The Shepherd King: Micah 5 (3)

Opening Prayer: Psalm 23.1, 2
The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.

Sing Psalm 23.1, 2
(Taladh Chriosda: Song of the Christ Child)
The Lord my Shepherd is, and I shall not want; He makes me lie
in green pastures, leads me by refreshing waters, still.
Refrain
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Read Micah 5.3, 4

Preparation
1. When will the remnant of Israel return to the people of God?

2. How does the Shepherd’s care affect His flock?

Meditation
The scattered remnant of God’s people is not destined to remain scattered forever. A Child is going to be born in Bethlehem – Shiloh, for Whom the Kingdom has been appointed (Mic. 5.2, 3). His birth is the watershed moment of all history, ushering in the last days and the beginning of the end of God’s great work of redemption. His birth ensures the safe return of all God’s remnant to the fold of His people.

For the Ruler to come will be the Good Shepherd Who so feeds and guards His flock that the strength and majesty of the Lord comes upon them, and they abide in it (v. 4). He stands guard over them, feeds and shepherds them with His splendor and beauty, and exerts His infinite strength for their nurture and protection. And by nurturing them, who are to be scattered to the ends of the earth, sowing good seed, cultivating lasting fruit, and threshing the nations for God’s glory, “He shall be great to the ends of the earth”!

Is this what we see in our day? If not, know that it is no failure of our Good Shepherd, and no lapse of His strength and majesty, but our neglect, our distractedness, our indifference to our calling, and our failure to see Jesus in His glory and coming that is the cause of His Name’s diminishment over all the earth. We are as surely captive to our times as Israel was in Babylon. And only by returning to our Shepherd King can we realize His purpose for us.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
“And He shall stand and feed His flock in the strength of the LORD…” (Mic. 5.4).

“And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all” (Mark 6.41).

“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” (Job 19. 25-27)

“But [Stephen], being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, ‘Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’” (Acts 7.55, 56)

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Rev. 3.20).

Indeed, Jesus did stand, is standing, and will stand. Just as God said He would, did, and will!

“Every word of God is pure…” (Prov. 30.5).

Reflection
1. What makes the birth of the Shepherd King the “watershed of history”?

2. We are the sheep of the Good Shepherd. Why does He feed and guard us? What is our purpose?

3. Jesus stands firm for us. What does it mean for us to stand firm for Him?

Christ then rules not in his Church as a dreaded tyrant, who distresses his subjects with fear; but he is a Shepherd who gently deals with his flock. Nothing therefore can exceed the kindness and gentleness of Christ towards the faithful, as he performs the office of a Shepherd: and he prefers to be adorned with this title, rather than to be called and deemed a king, or to assume authority to himself. John Calvin (1506-1564), Commentary on Micah 5.4

Closing Prayer: Psalm 23.3-6
Praise God for His salvation, and for our Good Shepherd to lead, feed, guide, keep, and save us!

Sing Psalm 23.3-6
(Taladh Chriosda: Song of the Christ Child)
Restore my soul, Lord, day by day; lead me in Your righteous way
For Your Name’s sake, Lord, I pray, according to Your will.

And though through death’s dark vale I go, I no fear of evil show,
for Your rod and staff, I know, shall guard and comfort still.
Refrain
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

A table You before me spread in the midst of those I dread,
and with oil anoint my head; my cup You over fill.
Refrain

Thus goodness e’er shall follow me; mercy all my path shall see;
Your house shall my dwelling be, forever after still.
Refrain

T. M. and Susie Moore

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All quotations from Church Fathers from Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1-2 Samuel: Ancient Christian Commentary Series IV, John R. Franke, ed, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2005). All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).