12-5-18 Grace-Tucson Advent Midweek

Micah 2:12-13 Pastor Nathan P. Kassulke

Advent Midweek: Mighty Messages from Micah December 5, 2018 “A Mighty Shepherd”

Two thousand, seven hundred years ago…That is roughly the time when Micah the prophet was doing the work God had given him to do. In the six- and seven- hundreds BC, Micah was proclaiming the word that the Lord had given him to proclaim. As you might imagine, that was a very different time than the one we live in. So much of the technology that fills our lives today could not even have been conceived of at that time. So many of the jobs that we hold today would have been totally unfamiliar back then. So many things would have been so different that it is hard for us to really picture ourselves in that time and place.

But no matter how far back in time, no matter how far back in the history of our world we go, there are some things that simply do not change. There are some things that have remained constant and consistent since the time of our ancestors so long ago, Adam and Eve and their fall into sin. In fact, that sin itself perhaps more than anything else defines what we have in common today with people throughout the history of the world. Some of the specific temptations and particular sins have certainly changed, but the human nature that both responds to and causes many of those temptations hasn’t changed. And because this is so, the message that God proclaims to his people remains remarkably the same throughout the eras and the ages.

And so we turn to the prophet Micah this Advent season in our midweek worship services. We recognize that he shares a message of striking law. He calls out sin among the people to whom he was sent, and he warns them about the punishments that their sins deserve. He cautions God’s Old Testament people that they would indeed lose the favored status that God had placed upon them and that they would forfeit God’s blessings through their unfaithfulness. But as full as Micah’s message is with rebuke and condemnation, scattered throughout are Gospel gems, words of comfort and consolation, words of joy and hope. These mighty messages remain mighty as they teach and remind us precious truths concerning our Savior and our restored relationship with our God through him. Today we consider a mighty message from Micah about a mighty shepherd. Listen to the words of Micah 2:12-13: 12 “I

will surely gather all of you, Jacob; I will surely bring together the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture; the place will throng with people. 13 The One who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out.

Their King will pass through before them, the Lord at their head.”

These verses close out the first portion of Micah’s prophecy, the first sermon, if you will, recorded in his book. In this particular sermon, Micah has issued several warnings to specific cities and towns. Much of what the prophet has called out and warned against relates to how people treat each other. Their actions were not loving and supportive, but selfish and greedy. Micah even rebukes the leaders, the authorities.

They were in a special position to either help or harm people, and they had chosen not to help others but to help themselves.

And not only had the people gone astray like this, but they also gathered around them people who would tell them everything was alright. They listened to the false prophets who didn’t rebuke their sin but promised them health and happiness, peace and prosperity. The verse right before our text actually describes it this way: “If a liar and deceiver comes and says, ‘I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,’ that would be just the prophet for this people!”

Micah on the other hand warned about destruction. He warned that God would carry out what he had threatened against his Old Testament people who turned their back on him and who didn’t live according to the covenant he had made with them. He told them that they couldn’t just sit back and think everything was fine as they went on mistreating each other and ignoring God. Everything was not fine. This was sin, and sin would be dealt with. Sin would lead to destruction.

But then Micah’s tone changes. His piercing proclamation of destruction and woe gives way to a hopeful announcement. As bad as things were with the people, God had a plan. God was gracious. God would do something unexpected, something merciful. God would send a shepherd who would tend and lead his people. God would send a leader who would bring them back. They would return to their land and to their home. What a powerful message for people who were threatened with captivity! What a powerful message for those who heard the words of the prophet and felt the weight of their sins and were moved to sorrow over them! God had not abandoned them. God would rescue them by the hands of a mighty shepherd!

And that is also a mighty message for us, for today, and forever. The fact is that the words of Micah’s prophecy here were larger than they might first appear. They are not limited to the people of Old Testament Israel and Judah. In fact, it is clear from history that all of the people of Judah did not return.

These words point to the work of the promised Messiah. They point to his work of gathering together from many nations a people belonging to God, just as the Old Testament Israelites had once held that distinction.

Micah’s words are a mighty message for us, but only when we understand that we need them. We cannot take to heart the mighty message of God’s grace to us without appreciating what that grace truly means.

We don’t deserve it. Just like Micah warned the people of Judah and Israel about their sinfulness, so God warns us about our sins. No, our sins may not look exactly like those of two thousand, seven hundred years ago. We may not fall into the same specific sins, but we do struggle with the same sinful issues, don’t we? How do we treat the people around us? Do we build them up or tear them down? Are we concerned, genuinely caring, about our neighbors? Or are we sometimes, often, concerned only about ourselves and what we might get out of a situation?

What we don’t need to hear is the message of false prophets who will simply tell us that everything is alright. What we don’t need to hear are the clichés that get thrown around during the Christmas season: that what we really need is some sort of warm feeling that centers on friends and family, food and presents, and something simply called Christmas spirit. Don’t get me wrong, many of these aspects of Christmas celebrations are wonderful, as long as they are rooted in what really matters. What really matters is that without Jesus we are doomed to destruction and defeated by an enemy who wants to drag us to hell.

What we need to hear is that we are sinners who cannot rely on ourselves, not in any way, not in any part.

And what we need to hear is the message of a Mighty Shepherd, one who breaks through the gates of our captivity, who gathers us together as his own flock in its pasture. We need to hear about the shepherd who gave his life for his sheep, who tends and leads and guides them through his Word. Yes, that Great Shepherd comes to us in words that have been written down for 2,700 years and more. That Shepherd comes to us with a love that is new every morning. That shepherd will lead us through this life and into eternal life.

What the people of Old Testament Israel and Judah went through demonstrates both God’s justice and his love. What God allowed them to experience taught them the seriousness of their sin. What God rescued them from taught them about the power of his love. All around us in this world of sin are the consequences of our actions and the warnings about the destruction we deserve. But God’s promise is sure. Our Shepherd will bring us safely to our heavenly Promised Land.

Yes, that is the mighty message that we need to hear. That is why we have gathered around his Word for special Advent services once again. That is why the focus of our Christmas celebrations will be his birth into the world to accomplish mighty things. That is why his Word will be a regular and constant part of our lives through devotions and study.

Many things have changed in the course of two thousand, seven hundred years. But God’s promises have not changed. We have a mighty message. We have a mighty Shepherd. Follow him.

Prayer Lord Jesus, in your power and in your grace you gather your people together in your sheep pen. We thank you for calling us away from our sins and to faith in you. We glorify you for the promise of eternal life which you won for us. We pray that you would strengthen us and keep us strong in these mighty promises until you return and we see you face to face. Amen.