Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible
Jeremiah 33:14-16
The Setting Up Of The Shoot Of Righteousness Descended From David (Jeremiah 33:14).
YHWH now repeats His promise of a coming David who will introduce righteousness (compare Isaiah 9:7; Isaiah 11:1). The days are coming, on the assured word of YHWH, when He will perform the good word that He has spoken concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah. For in those days He will bring forth a shoot of righteousness to David, a righteous and true Davidic king, Who will bring about justice and righteousness among His people. The promise is basically Messianic. He will introduce a reign of righteousness.
“Behold, the days are coming, the word of YHWH, that I will perform that good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and concerning the house of Judah.”
This is the fourth ‘days are coming' of this series of passages. The first referred to the re-establishing of the people in the land (Jeremiah 31:27), the second to the giving of the new covenant (Jeremiah 31:31), and the third to the re-establishment of the new Jerusalem (Jeremiah 31:38). Now all will be sealed by the setting up of God's righteous King. It is a ‘good word' indeed.
“In those days, and at that time, will I cause a Shoot of righteousness to grow up to David, and he will execute justice and righteousness in the land.”
The promise of the coming righteous king began in Genesis 49:10. It was confirmed in 2 Samuel 7:12; 2 Samuel 7:16; and ripened in the prophecies of Isaiah (Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 11:1). It has already been confirmed in Jeremiah 23:5 in words similar to those used here. It was, of course, finally fulfilled in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring about righteousness and in the establishment of His eternal kingship (Matthew 12:28; Matthew 25:31; Matthew 28:18; Luke 1:32; Acts 2:35; Acts 7:55; Romans 1:3; Hebrews 1:3; Revelation 3:21; Revelation 19:16).
“In those days will Judah be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell safely, and this is the name by which she will be called, ‘YHWH our righteousness'.”
While there was a shadow of a fulfilment after the exile when Judah was delivered and Jerusalem dwelt safely under a Davidic ruler, and an even greater fulfilment in the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, when His people were covered and endued with His righteousness under His Kingly Rule, it is only through His eternal Kingship, and the establishment of His heavenly kingdom, that this promise could be truly fulfilled. It is vain to look for it in an earthly kingdom. For it is only in a heavenly kingdom that His people can enjoy the perfect righteousness of YHWH. It is an idealistic state.
‘YHWH our righteousness.' This name was originally given to the coming king of the house of David (Jeremiah 23:6), now it is applied to His people as personified in Jerusalem. It is an indication that both will be revealed in God-likeness.