Introduction
This morning we wait as the Birth of Christ is Proclaimed. Turn with me in your Bibles to Micah 5. We are going to read the first 6 verses. Our focus is going to be on verses 2-5a. As you are turning there, I want to give you some context as to where these verses are laid. Micah lived during the time of Hezekiah where great prosperity was found in Israel. Remember the pride of Hezekiah when he shows the treasures of Israel to Babylon?
Micah’s prophecy would have been hard to take during Hezekiah’s days. Imagine, the country you are living in has great prosperity. People are making money, the economy is good, and there is great blessing seemingly at every turn. There was even a defense against the mighty ruler, Sennacherib, of Assyria at the time (2 Kings 18-20). Could what Micah is saying about future captivity be true? Of course, it is true. Why? Because this had been foretold in Deuteronomy 28:49. Israel had been set free from Egypt, headed to the Promised Land, and before they get there they are told that they will serve other gods. Seems impossible to imagine!
But this is where we find ourselves in the beginning of chapter 5. There will be a future attack and defeat at the hands of Nebuchadnezzar. But do not fear for there is one who will come and deliver Israel.
This is Christ proclaimed and I want us to see him proclaimed in 4 ways, 1. As a ruler (v.2), 2. From of old and of ancient days (v.2), 3. As the one who brings his people together (v.3), and 4. As the shepherd of the flock (vv.4-5). We begin the reading of God’s Word in verse 1.
- As a ruler (v.2)
This text is dual in prophetic nature. There is the prophecy that is soon to be fulfilled with the Assyrian army coming to take over Israel and lead them into exile and there is the prophecy that will be fulfilled later on at the birth of the Messiah. It is in this way that we will look at this text together.
We begin our time together in verse 2 where the Messiah is proclaimed to be a ruler. Again, the nation of Judah was living large, so this future ruler may not have had the impact that it does for those of us today as we see the timeline of biblical prophecy unfold. The proclamation of this ruler is unlike any ruler known to man. Look up at verse 1 for a moment. What does it say of this ruler? It says, “with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek.” The judge of Israel is the ruler of Israel, that is Christ. Do you know any ruler that has willingly been struck out of spite? Imagine any leader of a country doing that today? I didn’t think so. But the text tells us that Christ will come as ruler. Notice the text does not tell us that he will be “a” ruler, but “the” ruler of Israel. Why is this important? Well, it is important because of Genesis 3:15 which we looked at last week. Every instance that refers to the promised Messiah is used in the singular. He will crush the serpent’s head. So it is that the head crusher of Genesis 3 is ‘the ruler’ proclaimed in Micah 5:2.
This ruler is proclaimed to come out of Bethlehem. There were some notable figures in the Old Testament regarding Bethlehem. Rachel, Jacob’s wife, was buried there (Gen. 35:19). Ruth lived in Bethlehem or close to it at some point. It is said of her in Ruth 4:11, “May the Lord make the woman, who is coming into your (Boaz) house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem.” King David was born there (1 Samuel 17:12).
The child who was to come from Bethlehem did not have a kingly stature either. He was not regarded handsome as Saul was, he was not thought of as strong like David was, he was not ambitious like Josiah was. But he is the greatest ruler to come out of Israel and the greatest ruler period! Nor were Saul, David, and Josiah proclaimed the way that the babe of Christmas was. His proclamation is far greater and deeper.
- From of old and ancient days (v.2)
Speaking of far greater and deeper, look with me at the very end of verse 2. We come to our second point, his proclamation of old and of ancient days. It may seem like a long title, but I wanted to ensure that we got both of these in this morning. We are going to see two timelines here. 1. Human and 2. Divine. Permit me to explain.
Verse 2 is incredibly helpful in the way that the Spirit worded this. The ruler who is to come was proclaimed from of old. How does this differ from ancient of days? Old? Ancient? Aren’t they the same? Not quite.
Nehemiah 12:46 is helpful. “For long ago in the days of David and Asaph there were directors of the singers, and there were songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.” This verse refers to the temple service that was being offered after the dedication of the wall around Jerusalem. I bring this up because this verse tells us that this kind of service happened many years ago during the days of David and Asaph.
In the same way, the Lord Jesus Christ was spoken of throughout human history. Psalm 2:7 is a clear prophecy of Jesus. David speaks of the Christ in Psalm 110:1-2. Isaiah spoke of the coming Messiah in Isaiah 7:14. Hosea mentions him in Hosea 11:1. Daniel speaks of the coming Messiah in Daniel 9:24-25. See how the Messiah was spoken of ‘old?’ Through multiple time periods in history, the proclamation has been the same: there will be a redeemer born of a woman who comes out of Bethlehem. This is the human means of his proclamation.
