Podcasts about o bethlehem ephrathah

Click here to WATCH LIVE STREAM Worship Service on our Youtube Channel. “Christmas, Part 2” Matthew 2 Micah 5:2-6 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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 from of old, from ancient days. 3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. 5 And he shall be their peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men; 6 they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at its entrances; and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian when he comes into our land and treads within our border.   Matthew 2:1-2 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”   Numbers 24:17 …a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel…   Matthew 2:3-4 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.   Matthew 2:5-6 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'”   Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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 from of old, from ancient days.   2 Samuel 5:2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.'”   Matthew 2:7-8 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.”   Matthew 2:9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.   Matthew 2:10-12 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.   Matthew 2:13-15 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”   Exodus 4:21-23 And the LORD said to Moses, “When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, so that he will not let the people go. 22 Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son, 23 and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.'” Hosea 11:1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.   Galatians 3:16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.    Matthew 2:16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.   Genesis 3:15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.   Matthew 2:17-18 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: 18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”   Jeremiah 31:15-17 Thus says the LORD: “A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.” 16 Thus says the LORD: “Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears, for there is a reward for your work, declares the LORD,   and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. 17 There is hope for your future, declares the LORD, and your children shall come back to their own country.   Jeremiah 33:14-16 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.'   Mathew 2:19-21 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” 21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.   Matthew 2:22-23 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene. John 1:46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”   Jesus is our true deliverer.   Colossians 1:13-14 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.   Jesus is our true comforter.   Matthew 5:4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.   Jesus is our true King.   Isaiah 11:1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. Isaiah 53:2-3 For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Respond | Connect | Next Steps The post Christmas 2 appeared first on Charleston Baptist Church.

Christmas is the moment where the _____________ breaks the ___________________.[John 1:9] The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.When God reveals His _____________, nothing stays the _____________.[Micah 5:2] But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past.God is never _____________.[Luke 2:6-7] And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. [7] She gave birth to her first child, a son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.God didn't _____________ for us to come to Him.[Philippians 2:6-7] Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. [7] Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form.Everyone is _________________ at the ________________.[Isaiah 59:2a] It's your sins that have cut you off from God.God's solution to ___________________ is a Person.[Luke 2:8-10] That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. [9] Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terrified, [10] but the angel reassured them. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.God reveals His Light to the ones the world _____________.[Luke 2:15] When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Let's go to Bethlehem! Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."[John 1:12] But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.

We're so glad you are here! Thanks for checking out Sunday's message!-- SUNDAY'S NOTES --The prophetic fulfillment in the conception and birth of Jesus testify to the miracle of God's power!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. Micah 5:2 NLTAt that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David's ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. Luke 2:1-7 NLTGod's has the power to do both the improbable and impossible according to His will and purpose. To presume we know how God should act is to mistrust His sovereign wisdom and love. Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36 NLTI pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else, not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. Ephesians 1:19-22 NLTTo believe God can't or doesn't do miracles today is to completely miss on the impact of His power and compassion! I dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” The LORD is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. Lamentations 3:21- 25 NLTOur hope is forever in the compassion and power of our ever-present, all-knowing, miracle working Messiah!-POEM-Our merciful messiah came in a mangerWith hidden strength soon to be shown. Immanuel here to save and to heal,His power and presence, He came to make known. The God who created the stars and the heavensCreated my inner most being too. A universe so large it's hard to conceiveWith tiny electrons for creations glue.God's power is boundless, beyond descriptionHis love is vast, and yet intimately near. Awe and honor are owed to our SaviorStill He calls us to come, no reason to fear.This world is caught in a cosmic conflictThe fight is for every heart and soulThe prince of darkness, the architect of brokenKill, steal, and destroy his only goal. Our fallen world in the pangs of deathIncludes various hellish hurts and painMany are we in need of a miracle Exactly the reason Immanuel came. The babe born at Christmas is here to heal Discontentment, addiction, broken bodies and heartsHis sovereign discernment guides His compassionHis Grace and mercy never miss the mark. -------------------------------------------------Download the 828 Church app!To view our latest e-newsletter, the Midweek Momentum, and subscribe to our weekly updates, go here! https://linktr.ee/828church

