Advent Devotions - December 4

Micah 5:1-5 

1 Marshal your troops now, city of troops,
    for a siege is laid against us.
They will strike Israel’s ruler
    on the cheek with a rod.

2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    though you are small among the clans[b] of Judah,
out of you will come for me
    one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
    from ancient times.”

3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned
    until the time when she who is in labor bears a son,
and the rest of his brothers return
    to join the Israelites.

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.

5 And he will be our peace
    when the Assyrians invade our land
    and march through our fortresses.
We will raise against them seven shepherds,
    even eight commanders,

 

So much of the Christmas season is spent getting ready: for a visit, a trip, a party, or Christmas morning. What’s one way you’ve been getting ready? For hundreds of years, God got things ready for Jesus’ visit. One way He did that was by sending messengers ahead of Him to let us know what to expect.

 

What does God tell us through Micah about who the Messiah will be and what He will do? What on that list comforts you? What on that list surprises you?

 

Look at verse 5. What do you think Micah means when he says not “He will give us peace” but “He will be our peace.”? Where in your life would you like to experience His peace?

 

Ask Him to give you the gift of Himself this Christmas season.