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"In those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David A Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In those days Judah will be saved, And Jerusalem will dwell safely. And this is the name by which she will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.' "For thus says the LORD: "David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel; nor shall the priests, the Levites, lack a man to offer burnt offerings before Me, to kindle grain offerings, and to sacrifice continually" (Jeremiah 33:15-18). Since the Levite priesthood, the burnt and grain offerings have all ended, how do we interpret these verses (verses 17-18)?

Could you please explain these verses?

These verses, if taken literally, promise the permanent restoration of the Davidic throne and of the Levitical priesthood. However, Zedekiah was the last king of David's line, and the Levitical priesthood has passed away. Jeremiah himself had foretold about this "Thus says the LORD: 'Write this man down as childless, A man who shall not prosper in his days; For none of his descendants shall prosper, Sitting on the throne of David, And ruling anymore in Judah'" (Jer 22:30) and "Then it shall come to pass, when you are multiplied and increased in the land in those days," says the LORD, "that they will say no more, 'The ark of the covenant of the LORD.' It shall not come to mind, nor shall they remember it, nor shall they visit it, nor shall it be made anymore" (Jer 3:16). The Davidic kingship and the Levitical priesthood were restored in the Messiah our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the king forever; He sits at the right hand of the throne of God, rules the world, and rules it for the good of the church. The priesthood of Christ our High Priest replaces the Levitical priesthood. Every time we celebrate the Eucharist, He continually offers Himself as a sacrifice offering replacing the burnt and grain offerings.
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