The Shepard
Text: Micah.5:2-5 ESV
[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.
Advent means “coming” and during this season, Christians prepare and celebrate the coming or the birth of Jesus. Last week we talked about the promise of the Savior according to the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. Isaiah prophetically proclaims the coming of our savior Jesus Christ coming into a dark world who needed light. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon [a] his shoulder, and his name shall be called [b] Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Because of scripture throughout Advent, we will continue to recognize four virtues of Jesus: hope, love, joy, and peace.
Today is the second Sunday of advent and the scriptures will remind us of or help us see the Shepherd Jesus according to the prophetic voice of Micah. Micah prophetically proclaims the birth of Jesus and defines the Shepherd. By the end of today's gathering my hope is someone should experience the strength and peace of Christ in your life, therefore using you to give and exemplify peace to a chaotic world.
Today I want to allow scripture to preach and interpret scripture because scripture is king.
Micah is prophetically speaking for God and to Gods chosen people Israel constantly referred to as Zion throughout the Old Testament. Micah just finished prophesying that Zion would be rescued by the Lord. Micah 5:1 is the big transition because it was a time of war and battle. But God spoke to Micah and said share this...
Verse 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.
• *What we see here is insignificance... Bethlehem historically was known for its insignificance before King David and after. Where Micah says “who are too little to be among the clans of Judah” Why would God choose a place of insignificance for a significant birth?
Matthew writes the prophecy years later:
Matthew 2:6
English Standard Version
6 “‘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.’”
It is in this scripture that we also see the significance of a shepherd and king being born.
Jesus is our shepherd and king.
Jesus is from the birth lineage of David.
John 7:42
English Standard Version
42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?”
Hebrews 7:14
English Standard Version
14 For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
The scripture is filled with references of the birth lineage of Jesus. Allowing us a clear path to see the coming of Jesus to be born into the world.
Isaiah 9:6-7
English Standard Version
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon [a] his shoulder, and his name shall be called [b] Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
Jesus will reign forever
Jesus is ruler...
We see this in: Jeremiah 30:21
Zechariah 9:9
Zachariah describes the Coming King of Zion9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
This describes Celebration time (Passover) leading up to the sacrifice leading to the resurrection
Jesus is our salvation.
Jesus is the greatest model of humility.
“whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.”
The scriptures testify of Jesus being with God from the beginning giving us a glimpse into what we call the trinity.
Psalm 90:2
English Standard Version
2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Proverbs 8:22,23
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22 “The LORD possessed [a] me at the beginning of his work, [b] the first of his acts of old. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
John 1:1
English Standard Version
The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Jesus was at the beginning.
Verse 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.
What time was Micah talking about? We see in: Micah 4:9-10
English Standard Version
9 Now why do you cry aloud?
Is there no king in you? Has your counselor perished,
that pain seized you like a woman in labor? 10 Writhe and groan, [a] O daughter of Zion,
like a woman in labor,
for now, you shall go out from the city
and dwell in the open country;
you shall go to Babylon. There you shall be rescued;
there the LORD will redeem you from the hand of your enemies.
Micah proclaims that the Lord will redeem Israel from the enemy.
Can I submit that God will rescue you, can I submit that God will redeem
you!
Here is that hope that the savior brings and today he is still the hope we need
for our future.
There will be a remnant of Israel after the period. That the Lord will reign over forever.
Who is this remnant?
Micah 4:7
English Standard Version
7 and the lame I will make the remnant,and those who were cast off, a strong nation; and the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion
from this time forth and forevermore.
Verse 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.
Jesus the Shepherd will: Be great to the end of the earth... 5 And he shall be their peace.
Isaiah 40:11 gives us a few job descriptions of the shepherd...
English Standard Version
11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd.
he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom,
and gently lead those that are with young.
Micah 7:14 instructs the shepherd
English Standard Version
14 Shepherd your people with your staff,
the flock of your inheritance, who dwell alone in a forest
in the midst of a garden land; [a] let them graze in Bashan and Gilead
as in the days of old.
Isaiah 11:3-5 The Character of the Shepherd
English Standard Version
3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide disputes by what his ears hear,
4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips, he shall kill the wicked. 5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,
and faithfulness the belt of his loins.
Psalm 72:8 speaks to his authority on the earth.
English Standard Version
8 May he have dominion from sea to sea,
and from the river [a] to the ends of the earth!
Isaiah 52:13 proclaims his resurrection and power.
English Standard Version
He Was Pierced for Our Transgressions 13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely; [a]
he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted.
Luke 1:32 declares the outcome of his reign and place in God’s kingdom/
English Standard Version
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
Jesus the Shepherd will:
Will stand tall and shepherded the flock in the strength of the Lord. (Micah.5:4)
Create a secure place for the flock to dwell. (Micah.5:4)
Be great to the ends of the earth. (Micah.5:4)
lead, nurture, and protect his flock. (Isaiah 40:11)
Correct and direct you
Exemplify the fear of the Lord.
Exemplify righteousness, and justice for poor and meek.
Demonstrate faithfulness.
Have dominion.
10.Was Pierced for Our Transgressions
11.shall be high and lifted up and shall be exalted.
12.be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will
give to him the throne of his father David,
*With all this Jesus was born to save you and the world. * “And He shall be their peace”
Eph.2:14 TLB “For Christ himself is our way of peace. He has made peace between us
Jews and you Gentiles by making us all one family, [a] breaking down the wall of contempt* that used to separate us.”