O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie;
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light;
The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.
Phillips Brooks
Read Micah 5: 2-5a
Micah had the unenviable task of being called by God to offer God’s prophetic word to people living in a difficult time and place. Life was insecure and anxious for the people living in the 8th Century BCE in Judah. There was no “peace on earth” and Micah was not happy. About ten years before Micah began offering his words, the northern kingdom of Israel had fallen to the Assyrians. People moved to Jerusalem thinking that life would be better there, but the flood of people just made Judah poorer and less secure. The people of Judah were fearful that other kingdoms surrounding them would battle to take them over in the same way as their relatives in the north had been defeated. The King and leaders of Judah began to pay tributes and make treaties with these foreign leaders in the hope that they would not be attacked. Maintaining a defensive army was not cheap and the people of Judah were overwhelmed in hardship, confusion, and despair.
Micah challenged the leadership and people to change their ways and return to a proper relationship with God. In these verses, Micah spoke of his hope for leadership. He speaks for God when he announces that help can come from the most unexpected of places, the town of Bethlehem. Tiny Bethlehem was a “one camel” town with little to offer, yet it was the birthplace of King David. It had now been 300 years since David led the people of Isreal in the glorious and faithful days of prosperity, respect, and security.
This new leader that Micah announces will be one, like David, who “shall feed his flock in the strength of the Lord.” This leader will honor the majesty of Israel’s God. This leader will bring about a sense of security and hope. This leader “shall be the one of peace.” It was a passionate word of hope!
Micah did not live to see the fulfillment of his words of hope, but over 700 years later, his prophecy came to light. It just didn’t happen as quickly as Micah had dreamed. It didn’t come in the way of security and hope for the kingdom of Israel that Micah longed for. But in God’s time and in God’s way, those promises of the prophet were fulfilled. Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea. He is the shepherd who feeds his flock; the One who brings majesty and security in the name of the Lord God. Jesus is the one of peace!
This is a Ruler like no other. This is our hope; for Christ brings to our darkened world the everlasting light.
Prayer
O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin, and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord, Emmanuel!
Rev. Dr. Mark Conner
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