A Quest for Hope

Scripture:
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 earth.
In those days Judah will be saved,
    and Jerusalem will dwell safely.
And this is the name by which he will be called:

THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Jeremiah 33:15-16

Observation: This is the second time Jeremiah has declared this name for a future savior of Judah, from the line of David. The name is Yahweh Tsidkenu, and is not one that I have heard often claimed in various "names of God" discussions. Yet Jeremiah is pretty clear that it is by both his lineage - from the line of David, which is a family promise never to be broken - and also this righteous nature, that some future generation should recognize Messiah.

This has often been the confusion about what the Jews were really looking for in Messiah, and yet that is addressed by these same two verses. In hindsight, we see a description of righteousness. However, the Jews focused on other words ... "execute justice" and "saved". They looked for a Messiah who would take action against the conquering empires - first Babylon, and later Rome - execute justice against those oppressors, and save them.

Of course, this interpretation fails to address a key element, and that being the failings in their own nature. Through their interpretation, the Jews are looking externally at others as sinful, and not recognizing their own errors. It is for their sin that they are about to be destroyed (one specific issue Jeremiah addresses in detail in the very next chapter). The Jews are slow to see that "executing justice" may mean to directly confront their own injustice, and "saved" may mean to correct their own sinful actions and thus create the reconciliation needed between the entire earth and God.

Application: I have begun to look for promises in God's word that I can adopt for myself. However, I fear falling into this same trap ... that I will interpret a promise as applying to some other person or situation, and failing to see that I myself am the problem/issue. I fear thinking "yes, I need that protection or promise or safe haven or love" when the truth is the promise is for someone else, who needs to be protected or loved due to my failures.

I don't know how to overcome this fear. I often see corrections for my life in the bible. I struggle to see hope and promise. I am pretty certain this is because I am a terrible person, full of anger and pride, with massive failings in my life. I cannot find hope. I do trust in eternal salvation through my absolute faith in Jesus, and I am confident God blesses and protects me and my family today and every day. These are promises, and critically important ones. But they seem general to all believers. I wish I could find something personal other than correction and instruction. Some day.

Prayer: Lord, I do absolutely know and trust in your love, forgiveness, mercy, and righteous justice. I know you will take my hand when I am better at walking humbly with you every day. I will seek you every day. Amen.