Micah 5, Surprising Details About My Ruler
1. My Ruler Was Born In Bethlehem (v2)
2. My Ruler Existed Before Everything (v2)
3. My Ruler Will Be The Last Ruler (v3-4)
4. My Ruler Is The Source Of Peace (v4-5)
Micah 5, Surprising Details About My Ruler
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As we consider Micah Chapter 5 this morning, I thought we'd begin by just a little bit of a survey. If you don't mind participating with me just by a show of hands, if I could see if you've ever worn deodorant, could you raise your hand? If you're not wearing it today, you don't have to raise your hand. That's OK, just. Keep your hand up if you prefer to wear a degree sport for men. Alright, we got one good job alright. Thank you my buddy right there. How about this one? If you were born before 2000, how about raising your hand born before 2000? Raise your hand, that's amazing. I can't believe you're born in the 1900s too. Wow, that's so cool like you two you're born in the 1900s. That's amazing. What a coincidence. It's so surprising. Keep your hand up. If you were born in Southern California. Nice nice before 2000s in Southern California. Wow, this is pretty remarkable that there would be so many of us. How about born in the 70s? Whoa, me and Colleen, that's it. Only the two of us, I guess. Born in May. Oh, not born in me, whoa. How is it that we don't have more people born in the 70s in May in Southern California? How is it that we don't have more people who wear degree sport for men? How is it that we? Have such differences and variety amongst us in our ages and our preferences in our history and our background? How how is it? Of course I'm being a little bit silly here, and you could imagine many more probing questions I could ask. You know what your mother's maiden name and Social Security number and things like that and try to rip off your identity like those Facebook quizzes. Thinking about Mike at Chapter 5 has me thinking this way because, well, there's some surprising things that come from this prophecy that Micah gives, and the probability of prophecies being fulfilled. The probability of all of these things coming together. How likely is it that there would be someone here this morning who was born in 19? 28 Who is born in the month of May, who is born in Southern California and wears degrees sport for men but is not me like the more things we add on to that the more and more unlikely it is that somebody else will match that criteria, right? When you think about the Prophet Micah and some of the prophecies that he gives specifically this one here in Micah chapter five, he prophesized the birth place. Of the Messiah. Bethlehem and it's a well known passage. As a result, we think about it every Christmas. Mike, in Chapter 5, verse two, is one that you know most people know as a result. And it's one of many things that are prophesied about the Messiah that make it less and less. The odds are more and more against the idea of all of the prophecies about the Messiah ever being fulfilled in one person, and so that makes the fact that Jesus fulfills all of these prophecies incredibly remarkable and it moves it beyond the idea of well. That's probably the truth. It moves it into the realm of certainty that Jesus. Is that promised savior just as he claimed he would be, and it's proven by the prophecies he fulfilled in his birth and his life and his death and resurrection, we see the scriptures fulfilled. Over and over and over again. And one of those classics we're not going to get into a ton of those prophecies today, but just looking at this one here at Mike in chapter Five, I've titled The Message. Surprising details about my ruler. Surprising details about my ruler and making it personal today because as we consider these things and the things that are prophesied about Jesus Christ about the Messiah, that it's not just meant to be intellectual that we understand, or that we know, but but that these are things to impact us and to. Impact our lives in a way that we are servants of and in submission to the one who was born the king of. The Jews, Jesus Christ. Now, this prophecy in in Mike in Chapter 5 is interesting because we're going to ignore some of the surrounding verses, which is not typically advisable, right? Typically we want to bring in the context, but here in Micah chapter five we have kind of a side note in a prophecy about the coming judgments that the nation of Assyria and Babylon. By bringing against the nation of Israel and Judah, you can see that in verse one here of Micah Chapter 5 it says mobilize Marshall your troops. The enemy is laying siege to Jerusalem. They will strike Israel's leader in the face with a rod. There's a siege on Jerusalem, and Israel's leader is going to be struck in. The face. This is a prophecy about King Zedekiah, the final king of the nation of Judah. As Jerusalem is under siege, he is caught when he tries to escape. When the walls are breached, they capture him and they put out his eyes, apparently with a rod they they gouge out his eyes. After they kill his sons before him and so here we have this prophecy about this judgment that Israel would. Please as we read verse one now it has been fulfilled and that took place when Babylon conquered Jerusalem. The Jews were led into captivity for 70 years, brought back after the Persian army took over. Persian Empire took over and we've