The Promise pt. 1
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Good morning LaFayette Baptist Family. It is so good to be here with you all today and celebrate this Lord’s day with you all, singing hymns to Him, learning of Him, and reading His Word, and praying together. Our passage today will be from Micah 5, Micah 5 please go ahead and turn there in your bible’s. In a few moments it will be on the screen for us to read from the screen together as well. Micah 5, that’s a little over halfway through the bible and after the book of Jonah.
I wonder if anyone else in this room has the same problem that I have. That is, I can’t find myself able to make many (if any) new promises. Granted, I’m sure I made many of them as a child. Maybe even going so far as to make a ‘pinky promises’ that are of course is never ever ever supposed to be broken (but isn’t that what a promise is supposed to be, something that is never ever ever supposed to be broken). In fact, I’d say the existence of the ‘pinky promise’ sort of implies that we often mess up on promise and need a higher level of “but I really really mean it.” When we get older, we understand more of the world, and as such we tend to make fewer promises, because we understand more of the world and more of ourselves and know that we can only truly commit to so much. We know that we all have limitations. In fact, the promises we do make have bigger implications and importance as we get older, such as marriage or paying back bank loans. So, we don’t make them lightly. We have limitations, everyone in this room can agree with that. As much as I think it would be cool, I can never be a luchador wrestler who is also an astronaut or the emperor of my own nation (Jacobia) and President of the United States. I have limitations that would never allow these things to happen. God though, has no such limits. He is infinite, he is forever and always in any which-way, Infinitely powerful and supremely wise. He can make a promise to mankind, which He did as you will recall in last week’s sermon (that He would crush evil and sin for good and bring mankind back to a perfect relationship with Him) and come through with it with ease and no problem to Him at all. This brings is to our main point and today’s sermon title, The Promise.
Scripture
If you will all please rise for the reading of God’s word today, which is Micah 5:1-5a. As usual the scripture will be on the screens for us all, so please read along out loud as I read along. When I’m done reading I will say “This is the Word of the Lord” after that please respond with “thanks be to God.” Before we do that tough, let’s pray. Father God. We thank You for who you are and what you do through and to us. You are our swords and our shields and exceedingly great rewards. Father, we pray this day as we share Your Word, that You would help us put all things aside that would keep us from hearing from You. We look expectantly towards what You are going to show us about Yourself. Thank You for this gift, sanctify us with You Word. May we take the message of a promised (and now given) savior seriously and joyously. Make it move us in ways that You would be known better to us and to those around us. It’s in these things I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray. Amen. Micah , starting in verse 1[a] Now muster your troops, O daughter[b] of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek.2 [c] 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. 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. 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.
Context
We enter our second week into our miniseries leading us up to Christmas time. Next week our scripture will from Isaiah 9, please go ahead and read that passage this week in your personal devotion time, Isaiah 9. Last week, we began our Christmas narrative, Christ’s coming to Earth, near the beginning and at the fall of mankind. Last week we spoke about The Fall and our need for the savior. We looked at few key things within that passage, which was Genesis 3. The first thing was that God is like nothing else, our earliest ancestors (Adam and Eve) thought they could become like God by eating the forbidden fruit, little did they know that they could never become like Him because NOTHING else is like Him. Then we looked at God calling his creation mankind back to Him, Adam and Eve had separated themselves from God through the rebellion of Sin, but God gave them opportunities to come to Him. Instead, they hid. We then see some of the most important parts of scripture. Even this early on God speaks His plan in part to ouh earliest Father and Mother, he reveals some of his plan for salvation. Here He told that the Serpent (Satan) and mankind would be at war, that Satan would bruise the heel (damage and try tempt and turn to sin mankind and even try to take out redeemer) but one was coming who would deal the final blow against Him through their offspring. We know this today to be a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ. Lastly, we looked at How God covers us, Adam and Eve needed covering from Sin and literally from their shame. God does this today, through the final and perfect blood sacrifice on Jesus Christ on the Cross to pay for the sins of mankind. That was last week, let’s look at few things this week.
