It is about 31 degrees outside, end of June in Vietnam and no snow in the forecast (ever). Yet I just had to go on YouTube this morning. I needed to listen to the Vienna Boys Choir sing "O Little Town of Bethlehem." No, I am not one of those Christmas Carol fanatics who listen to carols all year round (though I do listen throughout the month of December).
My Scripture reading this morning was in the last three chapters of Micah. I paused to meditate on the familiar Christmas reading, "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small --- out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." (5:2) What an amazing promise - someone from ancient times (days of eternity) would arrive as a newborn!
How did those who heard these words, those who read or heard them read over the next seven centuries - how did they understand this prophetic word? Could they have truly imagined Who was coming? We are told by Matthew that the chief priests and scribes did understand enough to point to this prophecy when Herod asked where the Messiah would be born. We rejoice on this side of the Birth and the Cross in a way none of the OT saints could possibly have rejoiced. So I needed this morning to hear the Christmas Carol as part of my worship based on those powerful prophetic words.
Very near this familiar verse is a verse normally missed at Christmas. It tells us much more of what the coming Messiah would be like and what He would do. Here is Micah's expanded description:
"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. And he will be their peace." (5:4)
May you live securely this day, not only in the knowledge of our Lord's birth, but also in the strength of your great Shepherd and in the peace that surpasses all understanding only He can provide.
My Scripture reading this morning was in the last three chapters of Micah. I paused to meditate on the familiar Christmas reading, "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small --- out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." (5:2) What an amazing promise - someone from ancient times (days of eternity) would arrive as a newborn!
How did those who heard these words, those who read or heard them read over the next seven centuries - how did they understand this prophetic word? Could they have truly imagined Who was coming? We are told by Matthew that the chief priests and scribes did understand enough to point to this prophecy when Herod asked where the Messiah would be born. We rejoice on this side of the Birth and the Cross in a way none of the OT saints could possibly have rejoiced. So I needed this morning to hear the Christmas Carol as part of my worship based on those powerful prophetic words.
Very near this familiar verse is a verse normally missed at Christmas. It tells us much more of what the coming Messiah would be like and what He would do. Here is Micah's expanded description:
"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. And he will be their peace." (5:4)
May you live securely this day, not only in the knowledge of our Lord's birth, but also in the strength of your great Shepherd and in the peace that surpasses all understanding only He can provide.
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