I will raise up . . . a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. (Jer. 23:5)
Israel had a wonderful story . . . until the people didn’t.
Reading through the Old Testament, it’s clear that one event above all others shaped the identity of God’s people. And it wasn’t receiving the Law at Mount Sinai, although that would be a good guess. It was when God delivered His people from captivity to Egypt. That single event so shaped God’s people that it seems whenever they faced adversity someone was sure to bring up the exodus: “Remember what God did back then? He can do it again.”
But finally there came a time when, due to Israel’s chronic disobedience, God chose not to deliver them. First the northern tribes were defeated; then the southern tribes were taken into captivity. It was an utterly devastating loss.
But Jeremiah prophesied that God was not yet done with His people. He would begin to write a new story. And this new act of God would eventually replace the old story (v. 8). God would raise up another king, like the shepherd-king David, and this king would deliver God’s people and reign over them with wisdom, exercising justice and righteousness. In many ways, it would be the same story of redemption, but much more significant.
We all face times when we need God to begin writing a new story in our lives. The good news is that God is still our deliverer.
Be open to new stories God wants to create in your life.
Kevin Scott is a pastor, acquisitions editor, and author of ReCreatable. He lives in Noblesville, Indiana, with his wife and three children.
