will come to save His people.

            "Behold, the days are coming, we see the blue paraments; see the Advent candle wreath and join the congregation's Advent song of Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel; "Behold, the days are coming," when we will celebrate the coming of the Lord in Bethlehem and His final coming in triumphant glory.   Amen.