Day 52: The village where peace was born – Micah 5 vs 1 - 5

1-2 Mobilise! Marshal your troops! The enemy is laying siege to Jerusalem. They will strike Israel’s leader in the face with a rod. But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on my behalf. 3-5  The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies until the woman in labour gives birth. Then at last his fellow countrymen will return from exile to their own land. And he will stand to lead his flock with the Lord’s strength, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. Then his people will live there undisturbed, for he will be highly honoured around the world. And he will be the source of peace. Micah 5:1-5 New Living Translation.

People living today probably believe the destiny of the world depends on what happens in the great cities like Washington, Moscow or Beijing. But the Bible tells us that the destiny of the world was already settled over 2000 years ago in a village called Bethlehem. Having spoken of a great defeat Israel was soon going to suffer, Micah was then led by God's Spirit to prophesy of a very special ruler who would be born in Bethlehem. Take a moment to identify for yourself some of the things Micah tells us in vs 3-5 of this ruler, and of what he would accomplish.

I liked the fact that He will bring people out of exile and be a Shepherd to them. I like too that He would be the source of peace. Matthew's gospel shows that the Jews believed this person was their Messiah. So when King Herod heard rumours the Messiah had possibly been born he asked the religious leaders where this birth would be, and they replied: “In Bethlehem in Judea, for the prophet wrote: And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’” (Matthew 2:5-7). And when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, shepherds in nearby fields saw and heard angels praising God and saying: “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

So while the great cities of the world talk and plan their wars and destruction, the village of Bethlehem was the place where God's Prince of Peace entered the world; the one who is destined to be Lord and Ruler of all, and who brings God's peace to men and women in all the nations. Ever since Adam and Eve's disobedience mankind has been in exile from God. But the message of Jesus calls sinners out of exile and brings them to the Shepherd of Souls. So don't be alarmed by the frightening news that comes from the great cities of the world – put your hopes and your trust in the ruler God sent to be born in lowly Bethlehem. He is our peace.