Bible Question:
What is the meaning of Jeremiah 33:14-26?
Bible Answer:
Jeremiah 33:14-26 is a very important passage among the major prophets for it reaffirms God’s promise of a future Messiah and the restoration of the nation of Israel. Isaiah 11:1-16 and Ezekiel 34:11-31 are related prophecies that echo many of the same points. Together these three prophecies reveal that Israel will be fully restored. Jews from around the world will return to their Promised Land. In addition, the Messiah will rule over the world.
Israel Will Be Gathered Back to Israel During The Messianic Kingdom
For example, Isaiah 11:1-10 begins by prophesying the coming of the future descendant of Jesse. Jesse was the father of King David (Ruth 4:17, 22). That is a reference to the Messiah. It states that the shoot or the Branch will bear fruit. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit and possess the spirit of wisdom, counsel, and knowledge (Isaiah 11:2). He will be a righteous and just judge who will remove evil from the land (Isaiah 11:3-6). Isaiah 11:6-10 then prophesies of the millennial kingdom in which the animal kingdom will be at peace (also see Isaiah 65:17-25). Verses 11-16 prophesy of the restoration or the return of all Israel.
Ezekiel 34:1-31 begins by prophesying the restoration of Israel, that is, the return of every Jew to the land of Israel (Ezekiel 34:11-22). Then God promises to set one shepherd over Israel. He will be “My servant David.” That is a reference to the Messiah (Ezekiel 34:23). He will be the prince ((Ezekiel 34:24). Verses 25-31 then describe peace in the animal kingdom during the millennial kingdom. Then God states,
They will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them.” Ezekiel 34:30 (NASB)
Promise of the Messiah
The prophecy of Jeremiah 33:14-26 summarizes the same points of Isaiah 11:1-10 and Ezekiel 34:23-31, but then explains why the fulfillment is certain. Verse 14 announces that the prophecy will be fulfilled in the future when it says, “days are coming.”
“‘Behold, days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will fulfill the good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah.” Jeremiah 33:14 (NASB)
The good word refers to the promise made to David, called the Davidic Covenant, that was given in 2 Samuel 7:16. That is, King David’s throne will someday be established forever.
Verse 15 now clarifies verse 1 when it refers to the “righteous Branch of David” and then promises that he will execute justice and righteousness. It is important to know that justice cannot exist without righteous judges. Scripture teaches that wicked people are inherently unjust. So, if a nation has wicked judges they will twist justice so that it becomes unjust. We could say that when we see injustice, it reveals the judge is wicked. This echoes Isaiah 11:1-5. Here is verse 15,
“‘In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch of David to spring forth; and He shall execute justice and righteousness on the earth.'” Jeremiah 33:15 (NASB)
Verses 16-18 prophesy that all Israel will dwell in safety and Jerusalem will be called Yahweh-tsidkenu. For Israel will always have “a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel.” In addition, verse 18 says the Levitical priests will perform their function. The message of verse 18 is elaborated in Ezekiel 40-48.
Promise Is Certain
Verses 19-22 promise that God will not break His covenant with David, or the Davidic Covenant. His covenant is as secure as the certainty that night follows day and day follows night. The fulfillment is as certain as daylight will be followed by darkness and then darkness by daylight. Then in verse 22 God states,
As the host of heaven cannot be counted and the sand of the sea cannot be measured, so I will multiply the descendants of David My servant and the Levites who minister to Me. Jeremiah 33:22 (NASB)
Promise of Future Restoration
Finally, verses 23-26 promise restoration of the people of Israel and the establishment of the Messiah over the kingdom. The promised Messiah is Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1, 16, 17; 2:4-11; John 1:41; 4:25). Jesus is the Messiah King. Note: Matthew gives the genealogy of Jesus Christ from King David, and history gives evidence that Jesus is the Messiah. He is the righteous branch, a descendant of Jesse through King David. Today, Jesus is waiting for the the tribulation period to begin. Jesus summarized this in Matthew 24:15-28. Then His second coming will occur (Matthew 24:29-30), and He will establish His Messianic kingdom and rule for 1,000 years Matthew 24:37-41; 25:1-46; Revelation 20:4-6). He will reign as King of kings, and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16).
Jeremiah 33:14-26 is a summary and an assurance that Israel will have a glorious future when the Messiah-King, Jesus Christ, rules over the world on David’s throne.
Suggested Links:
Are there historical facts that reveal Christ is the Messiah?Seven Signs of Christ’s Second Coming