PREPARING THE WAY
Micah 5:2-4
The Lectionary readings this fall have focused on the Exodus story in which God prepared the way for the children of Israel by choosing a leader, providing food in the wilderness and parting the Rea Sea. Now forward to around 731 BC. The fall of Damascus marked the end Syria’s freedom and shortly thereafter the fall of Northern Kingdom followed. While Judah survived the Assyrian regime, it was a vassal state.
It was during this period that Micah lived and prophesied and we learn that the Lord was preparing the way for the One to come. “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth one who is to be ruler in Israel whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.” In his commentary about the prophet, William Barclay points out that at the time of Micah’s writing, there were two towns called Bethlehem. Micah chose the correct one where Jesus would be born. (In Genesis 35:19, we learn that Ephrathah is identified with Bethlehem near the place where Rebecca died.) Unlike some of the other prophets, Micah came from common people. He prophesied that the one to come would be born among the smaller, insignificant clans. Micah also described a shepherd king. “And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord, his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.”
Sometimes we miss God’s blessings because they do not come in the form or fashion we anticipate. We may recall an occasion when our prayers were answered in ways we did not foresee. Permit a brief personal example. For over a year I have worked at finding a purchaser for our office building. I had an idea of the perfect match, a small business or professional service which would utilize the downstairs rooms and benefit from the wonderful tenant in the second floor space. Despite much work and assistance from real estate agents, nothing materialized. In early fall an offer came which did not fit my image, one who wished to occupy the entire building. I prayed and pursued the offer. What I did not know at that time was that Agency upstairs had an opportunity to expand their business by relocating to the eastern part of the city at year end. I did not know, but God knew and was preparing the way.
There is a concept in our Christian faith called prevenient grace, that is, grace which precedes and comes before us. It is another way of saying that God is at work, preparing the way just as through the prophet Micah so many years ago. We are now deep into the Advent Season. May we give thanks for the ways in which God is at work in out lives, as we prepare for the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.
The Lectionary readings this fall have focused on the Exodus story in which God prepared the way for the children of Israel by choosing a leader, providing food in the wilderness and parting the Rea Sea. Now forward to around 731 BC. The fall of Damascus marked the end Syria’s freedom and shortly thereafter the fall of Northern Kingdom followed. While Judah survived the Assyrian regime, it was a vassal state.
It was during this period that Micah lived and prophesied and we learn that the Lord was preparing the way for the One to come. “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth one who is to be ruler in Israel whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.” In his commentary about the prophet, William Barclay points out that at the time of Micah’s writing, there were two towns called Bethlehem. Micah chose the correct one where Jesus would be born. (In Genesis 35:19, we learn that Ephrathah is identified with Bethlehem near the place where Rebecca died.) Unlike some of the other prophets, Micah came from common people. He prophesied that the one to come would be born among the smaller, insignificant clans. Micah also described a shepherd king. “And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord, his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.”
Sometimes we miss God’s blessings because they do not come in the form or fashion we anticipate. We may recall an occasion when our prayers were answered in ways we did not foresee. Permit a brief personal example. For over a year I have worked at finding a purchaser for our office building. I had an idea of the perfect match, a small business or professional service which would utilize the downstairs rooms and benefit from the wonderful tenant in the second floor space. Despite much work and assistance from real estate agents, nothing materialized. In early fall an offer came which did not fit my image, one who wished to occupy the entire building. I prayed and pursued the offer. What I did not know at that time was that Agency upstairs had an opportunity to expand their business by relocating to the eastern part of the city at year end. I did not know, but God knew and was preparing the way.
There is a concept in our Christian faith called prevenient grace, that is, grace which precedes and comes before us. It is another way of saying that God is at work, preparing the way just as through the prophet Micah so many years ago. We are now deep into the Advent Season. May we give thanks for the ways in which God is at work in out lives, as we prepare for the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ.
O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie;Sue D. Woods
Above the still and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by.
Yet in the dark streets shineth, an everlasting light;
The hope and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight. “
No comments:
Post a Comment