Scripture Reading: Micah 4:9 - 5:5a
There are many prophecies in the Old Testament regarding the coming of Jesus Christ in His first advent, beginning with a very early reference in Genesis 3:15. One of the wonderful predictions of the coming of Christ is found in Micah 5.
Micah lived and wrote 700 years before Christ, during a time of rampant wickedness … idolatry (Mic 1:7), greed (2:2), thievery (2:2), injustice (3:2,3), falsehood (3:5), bloodshed (3:10). Micah sounds two great messages in this book … (1) the consuming destruction of God's judgment (1:3,4), and (2) the tender compassion of God's mercy (7:18). Sooner or later every person will face one or the other of these characteristics of the Almighty.
In the book of Micah, against the dark background of Israel's failure and Judah's spiritual hardness, there blazes a blinding light of hope in Micah 5:2-5a. Although the kings of Israel and Judah had not led the people to holiness and peace, a ruler would one day arise who would be like no other. He would care for His people like a shepherd, guarding them and feeding them in the strength and majesty of God (5:4).
It is a message filled with relevance for our time. Our world stands, desperately, in need of a king and our own hearts need a king. We need someone to guard us and lead us and feed our souls, in strength and majesty. Our hearts yearn for such a sovereign in whom we can safely rest in peace. We have such a Ruler. The baby in the manger is the King of Kings. "At His feet we humbly fall. Crown Him! Crown Him, Lord of all!"