been through those things a little bit, so I'm not going to go tell all that history but but just to make the point here. And as you can see in verse one, he is addressing the coming judgments that are about to take place. But then he looks a little bit further ahead. At the coming of the Messiah, and so we're going to look at four points here, surprising details about my ruler starting in verse 2 for point number one. My ruler was born in Bethlehem. My ruler was, was your ruler born in Bethlehem? Show of hands? If you're ruler. No, I'm just kidding. I don't want to. Everybody out if your ruler is not Jesus, then we can talk after service. But verse two says. But you, O Bethlehem ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel, whose origins are in the distant past, will come from you on. My behalf, and so in the midst of talking about the coming judgments and the things that the nations the nation of Israel was divided in two. At that time, the Northern Kingdom, called Israel the Southern Kingdom called Judah, and they were in rebellion against God and they were suffering the consequences in the. Battles and things that were going on by the nation of Assyria and then later on by the Nation of Babylon. But in the midst of that, he interrupts and says, you know, here's a side note, but you, oh, Bethlehem Africa, and he begins to talk about this little city called Bethlehem. Bethlehem was a city in the southern part of the Nation of Israel, just a few miles. South of Jerusalem is where the city of Bethlehem sits, and it was not a significant. City here he calls it a small village among all the people of Judah. It was not a prominent city. It was not a magnificent city. It was just a small village that was there within the nation. And there were other cities or villages with the name Bethlehem, and so he clarifies the specifics which when he's talking about Bethlehem, Ephrathah Ephrathah is a region there that the city dwells in. And so it's there that specific one. Genesis Chapter 48 talks about as Isaac is kind of retelling some of his history, how Rachel died. Was Isaac yeah, was Isaac. How Rachel died on the Wii? Man, I'm really messing up with my head now. Anyways, you can read Genesis chapter 48 on your own, but Rachel died on the way into the promised land and was buried there near. Ephrathah or Ephrath, which is where the city of Bethlehem was, and so Bethlehem Ephrathah to distinguish it from other Bethlehem. It it was a insignificant city. It was not prominent and it and it was so insignificant that it had to be qualified. Listen when you say Jerusalem, you don't have to qualify it. You only have to qualify it if you're talking about a different Jerusalem, right? If you're talking about Bethlehem PA, then you know you understand there. There's that extra qualifier that's needed, but but Bethlehem was so insignificant. It was there was no way to tell which Bethlehem you were talking about, because none of them stood. Not, and this one in particular was incredibly small and insignificant. It was just a little village. In a time of war, the. City of Bethlehem would not be able to even produce 1000 men to fight in the battle. There there wasn't 1000 soldiers amongst them to to send in to contribute to the troops. Today's population of Bethlehem is believed to be around 28,000. That's about the same size as the city of Norco, so you can kind of think about Norco and Bethlehem today. And today's populations are are roughly the same size back in Jesus's day, the the town of Bethlehem was much smaller, probably 1000, to maybe 5000 people at the most. And so then you could think about the population of Hagerman, right population of Hagerman according to. To do really serious research done on the Internet 10 minutes before service, 988 people is the population of Hagerman City Hagerman proper. So the the idea there is. Just this just this little. Small town, not significant. In fact, the only reason why I can mention Hagerman. Is because we know somebody there, right? Pastor Deon went out from here many years ago, now established there. Calvary Chapel, Hagerman and and so we have that connection otherwise, if I said Hagerman. We would just like each. Other like I don't. I don't know who. That what that is is that a place. Is that a person? What are what are you talking about that that it's insignificant when it's such a small population? This was the town of Bethlehem. There a small village among all the people of Judah. The only reason why you know the name Bethlehem today. Is because of this prophecy. And its fulfillment that that's the only you would have never heard of Bethlehem unless it was Bethlehem PA. But Bethlehem PA probably wouldn't even been named Bethlehem if this prophecy hadn't have been there, it it was insignificant, not noteworthy. It was not well known. It was nothing to be impressed by. Commentator William Curtis says when they named the major cities of Israel in the Old Testament, Bethlehem didn't make the list. Yet out of this insignificant place would come the most significant person ever born on Earth. The Messiah of Israel. God really likes to work in those contrasts. Many times, the most insignificant place. Is where he brought forth the most significant person to ever walk the face of the Earth. And so, Bethlehem, this little village, is small. But he says, yet, a ruler of. Israel will come.
