The Hope of Christmas

Christmas Movies

Name one of your Christmas movies. Describe one low point of a main character in that movie.

For me it would be Home Alone. Macaulay Culkin is left behind while the family goes on Christmas vacation. He seems helpless and hopeless, but he wards off all the evils that come agaist him. In the end he’s reunited with his family hope is restored. This past weekend many of our ladies traveled to Helen Ga where many of the hallmark Christmas movies are made. If you have seen one you have seen them all. Damsel in distress rescued in the nick of time by her prince charming.

We often gravitate to Christmas movies that present a situation which appears hopeless and in which the main character feels helpless. In those low points, a Christmas miracle usually occurs.

Just as scriptwriters have authored the miraculous turnarounds in Christmas movies, the Author of human history wrote an amazing reversal of fortune into the script of humanity. Micah was given the words to share this message of hope, and it came during a particularly low point in Israel’s history.

Read Micah 5:2–5 “2 But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, Though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. 3 Therefore will he give them up, Until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: Then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, In the majesty of the name of the Lord his God; And they shall abide: For now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth. 5 And this man shall be the peace, When the Assyrian shall come into our land: And when he shall tread in our palaces, Then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, And eight principal men.”

Micah brought a negative report of coming judgment to Israel. This was a decidedly low point in the nation’s history. Another nation would invade and wreak havoc on the land. Nestled in this prophecy is a tiny ray of hope: the obscure town of Bethlehem would be the source of a future King whose reign would reflect the Lord’s majesty. We see a sense of hopelessness.

GOD GIVES US HOPE AT THE LOW POINTS OF LIFE

Israel was experiencing “an extended season of suffering, despair and pessimism.”

Read Micah 5:2.

God determined to bring His grace – unearned favor – to Israel during its coming low point. Despite the awaited judgment, God had already sovereignly planned a hope-filled solution. A promised ruler would come. Unlike the corrupt leadership in Micah’s day, this future King would rule justly

God’s Word is a source of comfort to us when we are at the lowest points in life.

GOD’S PROVISION OF HOPE IS FOR THE UNCOMFORTABLE SEASONS OF LIFE.

Read Micah 5:2-3.

True prophecy will often contain painful truths. The promise of the future King did not prevent the devastating invasion of the Syrian army. Jason explains, “The expression, ‘He shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth,’ is to be understood that God is going to turn His people over to their enemy.” Judgment would indeed come, due to the people’s guilt before God. When have painful consequences helped you grow and improve?

The future may be bright, but the present is often painful. These verses in Micah remind us to keep an attitude of patient endurance. Some are entering the holiday season – a time considered to be joyful and celebratory – while facing struggles in relationships, finances, mental health, or other crises. Some face the holidays while holding strong memories of painful holidays past. What current issues or memories threaten your ability to express joy and hope this holiday season?

How can Micah’s promise of hope remind you to exhibit patient, hopeful endurance?

GOD OFFERS HOPE FOR OUR DEEPEST NEED, NOT JUST FOR OUR MOST IMMEDIATE NEED.

Read Micah 5:4.

If you were an Israelite hearing Micah’s prophecy of a coming King, you would likely enjoy descriptions of this warrior’s prowess on the battlefield. The primary image that Micah uses is of a shepherd. Although this description likely did not fit their expectations, they nevertheless probably found comfort in this description of the coming King.

The Assyrian army was not Israel’s biggest concern. They had been plagued by sin for countless generations. God’s plans were not to turn away a temporary enemy but the one that has lingered since the Fall in the Garden of Eden. Jesus identified Himself as “the good Shepherd” in John 10:11. Micah explains that the people would “dwell secure,” explaining that this Shepherd would “be great to the ends off the earth.”

How has this been fulfilled through Jesus the Messiah?

Read Micah 5:5.

Micah explains that the coming Shepherd would not simply bring peace but would be their peace. The description of invading Assyrians finds a relationship to various calamities that have taken place throughout history and even to hopeless situations we face. God has offered hope by meeting our actual need in Jesus, the Shepherd whose very presence is a source of peace. How will you let the peace of Jesus’ presence bring you hope this season?

LAST WORD

Just as Israel could look back to David the shepherd-king and forward to a future Shepherd-King, we can see the hope that Jesus brought with His first coming while awaiting His second coming. In this sense, we find ourselves in a similar situation as the original hearers of Micah’s prophecy. God’s past faithfulness helps His children retain hope in His future faithfulness, despite present difficulties we may experience. The Advent season brings us this hope. When we go through a dark season, our gracious, compassionate God reminds that He has not forgotten about us. Our Savior Jesus was sent to satisfy God’s justice and take the sins of the people on Himself. Because of this, you and I have the hope of living forever in the presence of God in His heavenly kingdom. We will dwell securely in peace with Him.