Suggested Date: December 12th
Micah of Moresheth prophesied to Israel about coming judgment, but also of future hope when the Messiah will finally reign.
Scripture: Micah 5:1-2
1 Marshal your troops now, city of troops,
for a siege is laid against us.
They will strike Israel’s ruler
on the cheek with a rod.
2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans
of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.”
digging deeper
1. What do these verses in Micah say about Jesus?
2. Who sends this future ruler and where will He come from?
3. What distinguishes the ruler who will come from Bethlehem from an ordinary human being? How long has this ruler existed?
4.What does it tell you about God’s character that he would choose a small and unremarkable town like
Bethlehem to be the birthplace of the Messiah?
wrap-up
Over 700 years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Micah prophesied that a ruler who existed long before, “from the days of eternity,” would come forth from that tiny city. Fittingly Jesus, the bread of life, the prophesied ruler from the tribe of Judah, was born in the fullness of time in Bethlehem, the house
(Hebrew: beth) of bread (Hebrew: lehem).
respond in worship
“O morning stars together
Proclaim thy holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And peace to men on earth...”
respond in prayer
God, we thank you that you use the lowly and meek to accomplish your purposes. Thank you that you can use our lives to bless others, even though we are weak. Please show us how you want to use us to bless others during this Advent season. In Jesus’ name, Amen.