Counting the Days: December 9, 2023
Rufus Autry, B.S.
Maintenance, Plumbing Supervisor
Pastor, Tabor Methodist Church
The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfil the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’
Reflection
Jeremiah, an Old Testament prophet, is known as the “Weeping Prophet” mainly because he had hard things to say to the people of Judah. Jeremiah lived and served God during a desperate time for the nation of Judah. Jeremiah warned of Judah’s destruction and exile into Babylon. Jeremiah had a difficult time getting people to listen to the words God gave him to speak. Nobody wants to receive bad news.
However, all of us will receive bad news at some point in our lives. When facing a difficult season often it is our instinct to find a reason for hope. It takes courage to have hope when facing overwhelming struggles in our day-to-day life, and hope can be difficult to hold on to when things become dire. We look all around for a hope that will deliver us from our grief and despair. Even Jeremiah had reason for hope!
God shared with Jeremiah that eventually things will get better! In today’s passage of scripture Jeremiah can tell of a promised King who will bring a restoration of justice and righteousness to the land. Jesus, the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel, Judah, and all the earth has come! In advent we celebrate the coming of our Lord Jesus to Bethlehem and we also anticipate the return of Christ Jesus someday soon! Even though Jeremiah had reason to weep he also had reason to hope and that hope still lives today because of the eternal King Jesus.
Yes, we will face difficult times ahead, but we have a Savior who will be with us during those difficult times. We don’t have to walk in despair alone. We don’t have to weep alone. Jesus wants to be our righteousness. We are called to let Jesus be our Lord and Savior and Deliverer from whatever holds us down. Let Jesus be your hope today! Amen.