We're so glad you are here! Thanks for checking out Sunday's message!-- SUNDAY'S NOTES --The prophetic fulfillment in the conception and birth of Jesus testify to the miracle of God's power!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. Micah 5:2 NLTAt that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David's ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child. And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born. She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them. Luke 2:1-7 NLTGod's has the power to do both the improbable and impossible according to His will and purpose. To presume we know how God should act is to mistrust His sovereign wisdom and love. Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36 NLTI pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God's right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else, not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. Ephesians 1:19-22 NLTTo believe God can't or doesn't do miracles today is to completely miss on the impact of His power and compassion! I dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” The LORD is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him. Lamentations 3:21- 25 NLTOur hope is forever in the compassion and power of our ever-present, all-knowing, miracle working Messiah!-POEM-Our merciful messiah came in a mangerWith hidden strength soon to be shown. Immanuel here to save and to heal,His power and presence, He came to make known. The God who created the stars and the heavensCreated my inner most being too. A universe so large it's hard to conceiveWith tiny electrons for creations glue.God's power is boundless, beyond descriptionHis love is vast, and yet intimately near. Awe and honor are owed to our SaviorStill He calls us to come, no reason to fear.This world is caught in a cosmic conflictThe fight is for every heart and soulThe prince of darkness, the architect of brokenKill, steal, and destroy his only goal. Our fallen world in the pangs of deathIncludes various hellish hurts and painMany are we in need of a miracle Exactly the reason Immanuel came. The babe born at Christmas is here to heal Discontentment, addiction, broken bodies and heartsHis sovereign discernment guides His compassionHis Grace and mercy never miss the mark. -------------------------------------------------Download the 828 Church app!To view our latest e-newsletter, the Midweek Momentum, and subscribe to our weekly updates, go here! https://linktr.ee/828church

Main Idea. God's promised King enters the world clothed in humility. Question. Why does God choose humility as the pathway for His King, rather than splendor? 1. Because his promises are rooted in humble means (1–5) Two Humble Means 1. Bethlehem. “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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 from of old, from ancient days… He shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord… and he shall be their peace.” (Micah 5:2–5) 2. The Davidic Line. “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you… and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.” (2 Sam. 7:12–13) 2. Because he is humble (6–7) Responses. 1. Rest in the Humble Heart of Your Savior. 2. Imitate His Humility in Everyday Life. 3. Trust God to Exalt You in His Time. “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you.” (1 Pet 5:6).

Christ Our King: The Word Enthroned 12.14.25 Pastor Tony Felich   2 Samuel 7:12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. [13] He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.[16] And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.'”   Psalm 2:6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” [7] I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. [8] Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.   Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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 from of old, from ancient days.   Matthew 2:1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, [2] saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”   Philippians 2:9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, [10] so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, [11] and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.   Revelation 19:11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. [12] His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. [13] He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. [14] And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. [15] From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. [16] On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.   WLC 45 Q. How doth Christ execute the office of a king? A. Christ executeth the office of a king, in calling out of the world a people to himself, and giving them officers, laws, and censures, by which he visibly governs them; in bestowing saving grace upon his elect, rewarding their obedience, and correcting them for their sins, preserving and supporting them under all their temptations and sufferings, restraining and overcoming all their enemies, and powerfully ordering all things for his own glory and their good; and also in taking vengeance on the rest, who know not God and obey not the gospel.”

Psalm 46 English Standard Version God Is Our Fortress 46 God is our refuge and strength,     a very present[b] help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way,     though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam,     though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah 4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,     the holy habitation of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;     God will help her when morning dawns. 6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;     he utters his voice, the earth melts. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us;     the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah 8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,     how he has brought desolations on the earth. 9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;     he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;     he burns the chariots with fire. 10 “Be still, and know that I am God.     I will be exalted among the nations,     I will be exalted in the earth!” 11 The Lord of hosts is with us;     the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah Footnotes Psalm 46:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term Psalm 46:1 Or well proved   Micah 5:1-5 English Standard Version The Ruler to Be Born in Bethlehem 5 [a] Now muster your troops, O daughter[b] of troops;     siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the judge of Israel     on the cheek. 2 [c] But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,     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 from of old,     from ancient days. 3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time     when she who is in labour has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return     to the people of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,     in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great     to the ends of the earth. 5 And he shall be their peace. Footnotes Micah 5:1 Ch 4:14 in Hebrew Micah 5:1 That is, city Micah 5:2 Ch 5:1 in Hebrew  

