Christmas 2023---The Messianic Prophecy of Micah 5

 The accounts of Jesus' birth and infancy in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke are quite different, but they also include quite a lot of common ground.  Both accounts, for example, say that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the town from which David came (Mt 2; Lk 2).  

We learn from Matthew 2:4-6 that Jews in those days expected that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem (see also John 7:42), based on the words of the eighth-century BC prophet Micah.  

Addressing Bethlehem, God says in Micah 5:2, "...from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days."  This verse announces the coming of a godly ruler in Israel; a ruler, remarkably, whose activities stretch back to ancient times.  To be simultaneously past and future, this ruler must be a supernatural figure, and so it is no wonder that this prophecy was seen as messianic.  

The prophecy goes on to say until the coming of this ruler, Israel would suffer.  After that, however, the nation would be reunited (v 3).  In addition, this ruler's authority would extend "to the ends of the earth" (v 4).  

Verse 5 adds, "And he shall  be their peace."  This detail goes well with the messianic title "Prince of Peace" in Isaiah 9:6.  

There is a possible allusion to Micah 5:5 in Ephesians 2:14, where Paul says of Jesus, "For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one...." Here Paul speaks of Jesus' role in  bringing salvation for both Israel and the nations.  This application is consistent with the context of Micah's prophecy.  In Micah 4:1-2, Micah sees a time when the nations will seek the God of Israel.

Sukkot 2021: 1 Kings 8---Dedicating Solomon's Temple

 Solomon began the construction in about 966 BC, in the fourth year of his reign (1 Kings 6:1).  This was 480 years after the Exodus, which would have occurred in about 1446 BC.  Construction was complete about 7 and a half years later, in the 11th year of Solomon's reign (vv 37-38).  

The temple was dedicated the following fall at the Feast of Tabernacles.  This was one of the biggest festival celebrations in Israel's history, and a high point of that history.  For a brief period the nation was united and experienced a spiritual rest (see 1 Kings 8:62-66).

During the celebration the Israelites were reminded of how God had been present with them during their wilderness wanderings, when they had lived in tents.  During that time God had promised that he would guide them into Canaan and choose a location there at which to place his name (Deut 12).  Now, almost 500 years after the Exodus, God had carried out his promises and was present at the new temple (1 Kings 8:1-11).  Representing the nation, Solomon expressed Israel's thanks (vv 14-21).

At that point it would have been natural for Solomon to sit back and congratulate himself on a job well done.  Instead, in a memorable prayer---one of the greatest prayers recorded in the Bible---his thoughts turned to the future.  He had high hopes that the temple would be instrumental in helping Israel fulfill its mission to bring blessing to the nations.  People would see this wonder of the ancient world and be impressed with it and the with God it honored (vv 41-43, 59-60).   

But he knew that this building, as impressive as it was, was also just a tent or booth in some sense.  God could choose to leave the temple, as he had chosen to come to it, and Israel's possession of the land depended on its faithfulness to the covenant.  From Lev 26 and Deut 28, Solomon knew that Israel could  face serious punishment if it abandoned God.  From God's promise to David (2 Sam 7), he knew that the rulership of his descendants on the throne of David could depend on their obedience to God.  

And so on the day the temple was being dedicated, Solomon prayed for God's mercy in the time of Israel's future exile (1 Kings 8:46-51).  Solomon knew from Deut 30 that he was praying according to God's will.  God's mercy, rather than Israel's apostasy, would be the last word.   

God had promised that the throne of David's kingdom would be "established forever" (2 Sam 7:16).  And about 1000 years later, God sent Jesus, from the line of David.  At a later Feast of Tabernacles celebration, Jesus declared, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.  Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, 'Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water' " (John 7:37-38).  In the future there would no longer be a temple building, but God would be present in a body of believers through his Spirit. 

Those believers look forward to the time when God will be present with his people forever (Rev 21:3-4). 

Seder 22 Sermon: A Spring of Life

The motif of "the woman at the well" is an important one in the Bible, beginning in Gen 24.  So is the imagery of God as the source of "living waters" of salvation (Prov 4:23; Isa 12:3; John 7:37-39).  The two come together in Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well in Samaria (John 4).  

In that conversation Jesus said, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again.  The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life" (John 4:13-14).  

Kyle Kettering preached on these things at Church of the Messiah on Aug 15, 2020, encouraging us to be springs of joy that flows out to others.