Jeremiah 23:6, commentary and pictures

God promised to raise up a righteous descendant of David to reign as King, bringing justice to the earth, saving Judah and giving Israel safe and secure dwelling. That promised Branch is Jesus Christ, the Lord and Messiah, the Prince of life and Redeemer of the world. His name declares that he himself is his people's righteousness, strength, hope and salvation, which is freely given to every soul who hungers for it, since people have no righteousness of their own. On the cross he paid the sinner's debt and bore the penalty of the broken law to satisfy justice, so the repentant sinner is declared righteous not by keeping the law or by personal merit but by claiming Christ's righteousness and merits by faith. That righteousness is never separated from honoring God's law but is the foundation of the Christian life, and those who receive it bear his name as his cleansed people, depending on him as personal Savior and living to do God's will from the heart.

Promised King and Kingdom

The promised one is a righteous Branch raised up unto David, a Prince of the house of David who reigns as King. He prospers in His reign and executes judgment and justice in the earth. In His days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely and securely.

The promise looks beyond Judah's downfall and scattering to restoration and deliverance. It gives hope and strength to those who make peace with God and live holy lives amid apostasy.

Messiah Revealed in Jesus

The righteous Branch raised to David, the King who reigns prosperously and executes judgment and justice in the earth, is Christ. He is the Lord, the Messiah, and in the days of his reign Judah is saved and Israel dwells safely. His name, The Lord Our Righteousness, declares him to be his people's righteousness and the source from which righteousness comes. He gave his life to redeem all who repent.

Jesus is the descendant of David foretold as that Branch of the house of David, raised up to reign as King. He is the Prince of life and the Redeemer of the world. The name given him declares him to be the Lord our righteousness.

The prophecy identifies who Jesus is. When he entered Jerusalem as Messiah, the question Who is this was answered by proclaiming with inspiration that he is the promised Branch of David, the Lord our righteousness, the Messiah, the Prince of life and Redeemer of the world.

Righteousness Received by Faith

His name declares him to be his people's righteousness, identifying the Lord as the source from whom righteousness and salvation come, and also strength and hope. People have no righteousness of their own but receive righteousness from Christ, the fountain of righteousness. That righteousness is from the Lord and is freely given to every soul who hungers and thirsts to receive it, not obtained by painful struggles or wearisome toil, nor by gift or sacrifice.

Christ's righteousness is God's gift and alone can save, and by faith each person may claim it personally as his own. God is satisfied with his Son's death on the cross, where Christ pays the sinner's debt, bears the penalty for breaking the law, and satisfies justice. The sinner cannot be justified by keeping the law or by personal merit, but may by faith claim Christ's righteousness and apply the merits of his blood personally, saying the Lord my righteousness.

God declares the sinner righteous by imputing Christ's righteousness, while Christ bears the believer's sins as representative, substitute, and surety. Christ's obedience to the law secures this for the repentant believer, so that through repentance and faith sin is put away. He alone pardons sin and justifies repentant sinners, restoring God's moral image in them and bringing the humble, contrite soul into peace with God. Christ gave his life to redeem all who repent.

Christ covers human unworthiness with the spotless robe of his righteousness, and his sinless life in human nature makes him the perfect representation of the Father. Christ becomes our righteousness when we do our best, looking at the spirit and, when he sees us carrying our burden with faith, atoning for our shortcomings with his perfect holiness. His sacrifice fulfills the Jewish system of types and shadows and causes righteousness to shine upon us, and believers before his death and resurrection were saved by the same Savior, though God was then revealed through figures and promises. The law cannot save a transgressor, and grace does not excuse continued sin or weaken the law.

Righteousness and God's Law

The name given to the coming King declares him to be the Lord who is his people's righteousness. That righteousness and God's law belong together, for he is a complete Savior. Faith in him must never be separated from honoring the law. The declaration that the Lord is his people's righteousness is linked to justification and to preaching Christ as the righteousness needed in the time of the third angel's message, alongside and not instead of proclaiming God's law.

Christ as the righteousness of his people is the foundation of Christianity. Each person is accountable to God and must act as God moves upon him, rather than being governed by another person's mind, so that the Spirit of the great I AM can impress and direct him freely. The church is to put on Christ our righteousness as its beautiful garment and display the beauty of holiness in contrast with sin and disloyalty. This is shown in steadfast loyalty to God's law and the faith of Jesus, upholding God's authority and refusing laws that conflict with his, thereby clearly distinguishing his authority from every opposing requirement.

Bearing His Name in Glory

The divine name marks Christ as the one known as the righteousness of his people, and its impress must be received through conversion and dedication to God before entering the church and God's spiritual kingdom. That entrance brings acknowledgment as under the authority of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, with baptism as the sign of it.

Those who are redeemed bear that name as their sign, showing that their righteousness is found in him alone. By it they are marked as his faithful people, whom he has cleansed and made fit for his kingdom.

When he is crowned in glory they share his victory and triumph with him and receive crowns of immortal glory. They shine in the glory of the Father and the Son while he wears a crown of glory, and those who rejected his reign behold them with him.

Life Under His Righteousness

The name declares utter dependence on Christ as personal Savior and on his righteousness, and those who speak it and live by it do God's will from the heart and delight to do his will. Pleading for his righteousness enables believers to set a right example before others. When a person casts a helpless soul upon the Savior, he becomes that person's righteousness and sanctification and power to reach others with the messages of truth.

He is the sure foundation of hope and the only hope, in whom people can trust without fear of being failed. Faith in him gives strength to trust his sustaining power over Satan. Choosing him as Savior and leader brings salvation and enables people to resist Satan and to form characters free from the tendencies Satan fosters. That same faith gives strength to share his light with the world.

Those who receive him are to take their stand openly on his side and acknowledge him without shame as leader and counselor and guide and exceeding great reward. Choosing him is no sacrifice but life, while choosing Satan's side gains nothing and ends only in eternal death. He is the divine example in whom righteousness is found, whose work of grace is to be made known. He goes before his people, while the Lord's glory is their protection and rear guard.

He is his people's strength and educator, able to give them the advantages and influence they need so that they need not depend on worldly institutions or human influence. Those who accept him as their righteousness can ask God for wisdom without disappointment, for he is a present help in every need. Walking with him is the way to walk safely, and only his righteousness entitles people to the blessings of the covenant of grace. Each person is accountable to God and must act as God moves upon him rather than being governed by another person's mind, so that the Spirit of the great I AM can impress and direct him freely.