7 December 2025 | This week pastor Evan continues our Comfort & Joy sermon series in Micah 5:2-5, on how during our most intense moments of anxiety and insecurity, God's word breaks through the most. [a] But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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 from of old, from ancient days. 3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. 5 And he shall be their peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men;

Click here to WATCH LIVE STREAM Worship Service on our Youtube Channel. “Christmas, Part 1” Micah 5:2-5 Micah 4:11-13 Now many nations are assembled against you, saying, “Let her be defiled, and let our eyes gaze upon Zion.” 12 But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD; they do not understand his plan, that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor. 13 Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion, for I will make your horn iron, and I will make your hoofs bronze; you shall beat in pieces many peoples; and shall devote their gain to the Lord, their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth. Micah 5:1 Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek. Micah 5:2-6 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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 from of old, from ancient days. 3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. 4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. 5 And he shall be their peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men; 6 they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at its entrances; and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian when he comes into our land and treads within our border. · God's gracious promise. Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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 from of old, from ancient days. Matthew 2:3-6 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'” Micah 5:3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. Micah 4:9-10 Now why do you cry aloud? Is there no king in you? Has your counselor perished, that pain seized you like a woman in labor? 10 Writhe and groan, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor, for now you shall go out from the city and dwell in the open country; you shall go to Babylon. There you shall be rescued; there the Lord will redeem you from the hand of your enemies. Genesis 35:16-19 Then they journeyed from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel went into labor, and she had hard labor. 17 And when her labor was at its hardest, the midwife said to her, “Do not fear, for you have another son.” 18 And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. 19 So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem) Galatians 4:4-7 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. · God's great King. Micah 5:4-5a And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. 5 And he shall be their peace. John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Deuteronomy 33:12 Of Benjamin he said, “The beloved of the Lord dwells in safety. The High God surrounds him all day long, and dwells between his shoulders.” Ephesians 2:13-14 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility Isaiah 9:6-7 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. Matthew 11:28-30 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. · God's victorious plan. Micah 5:5b-6 When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men; 6 they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at its entrances; and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian when he comes into our land and treads within our border. Micah 5:7 Then the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the Lord, like showers on the grass, which delay not for a man nor wait for the children of man. Micah 5:8-9 And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among the flocks of sheep, which, when it goes through, treads down and tears in pieces, and there is none to deliver. 9 Your hand shall be lifted up over your adversaries, and all your enemies shall be cut off. Matthew 16:18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell[ shall not prevail against it. Revelation 12:10-11 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death. John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” Respond | Connect | Next Steps The post Christmas 1 appeared first on Charleston Baptist Church.

Micah 5:1-5 ESV Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek. But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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 from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace.

“If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.” (Jeremiah 29:13 NLT) If the Christmas story—the well-known narratives of Matthew 2 and Luke 2—is so familiar to you that you can practically recite it from memory, try considering it from a different perspective. Try thinking of it as the successful end to a long search. The arrival of the wise men in Jerusalem likely created quite a stir. These were strange men with a strange question, asking for the King of the Jews. As wise as they were, they were also a little naïve, politically speaking. They didn’t realize that they were triggering an extremely volatile man. In effect, they were saying to King Herod, “We’re looking for the King of the Jews—and clearly you’re not him.” This is why we’re told in Matthew 2:3, “King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem” (NLT). The word disturbed used here could be translated “to shake violently”—like a washing machine in the spin phase. That was Herod. And when Herod was agitated, everyone was agitated. When he was mad, everyone was afraid of what would happen next. So, Herod called in the leading priests and teachers of religious law, men who had committed themselves to studying Scripture. Without missing a beat, they went right to Micah 5:2: “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” (NLT). These scholars had steeped themselves in the writings of the prophets. They understood how to interpret the words of Micah. They knew that the Messiah, when He came, would be born in Bethlehem. But that information was academic to them. It hadn’t penetrated their hearts and souls to the point that they could recognize the signs of the Messiah’s arrival. So, they weren’t searching for the Savior. God, in His infinite and mysterious wisdom, used wise men from eastern lands to announce the arrival of Jesus the King of the Jews to Herod the king of the Jews and his Jewish experts. The wise men were pagans who were steeped in the occult. Yet God reached them in a way that they understood. He came to them by a star. The end of their search, as recorded in Matthew 2:9–12, has implications for everyone who seeks answers or meaning or purpose or assurance or direction or anything else. The Lord says that those who seek Him will find Him. “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened” (Matthew 7:7–8 NLT). He doesn’t offer details because the discovery process is different for everyone. To educated men and women, He will come in a way they can understand. And to little children, He will appear in a way they can understand. I believe that if people are truly seeking God, He will reveal Himself to them. Reflection question: How can you help people find the Lord? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Advent HOPE 2025   John 8:12 ESV   12…Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."     Genesis 3:15 ESV   I will put enmity between you and the woman,   and between your offspring and her offspring;   he shall bruise your head,   and you shall bruise his heel."       Genesis 12:7 ESV   7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land." So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.       Galatians 3:16 ESV   16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, "And to offsprings," referring to many, but referring to one, "And to your offspring," who is Christ.       Genesis 49:10 NASB   "The scepter will not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.       Isaiah 7:14 ESV   14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.       Micah 5:2 ESV   But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,   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 from of old,   from ancient days.       Isaiah 35:5-6 ESV   5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,   and the ears of the deaf unstopped;   6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer,   and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.       Psalm 41:9 ESV   Even my close friend in whom I trusted,   who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.       Psalm 22:16-18 ESV   For dogs encompass me;   a company of evildoers encircles me;   they have pierced my hands and feet—   17 I can count all my bones—   they stare and gloat over me;   18 they divide my garments among them,   and for my clothing they cast lots.       1 Peter 3:15 ESV   15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,       Titus 2:11-13 ESV   11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,       Ephesians 1:18 ESV   18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,       1 Peter 1:3-7 ESV   3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.       Hebrews 6:13-14, 17-19 ESV   13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, "Surely I will bless you and multiply you."       17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,