From you.
Now this is really unlikely. If you're doing the math, if you're doing, you know some probability equations in this at Mika's day. This this is an unlikely concept. An unlikely idea in light of what. What does Mike have been prophesying the destruction? Of the Northern Kingdom, Israel and the southern Kingdom, Judah not only are they going to be destroyed as in defeated, but they are going to be destroyed and then emptied out of the. Land the Nation of Israel is conquered by Assyria, taken out of the land, depopulated from the land, other people from other nations are taken and brought into the the land of Israel in their place. The nation of Judah conquered by Babylon. Three times each time some were taken captive to Babylon the third time. All of them. There was just a very tiny remnant and they fled to Egypt, so everybody is gone. All of the Jewish people are out of the land in the fulfillment of these prophecies of the destruction that would come from their rebellion and disobedience to God. And so it's unlikely for a ruler to come out of Bethlehem. If the surrounding prophecies are going to be fulfilled. If Babylon's going to come and destroy and take everyone captive, if Assyria is going to come and destroy and take everyone captive, how is there going to be? Anybody left to have a descendant of David? Come out of Bethlehem. How is there going to be a ruler who can come out of Bethlehem when the nations have been conquered and LED astray into captivity? It's just unlikely. It's not going to happen. The prophet Micah. Around the same time as the prophet Isaiah. This was 707 fifty to 730 BC. Little over 700 years before Christ is born, he's on the scene prophesying right before the end of the northern Kingdom. The southern Kingdom lasted a little bit longer till Babylon was. On the scene and there conquered. But Micah is prophesying to both nations about both judgments about both of them being conquered and emptied out. Both kingdoms are going into captivity. It's unlikely that a ruler could come from Bethlehem. In light of that. It's also unlikely. When you think about that time that would be involved here. 700 years before. Christ is born. He says out of you, Bethlehem will come the ruler. And we know as history unfolds Cyrus, King of Persia releases the Jews. They're allowed to go back to the land to rebuild the temple. Later on, Nehemiah comes on the scene rebuilds the walls of Jerusalem. There there is the repopulation of Israel by the Jewish people. It's a absolute miracle that takes place. In that. And so this. Prophecy is able to be fulfilled, but even assuming that that would take place. This is 700 years prior to the birth of Christ that this is being written. Just to maybe try to imagine it a little bit in our minds that that would be like Christopher Columbus writing about someone being born in Norco today. He couldn't even imagine that there was a place called. Marco, he didn't dream of Horsetown USA, you know on his way over the ocean like. There's just no way that he could have any idea, any concept. About that little town Norco. Even though it's a big town for us, we know it really well. We're right next door, but 700 years ago, no, nobody. Nobody had any ideas. About this place. No concepts, no prophecies, no significance. Bethlehem would have been the same way 700 years before. Nobody was thinking about Bethlehem. Nobody was looking to Bethlehem, even though it was the birth place of David. Afterwards, David's lineage didn't continue to stay there. They moved to Jerusalem. It was still insignificant in David's Day. And in his son's days and in his grandson's days. And Michael's day. Was a little town hardly nothing to it. But the amazing thing is this prophecy is given that the ruler will come from Bethlehem, and and everybody knew it. Remember, in Matthew chapter 2. One of the classic. Accounts of Christmas. Jesus being born in Bethlehem. During the reign of King Herod the Wise men. From the eastern lands arrived saying, where is the newborn king? Of the Jews. We saw his star we've come to worship him. Herod is deeply troubled by this, causes quite a stir amongst the city, and so he calls in all the religious leaders and he says, where is the Messiah supposed to be born? Because these guys are saying the king of the Jews has been born. So where is this supposed to happen? Interesting, right? Herod kind of believed that prophecies might be fulfilled and so tell me about those prophecies because I think maybe one of them has been fulfilled. Where is this supposed to happen? And the religious leaders. Quoted from Mike at Chapter 5 and said it's supposed to be in Bethlehem. Like 10 miles away from here. Just S from here. Heard Bethlehem in Judea. Because this is what the Prophet wrote, they knew the scripture. They looked at this passage here and Micah and knew this is saying the Messiah, the savior of the world. Is to be