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In
the name + of Jesus.
Another election cycle is past. Either you are happy with the results and excited about the future, or disappointed and grieved about what may be coming. We believe that our leaders are going to make our world a better place or that they are going to destroy it. That’s how the politicians sell it; and that’s how we buy it.
King David served over Israel for forty
years as king. He understood the burdens
of leadership—the expectations (usually unrealistic), the enemies (always vicious),
and the limited power he actually had.
Regarding leaders and politicians, King David was inspired by the Holy
Spirit to write this: “Put
not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to
the earth; on that very day his plans perish” (Psalm 146:3-4).
Leaders come and go. The world
still has its problems. They often get worse. That is nothing new.
Even among God’s chosen people, the kingdom went from bad to worse. In the days of Jeremiah, the kingdom of Israel
had spiraled down to the point where people rejected God and his word. The kings were to be leaders who set the tone
for a godly nation. Each king was given
a copy of the Law of Moses which would guide any agenda he set. He would lead by example, ordering his life,
his house, and his kingdom according to the world of the Lord. For centuries, many of Israel’s kings did not
pay attention to God’s word. The people
followed their lead; they ignored the word of the Lord as well.
The Lord judges leaders more harshly than others, whether they are politicians
or pastors. Those in authority can
either promote righteousness or suppress it.
They can either curb wickedness or lead people into it. Pastors can either lead people to God’s promises
or deliver them into God’s curse. To the
faithless kings of Jerusalem, Jeremiah declared the Lord’s judgment: “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’” (Jeremiah 23:2-3).
Because of the faithless leadership of
these kings, the Lord had raised up enemy nations to afflict them. The kings of Israel had caused many in Israel
to face the sword and captivity. Those
who were supposed to be God’s people were taken captive by other people. Those who were supposed to possess the Promised
Land were scattered into strange lands. The
kingdom of David was cut off like a tree, down to a lifeless stump.
While this is a history lesson about the nation of Israel, history tends
to repeat itself. Israel was God’s
chosen nation. The United States is not,
as if we are special to God and other nations are not. God’s chosen people are his Church which is
not marked by borders, race, language, or even time. Nevertheless, even Christians can be negligent
about God’s word and ordering our lives according to it. One way we do that is by judging our
officials by our wallets. Our highest
good is often determined by prosperity. We
also confuse freedom for a license do to anything we want. Freedom is not a free-for-all. Yes, the Lord did set you free from your sins
so that they will not condemn you. But that
does not mean sins don’t matter. God’s word
still directs us to what is good and holy.
If we receive God’s forgiveness only to go right back to the sins we said
we repented of, we mock God. St. Peter
warned, “Live
as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God” (1 Peter 2:16). Just
because your government says that you are free to do something does not mean
that God smiles upon it.
When God assessed the kings of Israel, his judgment was either “He did
what was right in the eyes of the Lord,” or “He did what was evil in the eyes
of the Lord.” It was not about the economy
or foreign policy or strong borders. God’s
judgment was always based on his word.
Whoever believed it and lived according to it pleased God; whoever
neglected God’s word and demonstrated his unbelief in his life fell under God’s
curse. You may not be kings, but you are
judged the same way. We remain God’s people only by retaining God’s
word. Those who do not are captive to
sin and will suffer a judgment far worse than death.
The kings of Jeremiah’s day misled the people. The prophets lied. God’s judgment fell upon them hard. For their part, the people were willingly deceived. They wanted to believe that they could defy
God and that he would still bless them for it.
They also fell under God’s judgment.
The Lord, however, offered hope to the faithful few who were left in
Jerusalem. He would not forsake
them. He would be faithful to his
promises, and he would deliver a king who would finally serve and bless and
save them.
Jeremiah wrote: “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’” (Jeremiah 23:5-6).
Although the kingdom of David would be cut
down to a stump, life would spring up from what appeared to be dead. A branch would spring up. A new king would arise. But he would not be a faithless king like the
days of Jeremiah. This Righteous Branch
would reign in the wisdom of the Lord.