Do not my words do good to him who walks uprightly? Micah 2:7   One of my favorite books of the Bible, highlighting the character of our God - faithful in steadfast love, but holy and righteous in His judgment. He predicted a time when prophets, like himself, would vanish from Israel, but boldly proclaimed God's message in his day: Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision, and darkness to you, without divination. The sun shall go down on the prophets, and the day shall be black over them; the seers shall be disgraced, and the diviners put to shame; they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God.   But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.   Micah 3:6–8 Micah was a contemporary of Amos, Hosea; and Isaiah, and he accurately predicted the fall of Israel to Assyria and Judah to Babylon in judgment for their wicked abuse of power and oppression of the poor. His indictment is scathing: Hear, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel! Is it not for you to know justice?— you who hate the good and love the evil Micah 3:1–2 It is no mistake that in the book of Micah God is looking out for the humble, lowly and poor who are being mistreated by the powerful and corrupt, as the birthplace of the Messiah is here announced as that humble little agrarian town of Bethlehem, the House of Bread ... the bread that comes down from heaven, who also was used and abused by the powerful.   Micah's predictions of the Lord Jesus, like those of Isaiah, are stunning! ... with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek. But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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 from of old, from ancient days.   This helpful summary of Micah, we pray, will help in your study of this wonderful book in God's word. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFEUEcylwLc

Do not my words do good to him who walks uprightly? Micah 2:7   One of my favorite books of the Bible, highlighting the character of our God - faithful in steadfast love, but holy and righteous in His judgment. He predicted a time when prophets, like himself, would vanish from Israel, but boldly proclaimed God's message in his day: Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision, and darkness to you, without divination. The sun shall go down on the prophets, and the day shall be black over them; the seers shall be disgraced, and the diviners put to shame; they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God.   But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.   Micah 3:6–8 Micah was a contemporary of Amos, Hosea; and Isaiah, and he accurately predicted the fall of Israel to Assyria and Judah to Babylon in judgment for their wicked abuse of power and oppression of the poor. His indictment is scathing: Hear, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel! Is it not for you to know justice?— you who hate the good and love the evil Micah 3:1–2 It is no mistake that in the book of Micah God is looking out for the humble, lowly and poor who are being mistreated by the powerful and corrupt, as the birthplace of the Messiah is here announced as that humble little agrarian town of Bethlehem, the House of Bread ... the bread that comes down from heaven, who also was used and abused by the powerful.   Micah's predictions of the Lord Jesus, like those of Isaiah, are stunning! ... with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek. But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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 from of old, from ancient days.   This helpful summary of Micah, we pray, will help in your study of this wonderful book in God's word. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFEUEcylwLc

