Jeremiah 23:1-6 (NRSV)
Read Jeremiah 23:1-6 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 23Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. Verse 2Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord. Verse 3Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. Verse 4I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord. Verse 5The days are surely coming, says 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. Verse 6In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: "The Lord is our righteousness."
Devotion
Today’s reading from Jeremiah begins with bad news: God’s appointed shepherds have failed to care for God’s people, and God’s people are scattered. In our time, churches are shrinking across the nation, and we are tempted to blame the shepherds—the pastors, the bishops, anyone but ourselves. Yet the good news of God’s promised salvation remains. Through God, renewal will come again. The key focus of that promise for Jeremiah is in a name: “The Lord is our righteousness.” Our future is guaranteed, not by our righteousness, not by the righteousness of our shepherds, but by the Lord’s righteousness.
Prayer
Lord God, when we are disheartened and feel scattered, remind us that you are in control, your promise remains trustworthy, and your righteousness covers us. Amen.
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