born in Bethlehem. Unlikely place. But the prophecy was foretold. So they knew to look there, although the religious leaders didn't look, Harry did, but they didn't care to look, but the people knew it later on in the life and Ministry of Jesus in John Chapter 7. It talks about the crowds arguing a little bit over like they're seeing his miracles. They're hearing his words, they're they're. They're seeing his ministry and wow, so much is happening. It's so amazing he must be the Messiah. But they didn't know the birth account of Jesus like we do today and so. They're thinking, well, he's from Galilee, isn't he? Isn't he from the Messiah supposed to come from Bethlehem? Verse 42 of John Seven for the Scriptures clearly states that the Messiah will be born of the royal line of David in Bethlehem, the village where King David was born. The people knew this was common knowledge. This is the prophecy that the Lord, the Messiah, the Savior will be born in Bethlehem. My ruler was born in Bethlehem. That's where Jesus was born. And so that's why we remember this event and this account at Christmas time that that census that took place. Luke Chapter 2 records because. This is the prophecy the Messiah is to be born there, but Mary and Joseph they're not in Bethlehem. Where are they? They're in Nazareth, 70 miles north. And so the senses. Was an instrument of the Lord to bring them back. To Joseph's heritage, to the line of David, to the city of Bethlehem. To fulfill this scripture so that the ruler from the Lord would be born in Bethlehem, just as God foretold. Now he says here in verse two at the end on my behalf. And it's really important to remember that the father. Sent the son. The father sent Jesus it's on his behalf that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Sometimes we make too much of a division or distinction between the father and the son. That we think you know the father is the angry one. He's the one that's always upset and Jesus. Is the nice one. So we like to hang out with him. But it's the father who sent the son John. 316 God so loved the world. He gave his one and only son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life 17 times throughout the book of John Jesus specifically says the father sent me. And he is laying claim to this prophecy. He is laying claim to be that savior that Messiah. He's laying claim to the fact that he is this ruler that was foretold and prophesied about. My ruler was born in Bethlehem. Well, continuing to consider some surprising details about my ruler. Verse two also gives us point #2 and that is my ruler existed before. Everything my ruler existed before everything verse 2 again says, but you. Oh, Bethlehem, Africa are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler whose origins are in the distant past. Shall come from you on my behalf. Here making note of this other characteristic highlighted here by Micah the Prophet. This ruler would not only be born in Bethlehem. But the birth of this ruler would not be the beginning of this ruler. His origins Extend beyond. His birth. And and he's not just saying. His origins extend previous to that to his conception. Not just nine months previous is, you know when this ruler began to exist, but this ruler has existed. His origins are in the distant past. This idea of a distant past. It's not just nine months, it's not just a couple of years. It's not just a couple 100 years. Commentator Fawcett says the terms here convey the strongest assertion of infinite duration. Which the Hebrew language is capable. It's the strongest way that Micah could say he has always existed. Way back as far as you look to the vanishing points he was there. Beyond that is the idea here and so other translations treated a little bit differently and so distant past is what the new living translation says. That new King James version. Says that he is from of old, from everlasting. Because that's the idea conveyed here in the language that it's as far back as we can say as we know how to communicate as we know how to talk about, it's from everlasting or the English standard version says he's from ancient days. Where the NIV says that he is from ancient times this. This is as far back as you can think and and from beyond that he has existed. This is something unique about Jesus every other person. Began to exist. At a particular point in time that is definable, that is not beyond the vanishing point, but that is somewhere on this. Side of that vanishing point. But Jesus, he has existed. From everlasting. He existed before everything. This ruler that Mike is prophesying about would not just be every other or like every other created thing. This ruler that Micah is referring to is himself the creator. The apostle Paul and Colossians chapter one talks about Jesus in this way. Christ is the visible image of the Invisible God he existed before anything was created and his supreme