Do not my words do good to him who walks uprightly? Micah 2:7   One of my favorite books of the Bible, highlighting the character of our God - faithful in steadfast love, but holy and righteous in His judgment. He predicted a time when prophets, like himself, would vanish from Israel, but boldly proclaimed God's message in his day: Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision, and darkness to you, without divination. The sun shall go down on the prophets, and the day shall be black over them; the seers shall be disgraced, and the diviners put to shame; they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God.   But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.   Micah 3:6–8 Micah was a contemporary of Amos, Hosea; and Isaiah, and he accurately predicted the fall of Israel to Assyria and Judah to Babylon in judgment for their wicked abuse of power and oppression of the poor. His indictment is scathing: Hear, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel! Is it not for you to know justice?— you who hate the good and love the evil Micah 3:1–2 It is no mistake that in the book of Micah God is looking out for the humble, lowly and poor who are being mistreated by the powerful and corrupt, as the birthplace of the Messiah is here announced as that humble little agrarian town of Bethlehem, the House of Bread ... the bread that comes down from heaven, who also was used and abused by the powerful.   Micah's predictions of the Lord Jesus, like those of Isaiah, are stunning! ... with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek. But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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 from of old, from ancient days.   This helpful summary of Micah, we pray, will help in your study of this wonderful book in God's word. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFEUEcylwLc

2025-09-07 Who Is The King of Glory?by Pastor Chris BergScripture Reference: Micah 5:1-65 Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops;    siege is laid against us;with a rod they strike the judge of Israel    on the cheek.2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,    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 from of old,    from ancient days.3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time    when she who is in labor has given birth;then the rest of his brothers shall return    to the people of Israel.4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great    to the ends of the earth.5 And he shall be their peace.When the Assyrian comes into our land    and treads in our palaces,then we will raise against him seven shepherds    and eight princes of men;6 they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword,    and the land of Nimrod at its entrances;and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian    when he comes into our land    and treads within our border.

Do not my words do good to him who walks uprightly? Micah 2:7   One of my favorite books of the Bible, highlighting the character of our God - faithful in steadfast love, but holy and righteous in His judgment. He predicted a time when prophets, like himself, would vanish from Israel, but boldly proclaimed God's message in his day: Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision, and darkness to you, without divination. The sun shall go down on the prophets, and the day shall be black over them; the seers shall be disgraced, and the diviners put to shame; they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God.   But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.   Micah 3:6–8 Micah was a contemporary of Amos, Hosea; and Isaiah, and he accurately predicted the fall of Israel to Assyria and Judah to Babylon in judgment for their wicked abuse of power and oppression of the poor. His indictment is scathing: Hear, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel! Is it not for you to know justice?— you who hate the good and love the evil Micah 3:1–2 It is no mistake that in the book of Micah God is looking out for the humble, lowly and poor who are being mistreated by the powerful and corrupt, as the birthplace of the Messiah is here announced as that humble little agrarian town of Bethlehem, the House of Bread ... the bread that comes down from heaven, who also was used and abused by the powerful.   Micah's predictions of the Lord Jesus, like those of Isaiah, are stunning! ... with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek. But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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 from of old, from ancient days.   This helpful summary of Micah, we pray, will help in your study of this wonderful book in God's word. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFEUEcylwLc

Do not my words do good to him who walks uprightly? Micah 2:7   One of my favorite books of the Bible, highlighting the character of our God - faithful in steadfast love, but holy and righteous in His judgment. He predicted a time when prophets, like himself, would vanish from Israel, but boldly proclaimed God's message in his day: Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision, and darkness to you, without divination. The sun shall go down on the prophets, and the day shall be black over them; the seers shall be disgraced, and the diviners put to shame; they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God.   But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.   Micah 3:6–8 Micah was a contemporary of Amos, Hosea; and Isaiah, and he accurately predicted the fall of Israel to Assyria and Judah to Babylon in judgment for their wicked abuse of power and oppression of the poor. His indictment is scathing: Hear, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel! Is it not for you to know justice?— you who hate the good and love the evil Micah 3:1–2 It is no mistake that in the book of Micah God is looking out for the humble, lowly and poor who are being mistreated by the powerful and corrupt, as the birthplace of the Messiah is here announced as that humble little agrarian town of Bethlehem, the House of Bread ... the bread that comes down from heaven, who also was used and abused by the powerful.   Micah's predictions of the Lord Jesus, like those of Isaiah, are stunning! ... with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek. But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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 from of old, from ancient days.   This helpful summary of Micah, we pray, will help in your study of this wonderful book in God's word. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFEUEcylwLc

