But as for
you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you
One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long
ago, from the days of eternity. Therefore He will give them up until the time
when she who is in labor has borne a child. Then the remainder of His brethren
will return to the sons of Israel. And
He will arise and shepherd His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the
majesty of the name of the LORD His God. And they will remain, because at that
time He will be great to the ends of the earth. This One will be our peace. When the Assyrian
invades our land, when he tramples on our citadels, then we will raise against
him seven shepherds and eight leaders of men.
They will shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of
Nimrod at its entrances; and He will deliver us from the Assyrian when he
attacks our land and when he tramples our territory. Then the remnant of Jacob will be among many
peoples like dew from the LORD, like showers on vegetation which do not wait
for man or delay for the sons of men.
The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, among many peoples like
a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep,
which, if he passes through, tramples down and tears, and there is none to
rescue. Your hand will be lifted up
against your adversaries, and all your enemies will be cut off. Micah 5:2-9
People are constantly looking for good leaders, and now more than ever. They want strong persons to lead in government. Corporations search for competent people to manage their business. Churches look for effective pastors and other leaders. Nevertheless, leaders sometimes fail. Such was the case in Israel and Judah.
Kings
had risen and fallen in Israel and in Judah with regular monotony. Only a few kings in Israel had been godly
leaders. Often the historian would
remark about a king of Israel, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord” (1 Kings
15:26). The kings of Judah were
not much better than the kings of Israel.
When
Micah prophesied, Jerusalem was under attack, and the king was being insulted. Micah predicted that a new ruler would come in
Judah, and he would be far better. He
brought a message of hope for those who felt powerless to do anything because
they were not in positions of power. The
condition of America today is much the same.
While we elect people filled with promises of change, it seems things
just get worse.
God’s
people need to look beyond present times and earthly rulers to a greater ruler,
just as Micah did. While we look at
those around us to find one who can stand out and lead, Micah spoke of one who
is coming who would be God’s man in authority.
Through
the centuries and millennia, God has raised up men and women who were empowered
to bring together God’s people and lead them back to Him. Such leaders are not common but history
records their strength of character, wisdom and ability to correct the wrongs
of a nation and establish a new course.
The
people awaited their Messiah. Jesus is
the Anointed One!
Scripture to claim:
May the LORD, the
God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation, who will
go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in,
so that the congregation of the LORD will not be like sheep which have no
shepherd.
Numbers 27:16-17
Numbers 27:16-17