For the skeptic this morning who would come and say, the Bible doesn’t speak about Jesus as God, I hope that you go home and read these texts! When Jesus says he is the way, truth, and life and that no one comes to the Father except through him, he has every confidence and right to make such a claim. The entire Bible speaks on Christ. Whether a babe in a manger or during the years of his ministry. He is the core of the Scriptures.
But Christ is not just of ‘old.’ He is of ‘ancient days’ as well. This is the Divine description of his proclamation that verse 2 alludes to. We are told several things here. The first is that Christ is not bound by time. He is not limited to it. In other words, Christ is outside of time and space. In layman’s terms, that babe in a manger is far greater than any one of us in this room.
Second, it tells us that before the world was created, Christ was going to be the promised redeemer for his people on earth. In other words, this promise was in eternity past. Isn’t this a wonderful promise? Before we were even thought of, God had a plan in place to redeem his people. This also tells us that God knows all things, in other words he is omniscient. There is nothing that escapes him, there is nothing that he misses. In the same way, God was prepared for the fall of humanity. Going a little further and tying last week for a moment, it tells us that God was not shocked at Satan’s rebellion in heaven. It did not come to surprise to God. God is always one (if not many more) steps ahead of us.
Third, because this proclamation occurred in eternity past then it must continue into eternity in the future. Christ is the promised Messiah in Genesis 3 as much as he is the promised king on the white horse in Revelation 19. This proclamation has eternal implications. Psalm 90:2 synthesizes the eternity past and future like this, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” Praise be to God for this wonderous proclamation for it secures our eternal destiny!
- He brings his people together (v.3)
The third means of this glorious proclamation is that this babe is going to bring his people together. We find that in verse 3. The beginning of verse 3 is interesting. It is interesting because there will be a time of exile for the people of Israel. Remember how I said that this is a two-fold prophetic message? Here is where some of that comes together. Not only is Israel going to be defeated but they will be carried into exile. Jeremiah 29 is a letter directed to those who had been carried off to Babylon. Verse 11 is a most wonderful verse. You see it all over the place. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Might I ask in whom do you and I find our hope and future in? Let me say, it does not refer to material well-doing and an abundance of blessings as it is stated today. Is that a big enough hint? This verse is about the babe in a manger. He is the one in whom we have our hope in. It is because of him that we have a future at all.
So, there was going to be a period of time where Israel was going to remain in exile. They were going to go through difficulty when the wall was being rebuilt in Nehemiah’s day. And there was going to be that 400-year period when God was not going to speak. Just because the Messiah was proclaimed in Micah’s day, did not mean that the fulfillment of it was going to be immediate.
Look with me at the definitive end date of this being given or delivered up to. Verse 3 tells us that it will end when the woman in labor has given birth. This is one of many passages that give clear indication that the Messiah will be born of a woman. This event in history is the defining moment when the time of exile and silence is finished.
But it also opens up a new era as well. Look with me at the latter half of verse 3. It says after the birth of the Messiah that “the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel.” There are several things for us to see here. Number one, the reference to the nation of Israel does not refer to the nation itself, as in the mass of land that makes up the country. There are many texts that support this. With the idea that this verse speaks of the virgin birth, Hebrews 2:11-12 comes to mind. “For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation, I will sing your praise.””
Micah 5:4 is another reason why I find it hard to believe that verse 3 speaks about the nation of Israel itself. If verse 3 is speaking of the birth of Christ (which I believe it does) then how can verse 4 possibly speak of Israel as a people living in a landmass? Would this mean that when verse 4 refers to the flock that it is only found in Israel? If so, you and I have no reason to be here this morning.
I also don’t think that this can refer to Israel because the wall that surrounded Jerusalem after the exiles returned from Babylon occurred hundreds of years before the birth of Christ. This verse says that after the birth of Christ, then the people of Israel come together. That would leave the timeline with Nehemiah out of the picture.
Number two, the nation of Israel more often than not in the New Testament refers to the church. Romans 10 and 11 paint a beautiful picture of how the church is grafted in together as Israel. Christ bestows the foundation of the church upon Peter. It is not because Peter is a Jew, but because Jesus commissioned him with this task. He knew the boldness that he spoke with and the he remembered his clear confession that Jesus was the Christ. Jesus was not partial. Remember the Samaritan woman that came to salvation along with her kinsman? Jesus longs for human beings to be saved.
Would you not consider someone today who lives in another country a brother in the Lord? Of course, you would not. This is what can happen if it is taken literally that these Old Testament prophecies only spoke about Israel and no one else. One other note, this type of thinking, I think demoralizes missions and outreach. Again, if the prophesies of Christ were meant for Israel only, why would we evangelize? What would be the point?
