Old Testament | Jeremiah 23:1-6 (with Jeff Sholar)

Opening Song:
O Righteous Branch by Caroline Cobb Smith

Lyrics:
Oh righteous branch from Jesse's root
Please come and bring Your kingdom
The lion dwelling with the lamb
Bring peace and life and freedom

Oh Son of David come to rule
And reign in us forever
Come write Your law upon our hearts
And keep us like a shepherd

Hallelujah Jesus we wait for You
Hallelujah Jesus come soon come soon

Messiah come Your Spirit give
Turn stony hearts to flesh
Redeem us from captivity
The power of sin and death

Jesus come soon come soon

At last at last the morning comes
With healing in its wings
We'll leap like calves loosed from their stalls
For You have done great things
Yes You have done great things

Passage:
“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. 2 Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the Lord. 3 Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 4 I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord.

5 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

Musical Reflection:
“Air on the G String” from Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major by J.S. Bach

Reflection Notes:
The slow, descending bass line creates musical “steps” in an elegant fashion while a suspended melody several octaves above creates a satisfying combination of sound registers.

Prayer:
Father, what we know not, teach us; what we have not, give us; what we are not, make us; for the sake of your Son our Savior. Amen.
-Old Anglican Prayer