The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days, Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: “The LORD is our righteousness.” (Jeremiah 33:14-16, NRSV)
I was driving through the church parking lot recently and noticed a stump where a tree had once been. I don’t know whether a storm snapped the tree, a disease destroyed the tree, or The Rev. Dr. Jim Clardy simply ran over the tree which resulted in the tree being cut down (Jim, I just want to see if you’re reading my devotionals; you’re not a suspect). If anyone knows what happened to the tree, please call Crime Stoppers (that’s another joke; do NOT call Crime Stoppers). The truth is, I’m okay with remaining “stumped” about this mystery.
I don’t know about you…but when I see a tree stump, I think more about what “was” instead of what “will be.” I think, “That was a beautiful tree” or “some child likely climbed the tree that used to be here.”
Bob Villa sees things differently. When he sees a stump, he thinks of what it could be! See some of the possibilities that can come from a tree that has been cut down.
Jeremiah sees possibilities in tree stumps as well. An Old Testament prophet to Judah (the southern kingdom), he had warned that as judgment against Judah’s wicked kings, the kingdom would be destroyed and the royal line cut down, with nothing remaining but a stump to remind them of what “was.” And yet Jeremiah could see what would come from that stump. At just the right time, from that seemingly dead tree, a righteous branch would sprout. A new ruler would reign, one who would do what previous kings had refused to do, one who would do what’s right, one who would restore and save.
Maybe some sin or maybe just celebrating Christmas in a time of COVID has you staring at a stump, thinking more about the way things were before instead of what can be now or “at the right time.” May God grant us the grace to remember that a righteous branch has already sprouted in Jesus. May God also grant us the grace to believe that He can sprout anew, even in our present circumstances, restoring us to right relationship with God and others.
