SCRIPTURE: Micah 5
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. [Micah 5:4]
Here we find the familiar Christmas promise that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem [Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:6].
Bethlehem was the hometown of David, the shepherd king of Israel; it was also the birthplace of Jesus, the shepherd king of the world.
We believe that Jesus is the Ruler under Whom God will finally restore His world.

I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. [John 10:14-16]
One flock and one shepherd, one that will truly love and serve the sheep.
His concern is not just for a select few, but for the other sheep of this world.
His greatness will extend beyond Israel, it will reach to the ends of the earth.

These words are given to encourage people when it doesn’t look this way.
In fact, for the moment Bethlehem seems like nothing, and the surrounding nations and rulers act as if they were the highest and the best.
What do we see in the world?
We see governments and armies and world powers and multi-national corporations and billionaires running the world for their own interest (there are a few exceptions).
And the world and humanity continues to groan under one corrupt power after another.
It’s been going on so long that we can’t imagine that it will ever be different.
Promises of one shepherd and one flock seem like utopian silliness.

Are we fools for putting our confidence in Jesus… maybe.
But better to be fools with hope than fools without it.
Maybe we are all fools, maybe it’s all a pointless, meaningless, hopeless mess.
Then the sooner it ends the better; in the meantime I want to be a part of what Jesus stands for in the world – grace, humility, mercy, truth, justice, compassion, generosity.
I would rather stand with a good shepherd than side with a bad one.
Yes, I believe that Jesus is that good shepherd, born in the middle of nowhere, and appearing weak and backwards…
But one day his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. [Micah 5:4]

PRAYER:
Lord, either You are the hope of the world, or there is no hope at all. I choose hope, I choose You!