Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, that I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. 

Jeremiah 23:5-6 

The Old Testament is full of Christ. As the New Testament remarks, ‘to Him give all the prophets witness.’ Jeremiah is clear about his references to Christ. In the passage from which our text derives Jeremiah is quoting God, Who is decidedly displeased with the spiritual leaders of Israel. He accuses them of many evils, ‘Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of My pasture! Says the LORD. Therefore thus says the LORD God of Israel Against the shepherds who feed My people: You have scattered My flock, driven them away, and not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for the evil of your doings, says the LORD.’ By contrast, in our text, He refers to Christ as, ‘a Branch of righteousness, a King’ and ‘THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.’ Paul picks up this idea in I Corinthians when he says, ‘But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God – and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.’ It is critically important for us to understand Christ as our righteousness. God accepts us on the basis of the righteousness of Christ imputed to us. He is literally our righteousness. We stand utterly and completely upon His merits. This removes every idea of gaining favor with God through rites, ceremonies, or good works. Christ has been, is, and ever shall be the only Person by Whom God will accept us. As the Apostles said, ‘Neither is there salvation in any other….’ We have every reason to make much of Christ.  

Great God of wonders, 
we rejoice that you have revealed Christ unto us. 
We praise You that His righteousness, 
is all we need. 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning