Definitive Direction

7 “Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when they shall no longer say, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ 8 but ‘As the Lord lives who brought up and led the offspring of the house of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he[a] had driven them.’ Then they shall dwell in their own land.” Jer. 23:7-8

What we find in today's passage is the Lord promising to his people a righteous branch that will reign as king and judge. During the reign of this king, the people of God will dwell in peace and security. I particularly liked verses 7-8 as we are able to see some sort of progression in God's redemptive plan. At first the people of God think of the Lord in his deed of rescuing them from Egypt. God then promises that His people would then remember him as the one who delivered them from exile. In conjunction with verse 5-6, the progression of God's plan is not yet complete. Not only would God rescue his people from the north country, but would also send a righteous branch from the line of David to reign as king. In my own life, I oftentimes worry about the uncertainties in my life. Most of the time it involves my future. When I think about what will happen in the next few years, it's full of things that may or may not happen. This passage was a great encouragement and reminder that God does have a plan in place for us as his people. Despite what may or may not happen in my life, I am fully able to cling to the certainty of his promises, knowing that he will bring me along the path that he needs me to tread.