The Coming Messiah

Micah 5:2-5 ESV
“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. 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.

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. And he shall be their peace.”

All the years of trouble and sorrows that Israel endured they had one ray of hope; the Messiah would come and bring them peace mentally, spiritually and physically. Yes, Israel created most of their own problems by turning their backs on God time and time again. Their disobedience was epic; all they had to do was obey God, and they would have everything that they ever needed but they could not remain true to God.

Their hope was that one day the promised Messiah would come and give them clear direction from God. The Messiah would deliver them from oppression but the oppression was because of their own disobedience. So what was going to change for Israel when the long awaited Messiah would come?

Jesus the Messiah made all things clear; how great God’s love really is, a separation from trying to live up to the laws of God, to having the law in their hearts and spirits. That their new relationship with God brought on such a love and devotion to God, they naturally fulfilled all the mandates of God.

The Messiah was God with mankind all together, and giving their lives completely to Him was in itself the power to obey, to trust, to follow unswervingly. Yes the Messiah would lead them back to God in complete wholeness, and with that new beginning, they would live out their lives in peace and joy and favor with God and man, if they would only receive Him as God with us.

Prayer:
Father, Your light has come to lead us through the darkness of this world. As I cling to You, You are my Peace who has broken down every wall and delivered me and set me in Your love and favor.