Micah was one the prophets of Israel. His ministry we understand today to be between and around the years of 740-690 BC. So, around 750 years before Christ’s coming to the world as the God-Man, the Christ Child. Micah would have lived during a very difficult time for the Israelite people. In His time, wicked rulers, a general rebellion against and forgetting about the Lord their God, and judgement from God that would lead to events such as foreign invasion.
This book of the bible is itself a book of prophecy. Meaning, that Micah spoke to the people of Israel empowered by and on behalf of God. His prophecies and the themes through this entire book would often be either about a warning of judgement coming (doom) and restoration by God (joy). One very interesting thing is that through this book, we will see prophecies that would happen soon (for them), some that would happen down the road, and some that would happen much later and even some that have yet to come. So keep that in mind, while hearing this text and exploring this book. Today’s passage itself is one of the great prophecies of the coming Christ (which would be over 750 years later). So, these prophecies have passed for us, but were very far away for the original audience. This would stand as further knowledge of the great promise that God made to mankind, that even though you separated Yourself from me, I will provide the way for you to come back. So, keep that promise in mind as we enter into this week’s text.
Message
Our first point, The Peril
a] Now muster your troops, O daughter[b] of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek.
One really interesting thing to know and one that you may notice is that bible printers and theologians do not generally agree on the modern headings and subheadings of this passage. Yours may say something different than mine, which says, The Ruler to Be Born in Bethlehem[1]. In fact, and this one of the few times my seminary Hebrew class has came in useful, I realized that many Hebrew Bibles have this verse not as the first of this chapter, but as the last of the previous chapter. Also, where verse 5 is supposed to end seems to be disagreed upon as well. Either way, it doesn’t change the message so we shouldn’t be very concerned about that. I like verse being here though, because it helps us understand the peril that Israel (and mankind) were and are facing because of rebellion and separation from God. Because of their sin and their habitual turning from God, Israel was in peril in this verse. This verse foretold a passage that would have happened already today, and we saw played out in 2nd Kings Chapter 25. Here King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon lead an army against Jerusalem, laying siege to it. As often happens, this ancient siege would lead to the starvation and horrible situations for the city of Jerusalem. Eventually the city was breached, and everyone that could fled the city. This was a joint invasion though, as the Chaldeans were nearby. The king of Jerusalem, Zedekiah, was captured by the Chaldeans. They brought him to the king of Babylon, then destroyed all of his sons, and took out his eyes and bound him in chains and took him back as a sort of war trophy to Babylon. This was describing a very serious and very perilous situation that was coming to Israel because of them turning their back on God.
While this verse seems to imply actions taken towards a particular nation, a particular people. What is inside of a nation or people? Well, it is individuals. Not just the nation, but the individuals in Israel had by in large turned their back on God, as such, and even though it isn’t described in this verse, we know that each person in the city had their own story of horror, of pain, of starvation. This was because of their individual sins for them, that they had not turned from and had no will or want to. For them, God was nothing. This put each person in a place of peril and danger. That was true for them, and it’s true for us today as well. When we make God take the back seat, when we rebel against Him, when we are too proud as individuals to take that step towards faith in Christ, we set ourselves up for a just judgement from a just God to receive a forever punishment that will be worse than we one I described to the king of Jerusalem. So, here this my friends. Believe in The Lord Jesus and turn from your old ways. He is calling you and does not will that you would go through that.
A second point, The Ruler
2 [c] 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.
