But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.” vs. 2
Micah 5:2-3
Micah lived near Jerusalem during the time Judah was being threatened by the massive Assyrian Empire. Their armies had already ravaged the northern kingdom of Israel and thousands of refugees had fled south. As a prophet Micah not only critiqued the leaders of Judah he also proclaimed a message of hope. Remembering that the great king David had come from the little town of Bethlehem, he maintains that history will repeat itself, and a new leader will emerge for Judah. We can understand Micah’s desire for a king who would make Israel great again. It’s what we do when we’re dissatisfied with the power structure, and are convinced that someone new is needed. Humans have harbored such hopes for thousands of years. But the same old problems persist! New leaders become old leaders in a recurring cycle, and the brokenness of creation is never addressed. What humanity needs is a spiritual revolution, and the breaking in of the peaceable kingdom ushered in by Jesus. He may have been from Bethlehem, but he wasn’t anything like David. He came introducing a kingdom infused by love that has brought restoration and mercy to billions, and his rule will never end!
Thought for the Day: Why do people put their trust in rulers?
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