Approaching studies within Jeremiah, instead of trying to follow chronologically, which is difficult with this book, for roughly the first half of the book, the first 29 chapters, we will instead only produce studies within their appropriate chapters, theming them as follows:

• Jeremiah’s Calling                     Ch.1
• Jeremiah’s Main Message        Ch.2,3,5,7,21,22
• Jeremiah’s Action Parables      Ch.13,18,19,27
• Jeremiah’s Opposition              Ch.11,12,14,18,20,26,28
• Jeremiah’s Message of Hope   Ch.3,23,24,25,29

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, and the particular theme, as with studies elsewhere, each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read on the main Bible page.

Message of Hope: 2. The Righteous Branch

Jer 23:1-8

1 “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. ² Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,” declares the Lord. ³ “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. ⁴ I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the Lord.

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.
⁶ In his days Judah will be saved
    and Israel will live in safety.
This is the name by which he will be called:
    The Lord Our Righteous Savior.

⁷ “So then, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when people will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’ ⁸ but they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the descendants of Israel up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.’ Then they will live in their own land.”

A. Find Out :

1. What were the shepherds doing? v.1
2. What would happen to them? v.2
3. What will the Lord do with the flock? v.3
4. What will the new shepherds do? v.4
5. What will the “Branch” do? v.5
6. How will it affect Israel? v.6

B. Think:

1. What was the Lord’s complaint against leaders here?
2. What sort of life did He show He wanted for His people?
3. How was He going to ensure this would come about?

C. Comment:

The Lord speaks first of all as the Chief Shepherd or even owner of His “sheep”, the people of Israel. His complaint is against the leaders of Israel who have not only NOT looked after the people but have actually scattered the people (probably by injustice or by allowing the enemy in amongst them).

The Lord says that he will gather His people together again into a place of blessing, and He will appoint leaders over them who will look after them.  The result of such care should be peace (absence of fear, upset and disharmony) and a unity in community (none missing).  This is the inheritance of the people of God who are being properly looked after. The Lord then speaks of a “righteous Branch”.  A branch is a shoot off the main trunk.  Isaiah 11:1 says a “shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse”. The idea is the same: from what was left of the family of David will come a new bringer of life, one who will be righteous, who will be called “The Lord our righteousness” i.e. one who BRINGS righteousness to his followers.  This must be prophetic reference to Jesus who brings us His righteousness and with it peace and security as part of our salvation in Him.

D. Application?

1. Thank the Lord that His desire for His people is peace and blessing.
2. Thank Him that He sent Jesus so that we might be able to receive that peace through Him.