over all creation. For through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on Earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see, such as Thrones, kingdoms, rulers and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him he existed before anything else and he holds all creation. Establishing very clearly Jesus is. The creator of the heavens and the Earth and everything was created by him and for him he is not created. He is. The father, the son, the Holy Spirit, talking about the triune nature of God. Not diverging into that discussion, but recognizing the reality that the father, the son, the Holy Spirit are one, have existed eternally. Jesus did not begin to exist in Bethlehem on that day. He didn't begin to exist a few months prior to it he. Has no beginning. He is before all beginnings. It boggles our mind. It's hard for us to understand, but this is the reality of God as he has revealed himself to us in the scriptures and Jesus himself claimed this. One example is found in John Chapter 8. As he's interacting with the religious leaders. He tells them that Abraham rejoiced. To see Jesus. He said he saw it and was glad he saw my day and the people were confused. They said you're not even 50. Years old. How can you say that you've seen Abraham? He said before Abraham was I am. A reference to you, Jesus there is referring to himself as the great I am of the Old Testament scriptures. He is claiming to be God. That was Jesus's claim. They knew it, that's why they picked up stones to stone him. That is the clear doctrine and teaching of the scriptures consistently. Throughout my ruler existed before everything. He is not a created being, even though he was born. He is the creator. God, who became man who added humanity to his deity. So that. He could walk this earth. The human life. And then die upon the cross for his people, that their sins might be forgiven, and that they might be redeemed. Surprising details. That this great ruler, that the creator of heavens and the Earth would be born in Bethlehem. Would come from there, but that. That wouldn't be his beginning. He existed before everything. Moving on to verses three and four, we get point #3 and that is my ruler will be the last ruler. My ruler is going to be the last one he's going to be the last one standing amongst all the competition for those who want power who want to rule the world. It's going to be Jesus who stands at the end rolling over all verse three and four. It says this. The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies until the woman in labor gives birth. Then at last his fellow countrymen will return from exile to their own land. And he will stand to lead his flock with the. Lord's strength And the majesty of the name. Of the Lord his God. Then his people will live there undisturbed. For he will be highly honored around the world. My ruler will be the last ruler. The Prophet Micah here is looking ahead and he has some very specific details that he's sharing at the same time. He doesn't provide, and probably himself doesn't have full clarity into how all of these things will be worked out and their exact timings in being fulfilled. But he understands this. Right now, as I'm saying these things, Micah says. There's going to be a gap of time before this ruler comes forth, and in this gap of time the people of Israel verse three will be abandoned to their enemies. Israel is going to be conquered by Assyria, taken away captive, Judah is going to be conquered by Babylon and taken away captive their rebellion and their disobedience to God has brought them to this point. They will experience this judgment. This discipline from God, and so the people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies. Until the woman in labor gives birth. Now this woman in labor is probably not talking about Mary giving birth, although maybe there's a double fulfillment there in that. But but the idea here is the imagery here that that there is going to be this birth pains for the nation of Israel like a woman in labor until this. Final ruler comes on the scene. The idea of birth pains here is is something that is used throughout the scriptures. In talking about the second coming of Jesus Christ and the those final days, and in fact Revelation Chapter 12, you can read there the vision that John has. Of this woman giving birth and it's kind of a. And analogy of the whole history of the nation of Israel, that that they are going through these birth pains that Israel and Judah as they head into captivity. But ever since then, there's been dispersion. There's been persecution, there's been affliction. There's been these birth pains and they're they're getting closer and closer together. The closer that we get to the return of Jesus Christ and and there's more to come. The Antichrist, as he comes on the scene as and is established is going to bring the worst persecution that