Mild and Heat in Winter: Three Glories of His Introduction

Introduction will get me via the winter.

Now, the Minnesota winters are nothing to trifle with. They’ll final a full 4 months, generally 5. Earlier than lengthy, these winters really feel like half the yr. But at the same time as a South Carolina native, I endure them effectively sufficient with the assistance of an excellent Introduction.

The sunshine and heat of a Christian December go a good distance in taking the sting off these lengthy, darkish, merciless winters. Earlier than lengthy, it’s January. Sure, two frigid months nonetheless lie forward. Nevertheless, yr after yr, I discover {that a} good, deliberate, relished religious journey as much as Christmas helps shorten the winter up right here within the northern latitudes.

Marvels of the One Who Comes

Among the best methods to savor the Introduction season is to linger over the hanging glories of these many Outdated Testomony prophecies that anticipated the approaching of Christ. We’ve got our beloved passages from Isaiah, and one we frequently attain for, from his up to date, is Micah 5:2–5.

Like Isaiah, Micah writes some seven centuries earlier than the approaching of Christ. God gave him a glimpse, and put a phrase in his mouth, that will feed God’s folks for seven hundred years with well-founded hope. Nonetheless at this time these verses affirm for the church the facility of our God and his phrase, with the majesty and humility of Christ.

The wonders of our God, and his sending his personal Son at Christmas, are far previous discovering out. But even right here, in a prophecy that predates the primary Christmas by seven hundred years, we glimpse three beautiful glories of the one who “comes forth” at Christmas, the one we await once more every Introduction.

1. He Comes from Modest Inventory

We could be so aware of the identify Bethlehem that we miss the surprise of it. It might not have been the tiny backwater that Nazareth was, however it was modest, even with its regal overtones.

“Among the best methods to savor Introduction is to pause over the hanging glories of the primary prophecies that anticipated Christ’s coming.”

Initially referred to as Ephrath (Genesis 35:16, 19; 48:7), it was first remembered in historic Israel because the burial place of Jacob’s beloved spouse, Rachel, who died giving delivery to Benjamin. Later, after centuries in Egypt, the wilderness wandering, and the nation’s institution within the promised land, the city was referred to as Bethlehem throughout the interval of judges and subsequently.

However the metropolis’s associations with Rachel have been eclipsed when Israel’s second king, and biggest sovereign, got here to the throne round 1000 BC. Then the little city was exalted with its shepherd of humble origin. So Micah prophecies,

you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
     who’re too little to be among the many clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
     one who’s to be ruler in Israel . . . (Micah 5:2)

The primary glory of the one coming forth is that he comes from Bethlehem. In Micah’s day, God had already completed this as soon as with David — the shepherd rising to the throne. Now, some three centuries later, the prophet tells of one other ruler who will come up, and ascend, like David, and from David’s personal line and city. In actual fact, God had promised this, in essence, to David throughout his lifetime:

I’ll elevate up your offspring after you, who shall come out of your physique, and I’ll set up his kingdom. . . . And your own home and your kingdom shall be made certain ceaselessly earlier than me. Your throne shall be established ceaselessly. (2 Samuel 7:12–16)

David’s son Solomon was a primary achievement of the prophecy, however he too, like his father, died. He couldn’t reign ceaselessly. What this primary glimpse from Micah establishes (at minimal) shouldn’t be solely the Coming One’s pedigree in David’s line, but additionally his humanity. Clearly, the one coming forth will probably be human, David’s personal offspring, and, for all his majesty, a human ruler (“descended from David in response to the flesh,” Romans 1:3).

In addition to, why would anybody anticipate this coming Messiah could possibly be something apart from human? Nonetheless, the prophet, talking on God’s behalf, offers one other glimpse within the subsequent line.

2. He Comes from Historic Occasions

What the prophet says subsequent would possibly lead us to surprise if the little city shouldn’t be the Messiah’s origin however his portal. He comes from Bethlehem, sure, but additionally via Bethlehem:

. . . from [Bethlehem] shall come forth for me
     one who’s to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of previous,
     from historic days . . . (Micah 5:2)

He’s from Bethlehem, but not in the end from Bethlehem. Somewhat, mysteriously, this coming one is “from of previous, from historic days.” He’s a human ruler, descended from David, and rising up like David from a modest upbringing, however he’s greater than a human king. And this isn’t David reincarnate, or some historic champion, again from the grave — and even an angel in human flesh. That is someway the Historic of Days himself, the one one who actually is “of previous” — God himself come as man, via the portal of Bethlehem, to rule as man. Bethlehem is his threshold; an unwed maiden his door; however his origin is divine, earlier than the inspiration of the world.

3. He Involves Shepherd with Power

Nonetheless, Micah forecasts extra. Sure, he’s totally man, and but someway additionally divine — each God and in addition someway man. However Micah tells us not simply his essence however his method, not solely who will rule however how he’ll reign:

And he shall stand and shepherd his flock within the power of the Lord,
     within the majesty of the identify of the Lord his God.
And so they shall dwell safe, for now he shall be nice
     to the ends of the earth.
And he shall be their peace. (Micah 5:4–5)

That is exceedingly excellent news for his flock, his folks — and horribly dangerous information for his or her enemies.

He’ll “shepherd his flock,” says Micah, an image of compassion and concern, loving provision and safety. And he’ll accomplish that “within the power of the Lord.” In different phrases, he will probably be a robust shepherd, robust sufficient that his flock would possibly dwell safe below his rule and luxuriate in actual peace in him — and this may imply the alternative for the foes of his flock.

That their shepherd is powerful is ominous for his or her enemies. And that their shepherd is powerful is a candy balm for his folks: “they shall dwell safe . . . he shall be their peace.”

Peace to His Individuals

The approaching of such peace, within the Sturdy Shepherd, to the ends of the earth, is a shocking Christmas declaration. Nonetheless at this time, these dwelling phrases in an historic prophet are an invitation to all, to any who would bow to embrace the God-man. However these phrases aren’t a promise to all. They’re a promise of peace to those that obtain him, at the same time as they’re a portentous warning to those that won’t bow.

When he comes, the multitude of the heavenly host say,

Glory to God within the highest, and on earth peace amongst these with whom he’s happy! (Luke 2:14)

His introduction won’t imply peace for unrepentant rebels. However for his flock, his comfortable topics, his glad worshipers, his expensive pals, his second coming will deliver the peace and remaining security for which our souls have all the time ached — a grace actually worthy of the phrase “everlasting safety.”

And until then, we wait — even and particularly in winter — feeding, as our forebears did, on the sunshine and heat of his promised Introduction.