December 24 – Promises Fulfilled

““Behold, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely; and this is His name by which He will be called,‘ the Lord Our Righteousness’” – Jeremiah 23:5-6 (NASB)

 Although God had promised that the line of King David would last forever, there was a time when this seemed to be not possible. For the line of David through King Jehoiachin had been “cut off.” However, God’s promises will all be fulfilled and He promised to raise up to David another King who would be a righteous Branch, that is, another member of the Davidic line. Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of this prediction and as such He was born in that line both physically and legally.  As King, Jesus will one day reign wisely and will do what is just and right. Though Christ offered Himself as Israel’s Messiah at His First Advent, the final fulfillment of this prophecy will come at His Second Advent immediately before His millennial reign. At that time the Southern Kingdom (Judah) and the Northern Kingdom (Israel) will again be delivered (Romans. 11:26) from oppression and reunited as a single nation and unlike today’s conditions, Israel will live in safety (Ezekiel. 37:15–28). The name of this coming King will be the “LORD Our Righteousness” (Yahweh ṣiḏqēnû). Unlike Zedekiah, “my righteousness is Yahweh,” this promised King will live up to His name as Israel’s righteous God.

 

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Charles H. Dyer, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, 1985, 1, 1158.