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Branch of David and Levitical Priesthood
Branch of David and Levitical Priesthood Jeremiah 33
The 'branch'. Out of the stump of Jesse (the shattered kingdom of David) would come a new king - a glorious branch (Isa. 11:1, 4:2). God promised to "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" (Jer. 23:5). This is repeated in Jer. 33:15: "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."
The restoration of God's kingdom/rule under the son of David is understood by almost everyone that reads the book of Jeremiah. With few exceptions it is recognized that 'David' in such prophecies means Jesus, the son of David (Matt.1:1). Such was the fulfillment passages in the New Testament (see Luke 1:32-33).
However in the same passage of Jeremiah 33, the promise continues with the promise of a restored Levitical priesthood and the offering of animal sacrifices (vs. 20-22). Here people begin having differing ideas on how this was to be fulfilled.
- Some divide the promises of the Davidic king and the Levitical priesthood. They see the priesthood being fulfilled in the return under Ezra / Nehemiah and the kingship being restored in Jesus in the New Testament.
- Some divide the promises but think that the promise of the priesthood just failed to happen.
- Some deny that Jesus is NOW king, and would have him returning to the earth, rebuilding the physical temple, AND restoring the Levitical priesthood and animal sacrifices.
There is yet another way of seeing this. The teaching of the New Testament does include teaching about Jesus: the covenants, the sacrifices, kingdom and kingship, and the priesthood. Jesus IS King of Kings and HAS all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18; Rev. 17:14). Christians are IN the kingdom of Christ (Col. 1:13).
With the coming of Jesus there was a changing of the law (Heb. 7:12-13). With the changing of the law there was a changing of the priesthood. Jesus IS our High Priest (Heb. 8:1). Jesus offered not the blood of bulls and goats but his own life (Heb. 10:4,10). With such changing of the law and priesthood there will never again be Levitical priests offering animal sacrifices under the Old Covenant in the physical temple.
I would suggest then that what we have is a BETTER priesthood established on BETTER promises that involve a BETTER sacrifice under a BETTER covenant. If 'David' can mean 'Jesus' (and it DOES), then Levi can also mean Jesus. No one was short-changed in this. No one who understands the priesthood of Jesus could long for the old priests and their animal sacrifices. Our king is both king and priest in heaven at the right hand of God. He is greater than David and Levi.
