MCC - Advent 1 - God's Best Gift in the Worst of Times
Micah 5:2-5 (NLT)
A Ruler from Bethlehem
2 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 The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies
until the woman in labor gives birth.
Then at last his fellow countrymen
will return from exile to their own land.
4 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 honored around the world.
5 And he will be the source of peace.
Micah
Message: In common with all the eighth century
prophets, Micah preached the supreme
righteousness of God in contrast to the ungodly
character of the luxury-loving age in which they
lived. In contrast with the destruction which shall
be visited upon the wicked nations of that age, God
will bless and keep those who continue to be his
servants. Micah declares the nature of true service
which God has always sought (6:6-8). There is also
a considerable amount of Messiamc prediction,
comparable to that of Isaiah.
Micah 3:11 (NIV)
11 Her leaders judge for a bribe,
her priests teach for a price,
and her prophets tell fortunes for money.
Yet they look for the Lord’s support and say,
“Is not the Lord among us?
No disaster will come upon us.”
Matthew 2:4-6 (ESV)
4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
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.’”
Micah 5:4 (NIV)
4 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.
WHAT PLEASES GOD THE MOST?
WHEN WE LIVE TO LOVE MERCY,
TO DO JUSTICE AND TO WALK
HUMBLY WITH OUR GOD.
(MICAH 6:8)
Closing Prayer:
Lord God, we have heard of your strength and
security, painfully aware of how poor and
weak we are before you.
As we begin this Advent journey, teach us to
turn to you in our fear and sorrow.
Lord we don't want to be like the people of
Micah's day with hearts that are hard against
you turning a deaf ear to your invitation.
Only you can help us to soften, to be like the
clay in your gentle potter's hands. Amen.