MICAH 5:4

He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.

TO PONDER

The prophet Micah lived between 700 and 650 BC. His message alternates prophecies of doom and hope. You need to read 5:3 with 5:4.

I don’t know about you, but going to Sunday school, lessons from the Old Testament were about doom, gloom, wars, crime and punishment. Original sin (Adam and Eve), the Great Flood and Sodom and Gomorrah are stories I remember well. 

Our verses today are a departure from the norm. They bring hope to us all. God is telling us that a Messiah will be born of a woman. He will come to save us in the majesty of the Lord His God. These short verses have reinforced my belief that God has been signalling his plan to save all of us over a very long time. It has modified my perception that the Old Testament is all doom and gloom.

Prayer

Dear God, Thank you for your Holy Book and your prophet’s words to us to give us hope in your love and the plans you have for all your people.

Today's devotion written by Paul and Ruth Niemczyk, LifeWay Epping