THE MESSIAH, OUR PEACE- Micah 5:1-6

What is peace?

Is peace the absence of war? In other words, the ceasing of fighting, both politically and individually, is that peace?

Is peace an inner tranquility? That is, freedom from the strangling hold of mental chaos, is it that?

Or, maybe it is something like nirvana, nothing, an absence of everything?

What is peace? We all want it, we strive for, we pray for it, but what is it? What is peace?

We celebrate the Advent of Peace every year, we sing hymns about peace, we quote the Scriptures as saying “peace and goodwill to men.” But what is peace?

In a word, Jesus is peace. Now, I understand that perhaps that comes across as self-evident, as not needing to be said. But brothers and sisters, we fail every day to acknowledge the truth that Jesus is peace. He is our peace. There are three questions I wish to answer from this text in Micah this morning.

I. What is peace?

II. How do I get peace?

III. How do I hold on to peace?

We will see that Jesus is our peace.

I. What is peace?

Micah states in verse 5, “And he shall be their peace.” We are working off the knowledge that the he is none other than Messiah Jesus. It was written of Him Micah 5:2 “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.”

What is peace? In this passage, it is depicted as deliverance over a significant enemy. The Assyrian, those ruthless enemies that have longed plagued the nation would fall before them. They would enjoy peace, but this peace is not circumstance-based.

We cannot miss this. He is our peace, not our circumstances. Thank God for this! Our peace does not depend upon present and future circumstances. We all enjoy times of freedom, relaxation, of joy. But we also endure times of heartache, difficulty, of unimaginable pain. Imagine how miserable this life would be for the majority of people if peace were circumstantial.

Peace is not circumstance-based. It is not the exception, either. Unfortunately, Christians live like it is. Peace is something infrequently enjoyed. It is fleeting, like the mist on a cold, bright morning. No, peace is not the exception, it is the rule.

Robert Murray M’Cheyne writes,

“Some of you have really been brought by God to believe in Jesus. Yet you have no abiding peace, and very little growing in holiness. Why is this? It is because your eye is fixed anywhere but on Christ. You are so busy looking at books, or looking at men, or looking at the world, that you have no time, no heart, for looking at Christ. No wonder you have little peace and joy in believing. No wonder you live so inconsistent and unholy a life. Change your plan.”—Robert Murray M’Cheyne

What is M’Cheyne’s suggestion for a plan? Look to Christ, He is our peace. He never changes, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). He neither sleeps, nor slumbers (Ps. 121:1). He is our peace, and there is no exception.

Peace is not circumstance-based, nor it is the exception. Why? Because Jesus is our peace. We have peace with God, from which all other peace rains down like gentle, life-giving water, creating luscious green grass.

Peace, in a word, is Jesus. It is salvation, with all of its ramifications for every single minute of existence and every single interaction with every single image bearer of God.

How do we get this peace?

II. How do I get peace?

This peace is given by Him Who is Peace. It is given by the Shepherd, Micah tells us. Calling our minds back to the Good Shepherd in Psalm 23, we see that this peace comes from the Lord.

This peace is freely given to all who will believe (Rom. 10:9-13). We simply turn and be shepherded by the Good Shepherd.

But we, fallen as we are, turn to everything possible in creation in search for peace. We turn to relationships, drugs, food, children, grandchildren, service opportunities, social media, the list could go on and on. We worship and serve the creature, frantically clawing after peace when there is no peace!

We strive for peace in all the wrong places, people, and things, all the while ignoring the Prince of Peace. Believe, that is how you get peace.

Believers, you get this peace when Christ grants you forgiveness. But what happens when sin darkens your heart to His grace? Like the moon coming in front of the sun, sin eclipses your feeling and knowledge of His life. Perhaps it is not sin but a tough or terrible situation.

The difficulties of life in a fallen world, come between you and God’s peace like someone blocking the cool air from a fan. What do you do, believer?

I want you to consider carefully this question. We are dealing with our Shepherd, whom Micah calls “great,” and likens Him to the strength of Yahweh and HIs glorious majesty. Whether it is a sin or a situation, compare both to God. (Indeed, there is no comparison, as God asks through Isaiah, to whom will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One, Isa. 40:25)

Christ has paid for your every sin. There is no sin that is left out by Messiah Jesus. There is no eclipse, unless you allow it. For God so loved the world, after all, that He gave up His one and precious Son, for you. A thousand moons worth of sins would be utterly incapable of eclipsing God’s peace! A trillion galaxies of transgressions would fail to block out the light of God’s peace. He is our peace!

Circumstances are no different, though we certainly are prone to question God’s goodness during this difficult times. During good times we know God’s peace. But during trials we doubt it. Do circumstances demonstrate God’s displeasure at us? Do those trials come from a God whose heart is no longer toward us?

Paul says, “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,” saved us. Do we doubt that great love that brings those things in our lives to make us more like Jesus? Just as HIs holiness is infinite, just as His power is intimate, just as His glory is limitless, so is His love without end to those who have Jesus. Those painful circumstances are not torments, they are treasures of God’s love, tokens for that peace that defies understanding and that informs us that all things are for good (Phil. 4:7 and Rom. 8:28).

Unbeliever, you are who outside of Christ, the way you receive this peace is through Jesus. You call on His name, you cast your sins on Him, and He will save you to the uttermost. You will enjoy that peace in spite of your sins and horrific circumstances.

III. How do I hold on to peace?

Our final question, which we will briefly consider this morning, is how do I hold on to this peace? How do I hold on to Jesus?

The glorious news of the Gospel is that you do not hold on to Him, He holds on to you. You are in Christ’s hand, and Christ in the Father’s, and no one can snatch you away (John 10:28).

We hold on to this peace by knowing Jesus. He is our peace. Become acquainted with your savior. Learn about him. This is His instruction to those who are wearied and heavy laden. Is that you this morning? Are you worn out? Are you exhausted because you have no peace?

Look to Jesus, who is Peace. Consider Philippians 4:6-9. Paul tells us to not be anxious, instead, we replace it with prayer. Prayer is simply taking those problems and concerns to God.

Again, consider this. You bring your words which concern the problems you are facing. But you bring them to Someone. He is God. All glory, honor, and blessings belong to Him. He is beyond our ability to articulate and beyond out wildest imagine. And just as His power is unimaginable, so is His goodness, His love, and His grace. This is the God to whom you bring your worries and anxieties (those peace-stealers).

The result? The Peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Then Paul follows this up with another way to hold on to peace: think about Jesus. All those wonderful things are found wonderfully and inexhaustibly in Jesus. The result? The God of peace will be with you. He is, after all, Immanuel.

The question before us this morning is, Do I have this peace? If the answer is no, then why not?