He would delight in God’s word and order his life according to it. In fact, he would be perfectly obedient to
that word, and his joy would be in keeping it and proclaiming it for the
benefit of all.
Jeremiah foretold, “[He] shall execute
justice and righteousness in the land” (Jeremiah 23:5). Justice meant that all guilt would be addressed
according to the Law of God. Old
Testament justice is this: “The soul who sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18:4). New Testament justice is the same: “The wages
of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
Therefore, when the righteous Branch executes justice, it means
death. In mercy, Jesus took up all guilt
on our behalf. And in justice, Jesus
suffered and died bearing our guilt.
Do you see the marvelous mercy of our
righteous King? He does not establish
his kingdom by slaughtering people and destroying nations. He established his kingdom by dying for the
benefit of the very people he desires to rule.
He fought your enemies for you.
He saved you by being slain on your behalf. But death could not keep him. Just as the Righteous Branch sprang forth
from the dead stump of David, so the Righteous Lord sprang up from death and
the grave. Jesus lives and reigns for
you. His kingdom endures forever, and his
rule is governed by pardon for the guilty, release of those who were captive to
their sins, and life to those who were marked for death.
“[He] shall execute justice and righteousness
in the land” (Jeremiah 23:5). Besides the justice of punishing the guilty,
our righteous King must also vindicate the innocent. He does this for you. The devil will rant and rage and insist that
you are not innocent. Who could
disagree? The Psalms teach us to pray, “Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions” (Psalm 25:7). And,
“Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is
evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment” (Psalm 51:4).
And even this: “Who can discern his
errors? Declare me innocent
from hidden faults” (Psalm 19:12).
We claim no innocence of our own, not if we are honest.
So, how does our King execute justice if we are not innocent? Jeremiah tells us, “This is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness’” (Jeremiah
23:6).
He is our righteousness.
He became our sin and was punished for it. But he bestows his righteousness upon
us. Through holy baptism, you have been
purified of all unrighteousness. Since
you have been cleansed, justice demands that you be set free. To punish the innocent would be unjust. But our King judges justly. The very one who will judge you has already
rendered your innocent verdict.
Every
word from our Righteous King is righteous.
The people in Jeremiah’s day did not believe that, so they ignored what the
Lord said. They chose their own way and
their own truth. If it meant that they
sinned against God and others, too bad.
But you have been set free from such wicked thinking. You know that Jesus is the way, the truth,
and the life. His word has bestowed righteousness
upon you. His word also guides you into
righteous living, and you rightly order your life according to it.
Your righteous King lives and reigns for
you. The Lord had promised, “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. In his days Judah will be
saved, and Israel will dwell securely” (Jeremiah 23:4,6). Jesus is the true Shepherd
who watches over his people. He removes
from you fear and anxiety, and he causes you to dwell in safety.
Now, perhaps it does not feel like
it. The risen Savior had declared to his
apostles on Easter evening, “All authority in heaven and earth has been
given to me” (Matthew 18:28), but it does not seem like it. The world is still broken. People are disrespectful and violent. Hospitals are filled with the sick and
injured. The battlefield sends home
soldiers who are maimed and mentally scarred.
Death still lays claim to us all.
It seems we have good reason for fear, dismay, and insecurity.
If our righteous King had laid claim to an
earthly kingdom, we would have reason to question his authority, ability, and
love. But Jesus has come to deliver you
from this world and all its problems.
Sure, for a while you may have to endure pain and sorrow, but even that
Jesus uses for your eternal good. Everything
Jesus does and allows serves one specific goal—to bring you to your heavenly
home. Is society going down the tubes? Then cling to the kingdom of God. Is the world getting more evil? Then pray for Jesus’ return. Is your body sick or sore or failing? Then long for the resurrection. The Righteous King will set you free from all
evil. He has already delivered you from
your sin. He will soon enough deliver
you from all sorrows, stresses, and death.
For, Jesus lives and reigns over all things for your eternal good.
Jesus is your Righteous King. He has saved you. He causes you to dwell securely in his kingdom. And he will soon deliver you into endless glory and peace.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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