Here we begin in many bibles what would be a new header text, and this starts a new part of Micah’s book as well, instead of the previous doom or judgement prophecy section, now we see prophecy section of Hope and restoration. Here is perhaps the best and greatest hope that has ever happened to all of mankind ever. Let’s look at it again, 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 and Ephrathah would have been the same region, Ephrathah was an older name for Bethlehem and perhaps there was even a sub region of Bethlehem that was referred to as Ephrathah. In this region lived the most small, unimportant, and insignificant tribe/families of all of Israel. It was an insignificant and unimportant region as so. So small was it, that it was often forgotten of by the tribes of Judah. This is not a place that you would expect a great king (king David) to come from, let alone the King OF THE WORLD!!! However, God did what he often does. He worked in a way that in our minds, we never expect. He brought the great king David from this tiny and unimportant town many years before this prophecy was given, He also brough the eternal King of the World from here.
One very interesting quote of this passage is found in Matthews Gospel. This was the account that the Chief Priests and scribes gave to king Herod when the 3 wise men visited Him on the way find the newborn king, who’s star they were following. This passage, which reads, “ “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ” [2] I say this is interesting because most of these verses are the same, but a glaring part is different. In Micah, the prophet highlights that Bethlehem was small and insignificant. In Matthew, the scribes and chief priest says that Bethlehem is “by no means the least.” Now, I’ve studies 2 reasons why these differences would be, and both are likely. The first is that Matthew in his account used summaries to take the meaning of the passage. Also, it could be that the Chief Priests and Scribes just didn’t know scripture well or chose to interpret it and alter it in their own way because they couldn’t stand the thought of God coming from such a small and insignificant place. Either way, it both comes to the same thing, mankind would never expect great things from little places or perceived little people. God though, doesn’t work like we do. He isn’t in a box as we are (having limitations), He does what He wants how He wants, and often He does the opposite of what we would expect to get our attention and help us understand His greatness.
So, God sent forth this ruler from the most ancient days. What does that mean? Well, only God is from the very beginning, in fact He was from before the beginning of creation. He wasn’t (and no part of God were) created, He (Father, Son, and Spirit) just were. He is the Ancient of Days. He is The Great I AM. This can only mean one thing, that God was sending Himself to rule Israel and rule the world.
The third point, The Return
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.
It’s important to know here, that in biblical prophecy, the order from verse to verse is not always in a straight timeline. So, in our first verse we went forward a few hundred years, then in our previous verse we went forward almost 750 years from Micah’s life. Now, we are going backward to before the 750 years.
In fact, God was silent to the people of Israel for 400 years before Christ’s arrival, them having last heard from Him through the prophet Malachi. During this time, God gave them up, He let them under their own free will choose to separate themselves from God and they were many dispersed throughout the land. So, they lived in rebellion to God for a great many years, turning their backs on the God who had rescued them from peril countless times. God though still, loving not just the nation of Israel, but all of mankind as well remembered his promise to restore them to purity and fellowship once again, He was working all the bad towards one perfect good. This would be the coming of Jesus, who was born on this earth in Bethlehem. Micah says that mankind will by in large live in separation from God until Jesus’s comes and history observed this to be true.
Watch out here though with your interpretation of this verse, She who is in labour is a another phrase for the covenant community. That is to say, God will use the believing community as the agent through which the Messiah will come into the world. The community and family that gave birth to Jesus Christ were characterized by faith, prayer and the fullness of the Holy Spirit (cf. Luke 1:5–2:40).[3]So, as the nation of Israel all have common ancestors who were brothers, when this happens they will return to who they were, God’s people. This was through putting their faith in God and the promises that He had for them. This promise still stands for us today, His faithfulness is great, and He will make whole all of those who call to Him in truth in any situation that you need in your life right now.
The next point, The Messiah
. 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.