Number three, Christ ushers in the church age. It is the people of God whom he considers as brothers, those who will do the work of the Great Commission as found in Matthew 28. He brings forth the Holy Spirit upon men as he promised he would do in John 14 and 16. Radical numbers of people are saved. This is all work that occurred after his life and ministry on earth. Without the babe being proclaimed and then fulfilling that proclamation, there would have been no church age to usher in.
- As the shepherd of the flock (vv.4-5)
The final way that Micah proclaims the Messiah is as the shepherd of the flock. Look with me in verse 4. Notice that the text says that the Messiah will stand. This means of standing can mean to stand straight up. However, in this context it means “to rise up.” Synonyms of this are to establish or appoint. Verse 4 sheds light on Christ fulfilling the personal pronoun “he.” It begins with him being specifically appointed for the task at hand.
The task at hand is shepherding his flock. Jesus Christ is the good shepherd as written about in John 10. Turn with me to John 10. We are going to read the first 11 verses. Not only is Jesus going to come as a ruler, but he will come as a ruler/shepherd. Shepherds are not kingly in stature or position, but Christ is unique in that he fills both roles adequately. In Hebrew, the word raah means to pastor. Jesus has a shepherd’s heart as he leads his people faithfully.
We might be looking ahead a little bit, but I wanted us to see how clear the Bible is regarding the proclamation of the birth of Jesus. Verse 11 of John 10 is unmistakably clear.
Turn back with me to Micah 5. How is the proclaimed Messiah going to shepherd his people? Verse 4 tells us “in the strength of the Lord” and “in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.” In other words, Jesus is going to shepherd powerfully and effectively because he is God. Unlike the shepherds of Ezekiel 34:1-10, Christ will shepherd without any human interference. His strength comes from the Lord. This tells us that this type of shepherding that the Messiah will do can only be done by God. This is a special task that has been assigned. So, is Jesus both God and man? Verse 4 tells us, YES! Hence, the advent birth of God in the flesh that we long for this morning.
The Hebrew can also mean that Christ shepherds majestically. As the coming king it is no surprise to us that Christ would shepherd in this way. He does so with the power of God and with total authority. “The name of the Lord” means that his name carries a “reputation” (Vines). Throughout the Old Testament, Yahweh had done great and awesome things that the entire world was able to see. On the way to the Promised Land, the nation’s surrounding Israel knew of the power of Israel’s God. Have you and I seen the power of God in our lives? Does his name continue to carry a “reputation” in our world today? We who have believed in Christ and have seen his handiwork answer this with a resounding, yes.
How does this apply to us? Look a little further down in verse 4 and into verse 5. Verse 4 tells us that “they will dwell secure” and verse 5 says that “he shall be their peace.” It is appropriate to attribute these personally. Christian, the promised child is the great shepherd whom we can take our refuge in. Remember Reformation Day? In whom was Martin Luther’s refuge? The Lord Jesus Christ! December 10th, 2023, who is your refuge and who is my refuge? The answer is the same, the Lord Jesus Christ, the proclaimed Messiah at advent.
Finally, Jesus will be our peace. This is so precious, isn’t it? In the context of this verse, God is the peace of the people when the enemy attacks, the same way that David stated it in the Psalms. For us today, Jesus is our peace. When the nations rage, we run to Jesus, when the world oppresses us, we run to Jesus, when people make fun of us for the faith that we hold, we run to Jesus, when we have moments of doubt we run to Jesus. And to think, this Jesus was proclaimed not as a mighty king, but a tender babe, born of a woman, that we would have peace in him.
Conclusion
So far we have looked at the expectancy of waiting and now we wait as the king is proclaimed. The king is proclaimed in our day. Just as those who awaited Christ in the Old Testament, so we wait for his appearing today. I leave you with three things to think about.
- The proclamation of Christ is for our good. Throughout the Old Testament the virgin birth of Christ is proclaimed. Although it is not always crystal clear, the Bible shows us that God is consistent throughout time. There has been the proclamation of the virgin birth before the world began. This is wonderful news for us today. Before sin entered the world, God had a remedy for it. Rejoice, for the babe of Christmas is the very fulfillment of this wondrous proclamation.
- It is this babe that brings us together. In this fractured world we live in, you and I can take comfort that it has been promised that Christ has and will continue to bring his people together. What a gracious gift! That Christ brings people together of different lives, backgrounds, and even of differing sins. Because of this you and I can bear one another’s burdens. This is the far-reaching affect of the birth of Christ being proclaimed.
- Finally, Christ is proclaimed to be the Great Shepherd. Brothers, you can ALWAYS run to him. He will always hear you. He is the perfect pastor. There is no one like him. He has the answer to every concern, he has the remedy for every ailment, and he does so compassionately and kindly. There are no scowls from the Lord, there is no disgust with you from the Lord, there is patience and kindness. This is our Savior to be born at Christmas proclaimed years ago.
