August 05, 2024 | Be God's Light
A Promised Ruler from Bethlehem
Scripture: Micah 5(NIV)
1 Marshal your troops now, city of troops,
for a siege is laid against us.
They will strike Israel’s ruler
on the cheek with a rod.
2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.”
3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned
until the time when she who is in labor bears a son,
and the rest of his brothers return
to join the Israelites.
4 He will stand and shepherd his flock
in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth.
5 And he will be our peace
when the Assyrians invade our land
and march through our fortresses.
We will raise against them seven shepherds,
even eight commanders,
6 who will rule the land of Assyria with the sword,
the land of Nimrod with drawn sword.
He will deliver us from the Assyrians
when they invade our land
and march across our borders.
7 The remnant of Jacob will be
in the midst of many peoples
like dew from the Lord,
like showers on the grass,
which do not wait for anyone
or depend on man.
8 The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations,
in the midst of many peoples,
like a lion among the beasts of the forest,
like a young lion among flocks of sheep,
which mauls and mangles as it goes,
and no one can rescue.
9 Your hand will be lifted up in triumph over your enemies,
and all your foes will be destroyed.
10 “In that day,” declares the Lord,
“I will destroy your horses from among you
and demolish your chariots.
11 I will destroy the cities of your land
and tear down all your strongholds.
12 I will destroy your witchcraft
and you will no longer cast spells.
13 I will destroy your idols
and your sacred stones from among you;
you will no longer bow down
to the work of your hands.
14 I will uproot from among you your Asherah poles
when I demolish your cities.
15 I will take vengeance in anger and wrath
on the nations that have not obeyed me.”
Devotional
The last few days we looked at the ministry of Amos in the northern kingdom of Israel. This week we head south to Judah. We begin with Micah, who was a contemporary of Isaiah. Both men prophesied during the reigns Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah in Judah.
However, Micah’s ministry was to those in both the north and the south. Micah 1:1 states, “The word of the Lord that came to Micah… the vision he saw concerning Samaria [the capital of Israel] and Jerusalem [the capital of Judah].” His book is a warning to both kingdoms, cautioning them that each would fall to invading powers. This, he said, was part of the Lord’s discipline and care for His people. It was all part of God’s plan.
Out of the ashes of their destruction would come one who would lead the people back to the heart of God. That person would be the Messiah!
Over seven hundred years later, when wise men showed up to worship newborn Jesus, King Herod questioned his religious scholars about where the Messiah would be born. Their answer in Matthew 2:6 is a quote from Micah 5:2: “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.” Whether vanquished by Assyria, conquered by Babylon, or under Roman oppression, God would not abandon His people.
Look at the characteristics of this coming Messiah as described in Micah 5. How would this have brought hope to the people in Micah’s day? How was this understood by the wise men in Jesus’ day? How does this speak to you in our day?
He “will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (v. 2)
“He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.” (v. 4)
“And he will be our peace when the Assyrians invade our land and march through our fortresses.” (v. 5)
Poem
In The Small And Insignificant
Despite all signs of defeat
Despite depression and despair
In the small and insignificant
A whisper
A cry
A birthing
Of Hope
The House of Bread
Ushers in
The Word
The Ruler
The Shepherd
The Strength
The Majesty
And then
Despite all signs of defeat
Despite depression and despair
Great security
Peace
Deliverance
No longer
In the small and insignificant
But in every atom
Of every being
Of every nation
Of all creation
Bringing victory
Advent promise
Enemy destruction
