Hope for the Shepherd-King
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
Guilt of a transgression (Mr. Arrell and bus; Danielle and potential pregnancy)
feeling unworthy
broken fellowship
Last two weeks as we have been learning from Micah, he has been addressing Israel and Judah’s…
Idolatry - Micah 1 - worshipping false gods, compromising Gods standards of worship
Covetousness - Micah 2 - acting unjustly toward others, desiring and scheming to get things, land, clothing that belonged to others
I don’t know of there was any regret or shame that the people of Israel/Judah were feeling, but Micah concludes the first “sermon” with a sense of hope.
David Prior notes...
These two verses mark the end of the first cycle in the book (1:2–2:13) and offer a glimmer of light at the end of a dark tunnel.
These two verses offer a “glimmer” of hope for a future, but also a “glimmer” of hope for a leader. The presence of this future leader seems to indicate that God is not finished with His people. Sure, they have rebelled, they have sinned grievously, but God is being faithful.
Regarding this future leader, this won’t be any leader. Micah seems to tell us that...
The Shepherd-King is coming...
The Shepherd-King is coming...
As we read a few minutes ago, after the punishment is complete, God will continue to work in the lives of his people. He will act as a sort of shepherd king.
How is it that this future leader has this title of shepherd-king?
Let’s look briefly at how the passage describes the people and this coming leader.
The verses describe the people as sheep (12) - sheep need a shepherd. We can then surmise that one way this leader will interact with the people is as a shepherd.
What does a shepherd do?
leads the flock
feeds the flock
protects the flock
from predators
healthful environment
shelters the flock. ( provides rest)
These verses also reference a kingly ruler (13)
What does a king do?
governs his people
establishes laws and standards, expectations
protects
The nations of Israel and Judah would need both of these. A shepherd to restore and a King to reign.
So Micah seems to note that there will be a leader coming - this shepherd-king Is coming…
… to gather His people (Micah 2:12a)
… to gather His people (Micah 2:12a)
Micah has been telling the people that there will be a judgment, there will be justice for their injustice - but there is also hope. He is communicating here that all is not lost in this coming judgment.
Micah 2:12 (ESV)
I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob;
I will gather the remnant of Israel;
Even though they will be taken off in exile - they will return. But this should also be a bit troubling.
David Prior notes:
“The very notion of a remnant suggests survival by the skin of one’s teeth for a small minority; the bulk of the nation will not survive. There is an anomaly in the first phrase, all of you, which initially suggests a complete rescue and restoration; but then the phrase the remnant of Israel kills off any false optimism, making it plain that all means the entire remnant. Not one of the remnant will be lost.”
In Israel and Judah in that day, there were some people who had a genuine faith, people who were faithful. There were also many who were not. They tried to dabble in faith, and dabble in another religion. Dabble in God’s morality and ethics, and also in the pagan morality of the day.
We have to recognize that not everyone who thinks they are Christians really are. Jesus even said, not everyone who says to be Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven. (Mt. 7:21)
What are you placing your hope in?
church attendance
service
comparative goodness - vs. someone else?
your parents’ faith
Not only will this shepherd King come to gather or re-gather his people, but secondly he will come to...
… to establish His people (Micah 2:12b)
… to establish His people (Micah 2:12b)
Micah 2:12 “...I will set them together like sheep in a fold, like a flock in its pasture, a noisy multitude of men.”
Throughout history, God has done certain things to establish his people
Abrahamic covenant - circumcision, promise of descendant, promise of land
Exodus - Moral, Legal, and Religious codes
Worship and relating to the one true God
Value of life
Retribution
Standards of justice and fairness
Regular religious practices and patterns
Promised Land - In addition to all of those things...
land/borders
In so many of these areas the people broke down these established barriers. They were no longer identified as God’s people. They had borrowed so many of the customs and habits of the people around them that they could not really be distinguished.
So here, after the exile, God promises that he will re-establish his people - under this shepherd king.
As Christians, I wonder how often we have compromised the established boundaries the God has set for us as his people? Do our values, habits, patterns so resemble the world around us that we are indistinguishable from others?
speech
money management
how we treat our family
how we treat others
how we spend our time
our entertainment
Illustration: liberal theology/churches - generally in decline - some suggest that if the values have become so liberal/free/open that there is no differentiation - then people presume - there is no use in believing, because there is essentially not difference between secular liberalism and christian liberalism.
Micah continues his hopeful conclusion about this shepherd-King by stating that he is coming...
... to lead his people (Micah 2:13)
... to lead his people (Micah 2:13)
He who opens the breach goes up before them;
they break through and pass the gate,
going out by it.
Their king passes on before them,
the Lord at their head.
When the time of exile is finished, God will be the one to open a path. Roughly 200 years after Micah’s prophecy, Ezra notes the way that God worked in the heart of a foreign king to return the remnant from exile.
In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:
“Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem. And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”
God paved the way for their return. He would be their shepherd king. He broke through the wall of exile in a foreign land. He made a way for the people to pass by the gate of the foreign city in order to be restored.
As the people returned, there were governors and rulers, by no Kings that is until get to Jesus. I think that ultimately we have to recognize that…
The Shepherd-King is Jesus!
The Shepherd-King is Jesus!
gathering a remnant of people who believe in him - not based on ethnicity, or geography, or politics, but on a creed, on faith that Jesus is the good shepherd. Each Sunday, Jesus’ people gather, proclaiming our allegiance to Him. one day he will come again and gather His remnant to reign with him.
establishing/setting apart a people unto himself -
leads us in how to live now and promises eternal life - showing us that the grave cannot hold him - and it will not hold us.
Why would the shepherd king do this? For His glory - to display his perfect holiness and justice; out of love (John 3:16-17).
Have you trusted in the finished work of our shepherd king? Have you responded to his holiness, justice, and love?
Are you living as a faithful member of His flock?
Do you long for his return?
Lord’s Supper
Lord’s Supper
memorial Jesus life, death, and resurrection
symbol of hope that is to come
partake in a worthy manner
Proclaim the Lords death until he comes
Benediction
Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
References:
References:
Calvin, John, and John Owen. Commentaries on the Twelve Minor Prophets. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010.
Dever, Mark, The Message of the Old Testament: Promises Made, (Crossway, Wheaton, 2006)
Martin, John A. “Micah.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.
Prior, David. The Bible Speaks Today: The Message of Joel, Micah & Habakkuk. Intervarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL, 1998.
Simeon, Charles. Horae Homileticae: Hosea to Malachi. Vol. 10. London: Holdsworth and Ball, 1832.
Um, Stephen. Micah for You. The Good Book Company, 2018.
Waltke, Bruce K. “Micah.” In New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, edited by D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, and G. J. Wenham, 822–833. 4th ed. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994.
https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/micah/
https://bibleproject.com/explore/category/how-to-read-biblical-poetry/
ESV Study Bible