“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, who’s 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.”
– Micah 5:2–5
What a great promise to hear from God through Micah centuries before Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. Micah says to Bethlehem, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, this small town among the people of God from there shall come forth, one who is to be a ruler in Israel from ancient days. The picture here is clear. This is not just any ruler. This is a picture of God himself. The ancient of days, coming to God’s people, in Bethlehem, being born to stand and shepherd God’s flock, to be the shepherd of God’s people and to lead them into security. They shall dwell secure. The one whose name will be great to the ends of the earth and who will be their peace. This is Jesus.
Micah 5:2–5 Anticipates Christ’s Incarnation
This is one of those places in the Old Testament inspired by God through a prophet centuries before Jesus came, telling about who he is, what he would do as God in the flesh, God with us. As we prepare even to celebrate Christmas in the coming weeks, just remember that for centuries, this was anticipated in God’s word. And remember who Jesus is in your life today, the ancient of days, the eternal God in the flesh, who is your shepherd amidst whatever you are walking through, amidst whatever challenges you are facing, amidst the questions you have, amidst whatever will unfold in your life today or tomorrow.
Know that Jesus lives to be your shepherd and in Him you have security. In Him, you can rest and dwell secure and He is your peace. In a world where there is so much tribulation and trial and temptation to worry. Don’t worry today, Jesus is your shepherd. He is leading and guiding you as you trust in Him and in Him, you have peace and security that nothing in this world can shake.
Micah 5:2–5 Shows God’s Intention to Shepherd His People
Jesus, we praise you as the ancient of days promised centuries before you came, born in Bethlehem to rule and to stand and to shepherd all who trust in you. Jesus, we praise you as the good shepherd, the great shepherd of our lives. We are so glad to be your sheep, to be led by you today. Please lead us, guide us, direct us. Help us in every way we need help. Jesus, we praise you as our security, as our peace.
We pray that you would deliver us from all worry. Help us not to worry about anything today, but in everything, the thanksgiving to present our request to you. And we pray that your peace, which transcends all understanding would guard our hearts and minds in Jesus. And God, we pray today for people who don’t know Jesus as their peace and their security. People around us, that you would help us to proclaim this good news, especially as we have opportunities over the Christmas holidays.
And God, we prayed for people around the world who don’t know about the Prince of Peace. God, we pray for the Nubian people of Uganda and Egypt and Sudan and South Sudan. God, we pray for the spread of the gospel. This Muslim people group that once was Christian, that once knew Jesus is the Prince of Peace, but for centuries now has been held in bondage to Islam in a false picture of who Jesus is.
Praying for Nubian People
God, we pray that you would open eyes of Nubian people. You would blast the church in Uganda and Sudan and South Sudan and Egypt to spread the gospel to the Nubian people, that their eyes might be open to Jesus, the ancient of days. God in the flesh, who is their peace and their shepherd and their security forever. God, we pray for the spread of the gospel to the Nubian people in Africa. We pray these things in the name of Jesus, our peace, security, and shepherd. Amen.
David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical.
David received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Don’t Hold Back, Radical, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, Before You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series.
Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
