Jeremiah 23:5-6 Behold, the days come, said the LORD, that I will raise to David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper… I. TO WHOM DOES THIS PASSAGE REFER? It is vain to inquire whether the reference here be to the Jews literally, or to Christians; for the thing comes to the very same result. II. HIS PERSONAL TITLE. "He shall be called the Lord our Righteousness." The word is Jehovah. Hence the amazing importance of the preceding inquiry; for whoever the person, intended may be, here is a name applied to Him "which is above every name." 1. The language is strong; but His perfections allow it. His omniscience allows it. Peter said to Him, "Thou knowest all things"; and He said, "The Churches shell know that I am He who searcheth the reins and the heart." His omnipresence allows it. "Where two or three are gathered together," &c. "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." His unchangeableness allows it. He is "the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever." 2. The language is strong; but His operations justify it. "By Him were all things created," &c. "Without Him was not anything made that was made." 3. The language is strong; but it accords with the worship demanded of Him and received by Him. 4. The language is strong, but the occasion requires it. His greatness must he carried into every of His work as a Saviour. III. HIS RELATIVE CHARACTER, or what He is to us. "The Lord our Righteousness." The former would have filled us with terror; but this softens down the effulgency; this throws a rainbow around His head, and tells us we need not be afraid of a deluge. How is He, then, "our Righteousness"? We answer, generally, He is so in two ways: by His making us righteous by a change in our state, and by a change in our nature; for the latter is as really derived from Him as the former. IV. THE KNOWLEDGE OF THIS. For names are designed to distinguish and to make their owners known. Persons, more than things, are always called by their proper names. 1. This is considered His greatest work and honour. When a man takes a name from any of his actions, you may be assured that he will do it from the most peculiar, the most eminent, the most glorious of them. 2. It means that He is to be approached under this character. This is always to be the great subject of the Christian ministry. 3. That all His people would own Him as such. (W. Jay.) Parallel Verses KJV: Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. |
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