This ruler will stand, meaning he will not fail or fall, and he will do something that hadn’t been done in quite some time. He will shepherd the flock; he will protect them. Not just in human in regular human strength and means, but by the strength and majesty of the Lord God. Now, there is only one entity that could do this. If someone/something were to protect and lead the people with the strength and majesty of God, then this. Must. Be. God. Remember what we said was one thing that Adam and Eve had learned when they took of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. This was that no one and nothing is like or will ever be like God, who is perfect and set apart, He is Holy. Any other man or thing is not. This prophecy has to be about the Holy one, the messiah, the redeemer of man to God. Guess who that was, God Himself. Jesus the Christ. Only God is great enough to be great to the ends of the Earth. Many men and women have tried, and many more will but none of them will ever be great in eyes of all. Rest assured, they day is coming that every knee will bow before God and every tongue will confess. This day is yet to come, but Philippians 2 tells us that it is coming. Just wait beloved, this day is coming. For us today though, an important part of this wait has already happened. This was the messiah’s coming to earth. This has happened and it happened 2000 years ago in a manger in the town of Bethlehem. God came down, and this brings us to our next point.
The Peace
5 And he shall be their peace.
As we could tell from verse 1, Israel did not have peace at this time, when they were standing opposed to God. Know this to beloved, You too will never live in true peace until you are in God’s family. Only a scary future awaits you, only the opposite of Peace. Believers, you too will know more of the infinite pools of the peace of God if you put whatever it is you are holding out on God against away and turn to Him in faith and repentance. So, what is Peace? Baker’s bible encyclopedia calls it “Peace. Total well-being, prosperity, and security associated with God’s presence among his people. Linked in the OT with the covenant, the presence of peace, as God’s gift, was conditional upon Israel’s obedience. In prophetic material, true peace is part of the end-time hope of God’s salvation. In the NT, this longed-for peace is understood as having come in Christ and able to be experienced by faith.”[4]
Instead of expounding on this more, let me give you what I think is a great recap from the book of John. It goesIn the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life,[a] and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.It then goes on: 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own,[b] and his own people[c] did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son[d] from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.[e] 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God,[f] who is at the Father's side,[g] he has made him known.
Conclusion
Brothers, sisters, and friends. Do you understand The Peril, the peril that any man or woman stands in if they are not redeemed to God. Do you trust in The Ruler, the one that is from ancient days, the one who made everything and through Him everything was made. Do you wait anxiously to His return? Yes he came once and all who trust in Him are redeemed, but He will come again and make all things right as they once were. This person is The Messiah, the redeemer, God the Son, Jesus Christ who gives. The Peace, the peace that transcends (that goes past) any understanding because He and it is so great. So, are you ready to accept The Promise in your life? Not just in general, but in every little part of every little thing. This is that we do not have to stand condemned rightly before a perfect and just judge because of what we have done. What have we done? We have sinned, meaning we rebel/separated oursleves against God and tried to make ourselves more important than Him. He though, loving us, provided the way to not receive the deserved guilty verdict, He paid the payment and with Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death on Cross to cover our sins so that now the judgement we would receive is “innocent” and restored.
Believer and non-believer hearing my voice today, know this. God cares about you very much. He wants you to have new kind of relationship with Him. He wants You to know Him more. All you have to do is put aside rebellion and turn towards the great ruler, the messiah, the God-Man, God the Son, Jesus Christ the righteous who will make all things new in you.
Let’s conclude today. I love you all. During our last song together, if you need prayer, or just have something you want to talk about, I will be here and I’d love to talk You. God is calling to each of us, will you respond? Let’s pray. Father God, we thank you for this promise that you have given mankind, restoration to You. May this be so real in our lives that it moves to such joy in celebration that we praise you both vocally and, in our actions, often. May it move us to share the reason for that joy with others. It’s in these things I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Crossway Bibles, 2016, p. Mic 5:1.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Crossway Bibles, 2016, p. Mt 2:6.
[3]Wiseman, Donald J., et al. Obadiah, Jonah and Micah: An Introduction and Commentary. InterVarsity Press, 1988, p. 201.
[4]Elwell, Walter A., and Barry J. Beitzel. “Peace.” Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible, vol. 2, Baker Book House, 1988, p. 1634.