sunday’s message

For Advent this year I am preaching from the prophets.

The primary text for this week is Micah 5:1-4.

Marshal your troops, O city of troops,
for a siege is laid against us.
They will strike Israel’s ruler
on the cheek with a rod.
“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.”
Therefore Israel will be abandoned
until the time when she who is in labor gives birth
and the rest of his brothers return
to join the Israelites.
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.

At Christmas we often think of the shepherds who saw an angel proclaiming the news of Jesus’ birth. In this Messianic prophecy in Micah we see Jesus described as a shepherd…as one who will guide his flock…as one who stands in strength and majesty…and as one who provides security for believers to all ends of the earth!

In this passage Micah calls believers to see that Christ, who is the Good Shepherd, will be provide for us, protect us, and give us Peace!