Israel has ever. The worst persecution yet is still to come. Until the woman in labor gives birth, check out Revelation Chapter 12 to kind of back up that thought to continue that line of thought. But then in verse three he goes on to say, then at last his fellow countrymen will return from exile to their own land. And so there is going to be the dispersing, dispersing the persecution, the affliction, the spreading out. But then at. The end there's going to be a regathering. Under the leadership of this ruler at last, his fellow countrymen will return from exile to their own land, and so Micah 700 years before Christ is born is for telling these things. But again, he doesn't have the the exact detail on how they're laid out, he's. Talking about these things and some of the elements that God has revealed to him, we have a little bit more clarity now because we're looking back on many of the prophecies that have already been fulfilled. Field, but we also have the additional prophecies given to us in the rest of the Old Testament, as well as the New Testament, which gives much more light on these things, and so we're able to put together some kind of time references a little bit to help us understand these things a little bit. And so this is. One that I often share with you. We are living currently in what we could refer to as the Church age. It began, of course, with the Ministry of Jesus the day of Pentecost, and it continues until the rapture of the church, and so that's a time that we don't know exactly when it's going to take place, that that the Lord will come back. We'll catch the church. Up to meet him in the clouds, he won't set foot on Earth at this time, but we will meet him. Kind of interrupt his path. Downward, we'll join with him and then we will be with the Lord for all of eternity. Including and seven years from then after the Tribulation period when he returns for the second coming. But that tribulation period will be a period of wrath being poured out upon the earth tribulation like the world has never seen before, labor pains being fulfilled. For the nation of Israel and the whole world until that final coming of Jesus the 2nd. And the first and second coming of Jesus are familiar to us, because again, we've seen the first coming. We've seen that fulfilled and and seen the scriptures about that. And we've seen the promises of Jesus to return, and so we can make a distinction. Many times an Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah. The 1st and 2nd coming. Are discussed. That's in the same verse that there is the coming of the Messiah and both aspects of his coming are referred to simultaneously. That details were not revealed to those prophets in the Old Testament, as clearly as we have them today. But when Jesus comes back for the second coming, he'll put an end. To the Battle of Armageddon, who established his Kingdom for 1000 years and there will be this time of great peace as he rules and reigns upon the Earth for 1000 years. And then after that thousand years is complete, there's one final rebellion. One attempt, one final attempt by the enemy to thwart the plans of God. It will fail instantly and that will usher in eternity and you can follow along through the Book of Revelation for. All of those things. Commentator William Curtis says when the prophets saw events in the future, they had no way of knowing the time gaps between them. And in the case of the Messiah, God shielded them, shielded the prophets from the prophets, the knowledge that he was going to send them aside. Not once but twice, and there would be a lengthy period of time between the two. So there was this understanding of the birth of the ruler here and the final leadership of the the lasting leadership of the ruler. In verse four, it says that he will stand to lead his flock with the Lord's strength and the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. Here in verse four we're we're looking now at the second coming of Jesus. The first time he came in humility. To deal with the issue of sin, to die for us, to add humanity to his deity the second time he comes in glory, he comes as king. He comes to conquer. He comes to rule and reign for the rest of eternity. Revelation, Chapter 11, verse 15. At the blowing of the trumpets, the final trumpet is blown. Verse 15, the 7th Angel, blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices shouting in heaven. The world has now become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever. We know for a fact the Lord will reign. Forever and ever. He gets the final say. He is the last one standing in the battle for power in the battle for influence. He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He will be the last one and he will reign forever. And ever well finally point #4 looking at verses four and five, my ruler is the source of peace. My ruler is the source of peace, verse four says. And