Jeremiah 23:5 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.
I mentioned the NCAA tournament last week and the excitement (or heartbreak) of that annual event continues. Loyal fans of their school hope for the best as they watch their team take the floor. It’s rare if they have four or five truly great players. They hope for one. One who will lead their team to greatness. One who will, as the announcers often say, “pick up the team and carry them to victory.” But virtually all of those hopes are dashed as only one can win.
Jeremiah was prophesying to Judah, who was in real trouble. The Babylonian army was on the move and having disastrous success everywhere they went. Jeremiah was telling the people that they would be the next victims. His was not a popular message. At this point in the book he’s already been beaten and spent a night in the public stocks. A lesser man would have decided to change his tone. But Jeremiah was faithful. And now he brings, what seems to us, great news! The days are coming!
God is going to raise up a suitable heir for David! There will be a great king! He will reign wisely and do what is just and right! But hang on, they have a king. They can’t have two. If this new, better king is going to rule, the current king will have to leave the throne. If the people felt more favorably about this message of Jeremiah’s, I would guess the king didn’t!
But we have the perspective of history. We know that the king Jeremiah was talking about was a few hundred years off and would be named Jesus. We know that He came as it was told that He would. He has come to reign wisely and do what is just and right! But hang on. Everyone already has a king. That might sound odd at first. We’re Americans! We don’t have a king. But we do.
Metaphorically speaking, we all have a throne in our heart. That throne is reserved for the one who will rule in our lives. In our natural state, we ourselves occupy that throne. I decide what I will do. I will go where I want, do what I want, think what I want, and love what I want. I rule in my own heart.
But a new King has come! We will soon celebrate the day He rose from the dead. He has come to reign wisely and do what is just and right. But hang on. I have a king (myself). I can’t have two. If this new, better king is going to rule, the current king will have to leave the throne. Jesus didn’t come to be my royal advisor. He came to rule and reign. He invites me to welcome Him in and experience life to the full with Him in command.
When I allowed Him to rule in my heart, everything changed for the better! His reign of wisdom, justice, and righteousness began! Those days don’t have to be ‘coming.’ They can be now.
Blessings
Pastor Russ
