The Promised King

Advent is the season of the coming of the Lord. It represents the time leading up to the coming of Christ from the time of the prophets to his birth. It is a reminder to us that people had waited for centuries for the birth of the Messiah. In today’s passage we find the Israelites in a state of total loss. Indeed if it stopped in chapter 3 they would describe Israel as a destroyed nation with no hope of restoration, wiped off the face of the earth. Yet in chapter 5 Micah acknowledges the reality of the siege of Jerusalem and even says the king will be ridiculed,but the hope of the nation is not in this king but the king to come the king who is from ancient days. It is this king who will restore the kingdom. Micah though prophesying judgement upon Israel reminds them that they are not without hope, for the same God who brings judgment promises he will bring repentance and restoration. Look with me at Micah 5:1-6 as we look at the promised Hope of Israel.

Micah 5:1–6 ESV

Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek. But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd 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. And he shall be their peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men; they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at its entrances; and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian when he comes into our land and treads within our border.

The Hope of the King

Micah 5:1–3 ESV

Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek. But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel.

Micah is drawing parallels here between Israels current state and its future one.

In verse one we find Jersusalem under siege and it says the judge or king is struk on the cheek - humilation hes defenseless to resist

This great future king is going to come from the backwater town of Bethlehem that no one knows of and nothing happens… until God says so that is.

One would expect the king to come with trumpet fair in Jerusalem the capitol city a party in his honor, with wealthy parents etc. But God does the opposite of the peoples expectation so that he might receive the glory for what is about

Just who is this king from nowhere? God says he will be his ruler his king. This king will be different from all before him. Even the great king David was selfish, lustful, and prone to pride but this king would be a king for God. This king would be the epitome of a man after God’s own heart for he would be God himself.

Notice he is the ruler from ancient days. This king has been around since time began. He does not begin with his birth but rather from before his birth he was. This king is the Great I am the ever existing one This king is God in the flesh.

Interlude vs 3 - Steps back from describing the king and rather describes the kingdoms There will be a time when the people are going to be in captivity.

We know through Isaiah and Jeremiah that the Assyrians and Babylonians make life miserable for the Israelites for years due to the kingships refusal to follow God. Eventually the Babylonians finally conquer them and put them in bondage. There they remain for 70 years, longing for their release. With only the prophecies of hope that a king is coming whose kingdom will have no end. Whose kingdom will have peace. A king who’s reign will be a time of plenty rather than want. These prophecies sustained them through their captivity. Oh how they must have longed for the coming of the king. Can you feel their pain, do you desire to see the reign of God on earth? That promise still stands today the king is coming to reign on earth and during his reign their will be no war no famine no sickness. Our hope is the same as that of Israel that the God-king will reign. Jesus in his second coming will be king are you longing for that day.

The Hope of the Shepherd

Micah 5:4 ESV

And he shall stand and shepherd 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.

Micah then describes the coming Messiah as a shepherd.

The Shepherd as one priority- the wellbeing of the sheep

The shepherd must take care of the sheep lead them to water and pastures, protect them from dangers of drowning, the wolves lions bears, ensure they don't get lost. All to ensure the sheep's well-being

In the same way the coming Shepherd will care for his sheep

In the strength of the Lord - not by his power or his might but by God’s strength

Rather than rely on the strength of man, armies kingdoms, politics, etc he will rely on the Spirit of the Lord for his strength.

In the majesty of the name of the Lord his God

It will be done not for his own greatness or praise and honor but rather for Lord his God

Man often seeks to make a name for themselves but this shepherd will seek to make a name for God

The result the sheep will dwell secure - safe and without want or need They will not worry for anything nor will they fear for their safety for the shepherd is with them. They can dwell forever more in the security of the shepherd. Wouldn’t that be great to know that God is on your side and he is protecting you and nothing can come against you. My friends the Scriptures are full of promises of Gods care for us his children. The hope of the Shepherd is our hope.

The Hope of Peace

Micah 5:5–6 (ESV)

And he shall be their peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men; they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at its entrances; and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian when he comes into our land and treads within our border.

Micah also promises he will be our peace Isaiah calls him the Prince of Peace. The promised one will bring peace to the world.

In the midst of Micah telling Israel of the many conflicts and pains coming their way God promises to bring a future peace.

When Christ shall come there will be no more war no more death no more need for armies. The rest of the chapter is spent detailing the lack of need for any implements of war it brings to mind the picture of the millennial kingdom when weapons of war are made into farming instruments.

Yet we also know the Messiah was going to bring peace between us and God. He will deal with our sin. The real reason wars happen is due to our sinful nature therefore the only way to stop war is to stop sin. Jesus purpose in coming to earth was to provide salvation from sin. He came that he might be the perfect sacrifice necessary to provide payment for our sins and bring peace between us and God. This is our ultimate hope.

Invitation

Remember in the children’s moment I explained that our hope is not like that of the world. It is not wishful thinking, a long shot, or a simple desire. Rather it is something that God has given his assurance of. Indeed according to Ephesians 1:13-14 He has even given us a down payment in the Holy Spirit to prove that he will do exactly as he as promised.

Ephesians 1:13–14 ESV

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

My question then is do you have a worldly hope saying I hope I get to heaven, I hope God and I are ok, Or do you have a biblical hope, knowing that the Spirit of God dwells within you and God will ressurect you from the dead not to judgement but to everlasting life with him forever in heaven not on your own worthiness but on the worthiness of the Lamb of God who died to pay the price for your sins. You can have that hope today if you will accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior today. admit your sin to him and place your trust in Jesus to save you from your sin and choose today to obey him as your Lord and master and you will receive the gift of salvation today.