Micah 5:4
This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.
I think it's very appropriate that the prayer just was about excitement in the Word. Because I have to tell you, as at any time you approach this kind of responsibility with some trepidation, right? But as I studied the passage and as I prayed about it, I can't tell you over the last two weeks or so since I've had my passage how excited I am to be responsible to talk to you tonight about it.
So we're going to be looking at Micah chapter 5 verse 4. If you're using one of the Red Pew Bibles, you'll find it on page 779. While you're turning there, I want to cover some brief background on Micah. Micah operated in the lowland areas called Morseth, about 20 miles southwest of Jerusalem in the 8th century B.C. This is down near what we know today as Gaza. The town itself actually doesn't exist anymore.
In a similar time frame would have been Isaiah and Hosea, maybe not exactly, but around that same time. Before we read, I want to ask you a couple of questions, actually three questions. Have you ever faced a time with complete insecurity of what tomorrow would bring? Perhaps there was a period when you had no place to live. You had no food to eat. Maybe you have even faced the reality of danger.
Possibly even the reality of death. No matter what each of us have faced in life, we all know there is a distinct difference between safety and security versus fear and insecurity. In our passage tonight, we'll be looking at a prophecy given to Micah by God 2,800 years ago about the ultimate provision and protection that God would provide. My hope is that we can learn from this and be assured of the security the Lord gives His people and press on with that assurance.
Let's read. And He shall stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty and name of the Lord His God, and they shall dwell secure. For now He shall be great to the ends of the earth. Most anyone that has read the Bible, and even some who may not have, are familiar with the numerous references to shepherds that are contained in the Bible. Some of these would be patriarchs like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob.
You have Moses who after fleeing Egypt worked as a shepherd until the Lord called him back to Egypt to shepherd His people Israel out of slavery and out of Egypt. We also have, we can't forget, David, the shepherd boy who slayed a giant and became king of Israel. These are all well-known and important men that God called to His plan and purpose. But Micah describes here a very different shepherd. And it's no mysterious surprise as to who it is.
It's Jesus Christ. Let's confirm that quickly with some evidence. First, from just above in Micah 5.2. But you, O Bethlehem, Apathra, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me, one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is of old, from ancient days. This is a common verse we hear and read at Christmastime that points us to the birthplace appointed for the Messiah, Jesus.
Second, I want us to look at Jesus' own words from the Gospel of John chapter 10. In verse 11 Jesus says, I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. In verse 14 Jesus says, I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me. In verse 16 Jesus says, so there will be one flock, one shepherd. And lastly, in verse 27, my sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
There are many other examples, of course, throughout both the Old and New Testament, but for now, let's save those for another day. Let's take the evidence that we have, and let's assess the situation. First, what is the state of things? Well, Jesus stands and shepherds. As the passage states, His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord, His God.
We all seek security in one way or another. Some of those ways are good. Some of them perhaps not so. But here we are promised that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as Dr. Mohler preached this morning, the Word of God made flesh, stands and watches over us. And Jesus shepherds us. In other words, He provides care, comfort, nourishment, protection, all of the things that the shepherd image portrays.
And I want to point out to you as an encouragement how He does this. He does it, as the passage says, in the strength of the Lord, In the majesty of the Lord and in the name of the Lord. What an amazing promise of protection that is. So, that is the status. What are the results? Well, they're two-fold. They, that is his flock, we who follow him shall dwell secure.
Two, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. In other words, his glory and honor, authority and position goes on forever and ever. Now that's the shepherd. Well, if we are the flock, then logically that same promise of provision and security that he provides goes on to us forever and ever. okay big thoughts right what's the application for us well to put it simply we dwell secure in this passage Micah lays out several things the shepherd will do and now does for his flock it's a job description if you will we just went over it in detail for Micah this was a promise of what was to come.
For us, it is a reminder of what is and continues to be the shepherd doing his job. The promised provision is fulfilled. Therefore, we dwell secure in the care of the shepherd, Christ Jesus. Now, please, do not hear this and think that I'm saying we do nothing. Let's not think of the word here dwell as meaning we only stand around with our hands in our pockets in some blissful passive state of existence.
That is not the case. Our faith should create a reaction and produce fruit. Let's look at some applications for our daily lives both as individual sheep but also as a flock kept here in the pastures of 3rd Avenue. To do this, I want us to look more deeply at the word used here in Hebrew for dwell, which is yashab. Now, to be clear, I'm no Hebrew scholar. None of that.
That just, this, you just Google it, okay? Yashab. Other translations that I was able to locate on Google indicate that other things you can say in English that would pass for this word are concepts such as to settle down with or to sit down with. I want us to look at those. First, as an application, we dwell.
Dr. Mohler preached this morning on Jesus from John 1.14 where the word became flesh and dwelt among us. Think about that. The Son of God dwelt with us. Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, said in John 27, oh, sorry, my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me. So then we now dwell in the Word of God. It's not just on Sunday, it's not just on home group day, it's not just on Bible study, but daily as individual sheep and corporately as a flock.
Next, we sit down with. Let's take that translation. Let's take this as a call to prayer as individuals, as families, and as a church. Let us sit down with the good shepherd and give him praise. Offer him our confession. Seek his wisdom. Ask for his intercession. And plead for his mercy. In addition. Lastly. We settle with.
Let's take this as an execution. Of our obedient actions of faith. The service we each offer and do. Can be different. But to be clear. That difference doesn't include absence. Truth be told. As I wrote these notes. And prepared for tonight. I had to ask myself on more than one occasion, what have I done in the past week to fulfill my service to Jesus Christ? It's a question we all should consider on a fairly regular basis.
Now, applying things practically in our lives sometimes isn't easy. Life, work, distractions, old habits often overwhelm our efforts. So, to help us all out, I'm going to send us home tonight with homework for the week. First, here's your homework. First, dwell with the shepherd. I want you to read Micah 5.4. I want you to read the Great Shepherd Psalm, Psalm 23.
And I want you to read John 10 this week. Second, take the time to sit down with the shepherd and pray over what his word says in these books that I've asked you to read for homework. And then lastly, settle with the shepherd by being proactive in our faith and grow in our dedication to him. Now, there may be some of you here tonight that do not know the shepherd we've talked about this evening if so let me share this with you in that same gospel of john chapter 10 but in verse 9 this jesus we've been speaking about said this i am the door if anyone enters by me he will be saved and will go in and find pasture if you don't know the good shepherd and you have questions about the Jesus you've heard
of here I encourage you after the service please come bring your questions to me to one of the pastors or honestly to any member here at third and we'd be happy to share with you more about Jesus Christ, the good shepherd, the shepherd promised in Micah 5, 4. And for all of us, let's not lose faith and hope. Jesus is both the entry for us to salvation and the shepherd over us to redemption and eternal security. Come, dwell with him, sit down with him, and settle with him.
Let's pray. Lord God, we praise you and we thank you for the good shepherd, your son, Jesus Christ. We praise him for the work he has done and we praise the Holy Spirit for the word that we have to read. In Christ's name we pray, amen.