Sunday December 18, 2022
Theme: “Seek the presence of the coming King»
Text: Micah 5:1-4
1. (4:14) Now, daughter of troops, gather your troops! We are besieged; With the rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek. 2. (5:1) And you, Bethlehem Ephrata, Small among the thousands of Judah, From you will come forth for me He who will rule over Israel, And whose origin goes back to ancient times, To the days of eternity. 3. (5:2) Therefore he will hand them over until the time when she who is to give birth shall give birth, and the remnant of his brethren shall return to the children of Israel. 4. (5:3) He shall arise, and he shall rule in the strength of the LORD, with the majesty of the name of the LORD his God: and they shall have a secure abode, for he shall be glorified to the ends of the earth.
Remember:
The prophet Isaiah presents us with two causes of God's judgment on Israel, namely: idolatry, then the rejection of the Messiah as presented to us by the prophet Micah here. In Matthew 2:3-6, when Herod was agitated about where Jesus should be born, the scribes and chief priests gave him verse 2 of Micah 5 (And you, Bethlehem Ephrata, Small among the thousands of Judah , From you shall come for me He who will rule over Israel, Whose origin goes back to ancient times, To the days of eternity). It pleased God to choose this humble and inconspicuous city to bring out the ruler. A ruler rejected by the people as he came out of the bosom of God and had to return to Him, having accomplished everything. The people rejected him, overwhelmed with contempt, beaten with rods, they spat at him and slapped him. The ancient of ages was put in the rank of brigands while the history of his life traced no sin to his credit; but he shone with holiness. For this, Jerusalem will be judged. After judgment has been executed on Jerusalem, the smitten Judge of yore, Whose origins are eternal, will stand there and tend the flock of which he is the good shepherd, flock for which he gave his life. Excellent Sunday. Amen
Alain Louz.
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