he will stand to lead his flock with the Lord's strength and the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. Then his people will live there undisturbed, for he will be highly honored around the world and he will be the source of peace. When the Assyrians invade our land and break through our defenses, we will appoint 7 rulers to watch over us. 8 princesses to lead us. The first part of verse five kind of completes the thought. In regards to the prophecy of Jesus, but then continues on and so as I mentioned, it's a little bit of a side note here. In verses 2 through the first part of verse five that that gives us this insight into the Messiah, his birthplace, and some of these surprising details about him and how he will come on. The scene. Then he kind of goes back to you and you can follow along the train of thought there in Chapter 5 if you'd like to and and pursue those things but but just focusing here on this thought, the ruler that comes on the scene is going to bring peace. It tells us in verse four that his people. Will live there undisturbed. When when Jesus comes back the second time and establishes his Kingdom for the first time in history, the Jewish people will live undisturbed. He's going to personally be there in Jerusalem, ruling and reigning, and his people. We'll have peace finally after all their history of persecution and affliction, and attack and dispersion after all of that. Finally, when Jesus rules and reigns. There will be peace for the people of Israel. And it tells us why he. Will be highly honored around the world. Everybody on the planet at that time as he rules and reigns in Jerusalem, will recognize that he is. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and they won't dare mess with Israel. Because he is there. He is their defender. He is going to deal with anyone who comes against his people right there, right? Then very personally, the millennial Kingdom will be a time of peace and the Jewish people will live undisturbed. He will be. The source of pieces, as in verse 5. He's the source. He's the one who brings peace. To the world everybody you know can talk about peace on Earth right now today, but. No matter how many talks we have and how many smart people we get in a room and how fiercely we negotiate or how gently we negotiate, how much we compromise, how much we surrender, there is not going to be real peace. Until Christ is on the scene and in charge. He will be the source. Of peace, the prophet Isaiah and other famous Christmas verse. A child is born to us. A son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. He will be called wonderful counsellor, Mighty God, everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. I say he goes on to say his government. And its peace. Will never end. He's going to rule and reign forever and it is going to be. A reign of peace. Finally there will be peace. When Christ sits on the throne and he rules the world, my ruler is the source. Of peace is the only hope for peace. The only opportunity for peace that we can have. And of course, we're looking prophetically. We're looking at that millennial Kingdom. But at the same time, I would encourage you to take all these things and bring them into the present. That because Jesus was born in Bethlehem. And because he existed before that time that he was born in Bethlehem, because he is God who became man because he is the one who is guaranteed victory at the very end he will be. The last ruler. There is an opportunity for you and I today to have peace now. Because Jesus has been born. Jesus told his disciples in John Chapter 14. I'm leaving you with a gift. Hey guys, I'm going away. I'm going to the father. But here's my gift, Peace of Mind and heart. My my gift to you guys is peace in your mind and in your heart. And the peace. That I give as a gift. He says the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid. Nobody else can give you the peace that Jesus can give. It's a gift that the world cannot give. It's a gift the world promises to give. It's a gift that we hope to receive and hope to obtain and and all of the promises and ideas and things that we pursue and chase. But Jesus says there's nobody else who can give you the peace that I can give you peace in your mind. Undisturbed, rest, tranquility. Peace, that's my gift to you. But it's interesting to think about this piece. Because what does that really mean? Jesus is not talking about. The absence of questions or struggles or doubts or troubles. There's a. There's a piece that he's promising here that is beyond all of those things. Consider what Jesus told his disciples in John Chapter 16. As he's talking with them, preparing them for his departure, they're they're starting to get it. They're saying all right, finally, you're you're speaking plainly, we're starting to understand what you're saying. And Jesus said, do you finally believe? You're