The King of the Nations

Jeremiah 23:5-6

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.’

REFLECTION

King David was described as a “man after God’s own heart”.  As a result the Lord made a promise that He would establish through David’s offspring a throne that would last “forever” (2 Samuel 7:13). 

For 20 generations his descendants reigned. Unfortunately, most of them were spiritually unfaithful kings leading the people of God to apostasy which resulted in the judgement of God upon the Jewish people and the fall of the Jewish nation. 

In Jeremiah 23 the prophet foresees a day, when their punishment would end and a new descendant of David, a “Branch” of his tree, would come to establish a Godly righteous kingdom.  Jeremiah’s listeners would have assumed this would be an earthly king, ruling with earthly power and authority.  They thought he would be a king who would conquer foes and establish a nation like David’s Kingdom. 

This vision would be much too small.  We know that nearly 600 years later, Jesus, a genealogical descendant of David, would come not as a royal king but as a peasant baby and establish a spiritual kingdom. 

As God in flesh, fully human and without sin, He would proclaim and establish a spiritual kingdom where, not just those of Jewish blood may partake of His kingdom, but all might come under His rule by faith. 

His kingdom is an everlasting one that incorporates all who believe from every nation of the world.  Miraculously Jeremiah spoke of this King 600 years before he came and dwelt among us.

PRAYER

King Jesus, thank you for making a way for all people to come into your eternal kingdom.  Thank you Lord that it does not depend upon our bloodline, but by faith.  We trust that we are now joined into one nation under your perfect and eternal rule.  Amen.

Written by the Rev. Dave Kulchar, Prior, NAMS Midwest (Indianapolis, Indiana, USA), and NAMS Prayer Coordinator.