The Advent of Peace

INTRODUCTION: Christmas is not usually a time of peace since becoming an adult.

God gives peace in an unpeaceful time.

Micah 5:1 ESV

1 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.

Summary of Micah: Bad with glimmers of hope (maybe read some other verses??)

Speaks of upcoming captivity.

Muster your troops, O daughter [city] of troops - Hard to translate.

Telling Jerusalem to get ready for upcoming war. - things aren’t good - old neighbor haha

Story of siege of Jerusalem??

A rod they strike the judge - prob referring to Hezekiah - ,

Assyrian - King Sennecrab - Sent his men to go yell over the wall, don’t trust King Hezekiah.

Sent letter, King Hezekiah took it to the temple and asked God to read it.

Micah 5:2 ESV

2 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.

Bethlehem - House of food or fruitfulness

Ephrathah - name of region before Israel moved in.

who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,- each tribe there were clans large families. Meant there was not 1,000 people in it.

One who is to be ruler in Israel - Matthew 2 references

Old -spiritually meaning, before the world.

Ancient days - from old days of Israel.

Micah 5:3 ESV

3 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.

Therefore, He shall give them up - God is going to let them go into captivity. He is given them up because he will come again.

Israel wasn’t going to fall yet, but they still will.

Labor - chapter 4, Israel was suffering as a women in birth. So, God will give them up until they have a ruler.

Then the rest of the brothers shall return. -

2 meanings - They will come home from captivity. But more.

Romans 11:26- All Israel will be saved.

Micah 5:4–5 ESV

4 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. 5 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;

Stand and shepherd his flock - meaning he is reigning

Dwell secure - continues metaphor. That is what Shepherds do, they watch over them. Keep them safe. That si what a king does.

Great/Peace.- the greater he is the more peace you will have.

The promise of peace does not mean the absent of hardship.

The world offers false peace.

Luke 2:1 ESV

1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.

In those days a decree went out - Imagine being in that time.

Caesar Augustus - Pax Romana.....................MAYBE WAIT, AND JUST EXPLAIN HIM AS KING.

registered - census here illustration???

Luke 2:2 ESV

2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.

We know exactly when this was. These things happened, not just a fairy tale.

Luke 2:3 ESV

3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town.

registered, each to his own town. - Registered was for a tax. Each person had to pay taxes. This was not a happy time.

haha imagine traveling to your homeland every April 15th.

Luke 2:4 ESV

4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,

Bethlehem - Not even Brooksville. the size of spring lake -500 people.

80 mile trip.

Luke 2:5 ESV

5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

Mary, his betrothed - not married yet, but pregnant. No one knew them. But significantly worse.

Jesus doesn’t just offer peace; Jesus is peace.

CONCLUSION: PAX ROMANA. True meaning of peace.

MAYBE CUT 6-7 until next week for time.

Luke 2:6 ESV

6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.

Luke 2:7 ESV

7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

This is the little boy who brings peace. God’s peace. But lets be honest. This would not have been peaceful.