Faith Formation: Micah - Justice, Kindness, humility

But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of God. And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth, and he shall be the one of peace. Micah 5:2-5a

The ruler of Israel had been humiliated. The enemies of Jerusalem slapped him in the face, and through him the whole people were disgraced. Defeated in so many ways, exiled, city razed, and people left without nation or a center of faith, from where was hope to come? Who would say a word that could might sustain them and give them a reason to still be the people of God?

The prophets never gave up hope. They were realists about their failings and the disasters that were coming to the city and people. They hoped for a new ruler like David or one of the judges of old who was faithful and brought peace to the land. Lacking a descendent of David or a judge like Deborah, they envisioned an unknown, as yet unseen ruler, savior, anointed one (messiah) sent from God. Micah envisioned such a ruler in terms of Davidic origins in Bethlehem, but Micah did not use any reference to the Davidic promise of a descendent on the throne. Nor did Micah resurrect "king" language, substituting the somewhat lesser term "ruler," and specifically a ruler for God, subordinate to God; "from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule." It would not be the ruler's "strength" or "majesty" that would bring security and peace, but rather the LORD's.

Restoration of dignity and a holy place in their Promised Land would not come immediately. Everything would be given up for a time. That time would be a time of suffering, like a woman experiences in labor. While the birth of a child, or the arrival of a savior remained the hope, the time of waiting would entail great suffering. Typically, "woman in labor" references in the prophets signaled times of distress under the assault of enemies rather than expectations of hope and new life. Micah used the term that way earlier. "Now you cry aloud? Is there no king in you? Has your counselor perished, that pangs have seized you like a woman in labor." 4:9 The time of exile and suffering had to be endured, before there would be one who could shepherd them in security and peace by the strength and majesty of the LORD the ruler served.

Suffering would be their lot while they waited the return of their kindred. Israel knew many instances of separation and division amidst the community that was to be the people of God, Israel. The pain of separation and the longing for the return of "the rest of his kindred" ran through their story. Some tribes, Manasseh, Gad and Reuben settled on the other side of the Jordan bringing about suspicion from those who dwelt in the ancestral lands. After Solomon died the united kingdom of Saul, David and Solomon was split in two, as was the kingship, the faith, and the peace, as brother was set against brother. Assyria and eventually Babylon took many people away from the land, while others remained behind longing for those who left. The separation was great. Those who stayed went on with their lives and intermarried with their neighbors. Upon return, the pure ones, rejected their brothers and sisters who stayed behind, and the separations continued. Separation and division remained painful, even as the prophets longed for reconciliation and reunion.

The promise the prophets envisioned was of a new shepherd, a ruler who would stand and protect the people, who would care for and feed the people. Ezekiel held out little hope that such a person would arise and threw his vision of hope on God alone who would be a good shepherd for God's people. The followers of Jesus came to understand his life in terms of this shepherd, a good shepherd, who ruled not for his own strength or majesty, but for God who sent him and for the people God loved. The picture from Micah of a ruler who "shall stand and feed his flock" and "shall be one of peace" captured the imagination of Jesus followers. They came to trust that Jesus was this kind of ruler and they followed him seeking the peace he would bring.

Do Justice. Love Kindness. Walk humbly with God.

Pastor Tim Bauer