On this last Sunday of the Church Year (we call it Christ the King Sunday) our attention is directed to the reign of Christ — to his glorious reign which has already begun with the resurrection on Easter. It is a Sunday to think about salvation, because where Christ reigns salvation is effected. These themes are especially evident in our First Lesson.

Jeremiah conducted his ministry in Judah (the Southern Kingdom of the Hebrews ruled by David’s heirs and centered in the great capital of Jerusalem) in troubled times. The nation had long been in decline. The Babylonian Empire had its sights on the kingdom.

Apparently the King of Judah and other leaders of the nation were functioning ineffectively in the eyes of Jeremiah (23:1-2). In response the Prophet predicted, in God’s Name, that a new lea…