Micah 5:2–5
2 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.
When the Assyrian comes into our land
and treads in our palaces,
then we will raise against him seven shepherds
and eight princes of men;
(ESV)
The Promised Ruler
Have you ever had an authority over you that you longed to replace? In the book of Micah, we
read of the cruel, murderous acts of Israel’s leaders against their own people. The days were very
dark, but how much brighter do the promises of Micah 5:2–5 shine as a result?
God is promising the people a ruler that would have humble beginnings in the little town
of Bethlehem. However, unlike Israel’s current rulers, this ruler would stand and shepherd his
flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And the people
would dwell secure, and he would be their peace! What a glorious promise to a nation in
desperate need of hope. A shepherd that would protect and defend them against evil rather than
inflicting violence and destruction on them.
This ruler promised by God in Micah did indeed come. He came from Bethlehem as
prophesied, and He is a good shepherd. In John 10:10–11, we read the words of Jesus, “The thief
comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it more
abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
Consider who is ruling your life. Is it you? Are you happy with your leadership? Chances
are even you fall short of your ideals as a leader. Conversely, God’s promised ruler, Jesus,
fulfilled every good promise God made in Micah 5. This Christmas season, we remember anew
what a good and loving ruler we have who came to give us life by laying down His own. What
joy to follow God’s promised ruler that in His very being is peace.
Amy Buehler