starting to understand you're starting to. Get it great. But the time is coming indeed. It's here now when you will be scattered. Each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the father is with me. I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me here on Earth. You will have many trials and sorrows, but take heart because I have overcome the world. I think it's important to note this. You know sometimes we. We want the Lord to work in. Our lives the external peace. And and we're hoping for that, and we're perhaps disappointed when that doesn't happen. The external resolving of issues and conflicts and difficulties and struggles and battles. But here Jesus makes it clear guys I'm going away, but I'm giving you peace. And I'm telling you in advance so that you. Can have peace. In me, but in the same breath he says you're going to have many trials and sorrows. Peace in the Lord, for right now doesn't mean absence of trials and sorrows. Peace and eternity will mean that, of course, but But we need to understand that for right now he is the Prince of peace. For your mind and for your heart. That is, that by faith, when you believe in Jesus, you are able to have peace no matter what trials and sorrows you face. He says, take heart, I've overcome the world and so you can face fierce battles in the world and have peace. Because you believe that Jesus has overcome the world. Prophecy from Micah here about Bethlehem and this ruler that would come. It's not just well, let's talk about the odds and probabilities. How likely is it that someone would be born in Bethlehem and be a ruler and have his origins from beyond the vanishing point? There's much math that you could do around all of these fulfilled prophecies and things that you can. Pursue in that, but. But that's that's not exactly the point. That's not, you know, really the point. And it's not the only value just to finally convince us in the reality. But it's the reminder that we can. Have peace right now no matter what, because God has proven time and time and time and time again. He is faithful to his word. We can trust in Jesus and we can have peace. Even if there is tribulations in this world, and even if there is great sorrows, and even when we face huge disappointments and heartaches. Jesus offers a peace. As a gift. Like no other gift, no one else. The world around us, no matter what is. Promised to us. Can compete with the gift of peace that Jesus gives. That is, we have faith in him as we trust in him, walking by faith and not by sight. We can operate from a place of peace. I don't doesn't mean I understand everything. The gift isn't knowledge. The gift isn't knowing everything but but I can know. That it all works together for good. He's promised I can have peace. He will work these things out for my good, for his glory, for all of eternity. Surprising details. About my ruler. He was born in Bethlehem. My ruler existed before everything he's going to be the last ruler, and so I can have incredible peace because he reigns on high. You know, sometimes you might hear somebody say it's not my president. You know, we don't always like who gets elected. We don't always agree with the results, and so sometimes people take the position. That's not my president. Like what are you Canadian or something like where? Did you move out of America? What do you mean? Not my president? It doesn't make sense, right? My ruler. He's the source of peace. Is he your roller? Is he your rulers? If Jesus is not your ruler. Listen, you're not in his Kingdom. And so it's no surprise that you don't have peace. All the attempts. At peace are the worldly gifts that. End up not providing the peace that is promised. If Jesus is not your ruler. You're not in his Kingdom. And so you need to. Take this opportunity as we head in for the next couple of days in the celebration of Christmas, remembering the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem. Consider the fulfillment of these promises, these prophecies. He really is. Who became man to die upon the cross for us? To give us forgiveness. Everlasting life and peace for all. Let me thank you for. Your work on our behalf. And Lord, we thank you for telling us about it because we would never even know. All that you have done and promised to do and could do if you had not revealed it through your profits. Lord, we are desperate for you. And we're helpless without you. I pray God that you would help us by your spirit to see clearly the truth of your word and to embrace fully your Lordship, your leadership. Or may we make you. The ruler. Of our lives. The dictator over all decisions. Or the one? Who has full authority? And our hearts and our minds. May we learn? To submit ourselves to you more and more completely more and more deeply. That we might experience more and more. Of the peace. And joy. And love that we can find in you. We pray this in Jesus name.