Do not my words do good to him who walks uprightly? Micah 2:7   One of my favorite books of the Bible, highlighting the character of our God - faithful in steadfast love, but holy and righteous in His judgment. He predicted a time when prophets, like himself, would vanish from Israel, but boldly proclaimed God's message in his day: Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision, and darkness to you, without divination. The sun shall go down on the prophets, and the day shall be black over them; the seers shall be disgraced, and the diviners put to shame; they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God.   But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.   Micah 3:6–8 Micah was a contemporary of Amos, Hosea; and Isaiah, and he accurately predicted the fall of Israel to Assyria and Judah to Babylon in judgment for their wicked abuse of power and oppression of the poor. His indictment is scathing: Hear, you heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel! Is it not for you to know justice?— you who hate the good and love the evil Micah 3:1–2 It is no mistake that in the book of Micah God is looking out for the humble, lowly and poor who are being mistreated by the powerful and corrupt, as the birthplace of the Messiah is here announced as that humble little agrarian town of Bethlehem, the House of Bread ... the bread that comes down from heaven, who also was used and abused by the powerful.   Micah's predictions of the Lord Jesus, like those of Isaiah, are stunning! ... with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek. But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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 from of old, from ancient days.   This helpful summary of Micah, we pray, will help in your study of this wonderful book in God's word. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFEUEcylwLc

Micah 5:1-6 "Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod as they strike Israel on the cheek. But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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 from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor shall give birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land, and treads in our places, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men; they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at its entrances; and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian when he comes into our land and treads within our border."

“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.” (Micah 5:2 NLT) The Bible speaks of the future with absolute certainty. That is because God is eternal. He can see the future as accurately as we can see the past. It is all a continuum to God. It is all the same to Him. So when the Bible says a certain thing is going to happen, it is not like God is going out on a limb. It is not like a tabloid prediction. It is basically a revealing of history ahead of time by the God who sees the future as clearly as He sees the past. Earlier this month, we looked at the life of David, “a man after God’s own heart,” who was chosen to play a key role in the ancestry of Jesus. You may remember that God sent the prophet Samuel to a small town in the land of Judah, about five miles southwest of Jerusalem, to anoint David as the king of Israel. You probably remember the name of the town, too. (If not, you read it in the verse above.) If this devotion had dropped three months ago, on December 25, you probably would have been hearing its name quite a bit. “Now the Lord said to Samuel, ‘You have mourned long enough for Saul. I have rejected him as king of Israel, so fill your flask with olive oil and go to Bethlehem. Find a man named Jesse who lives there, for I have selected one of his sons to be my king’” (1 Samuel 16:1 NLT). The town shows up again in the passage from Micah 5 above. This is a prophecy, written seven hundred years before Christ came to earth, that the Messiah—“ruler of Israel”—would be born in Bethlehem. The phrase “whose origins are in the distant past” refers to One who is eternal. Jesus is the only eternal ruler of Israel. God gave Micah this prophecy. So why, seven hundred years later, did He choose earthly parents for His Son who were from Nazareth? The answer is that geography isn’t an obstacle for Him. In fact, nothing is an obstacle for Him. A greedy Roman ruler who wants to conduct a census so that he can better control tax revenue? God can work with that. An order for all Jewish people to return to the cities of their ancestors to register for the census? He can work with that, too. A small town so ill-equipped to handle the crowds that descended on it that a heavily pregnant woman was forced to give birth in a shelter for animals? He can work with that, too. It’s not like God was at the mercy of those circumstances. He was orchestrating them, bringing them together in a perfect way. That’s how Mary and Joseph came to be in a stable in Bethlehem when the time came for her to give birth. That’s how Jesus came to be born in Bethlehem. That’s how a prophecy made more than seven hundred years earlier came to be fulfilled. God used unlikely sources and extraordinary circumstances to fulfill His prophecy. Jesus’ virgin birth serves as yet another reminder that nothing is beyond the Lord’s control and that all things work together according to His will. We can trust Him to do what is best, in every circumstance. Reflection question: How has God used extraordinary circumstances to accomplish something amazing in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It was a long-awaited night. Mary had waited nine months, but the waiting had started long ago. Throughout the Old Testament, the Prophets spoke of a coming Messiah. He would be a suffering servant that would save His people from their sins. Year after year the people waited for this coming Messiah. When would He come?Main Points:1. Jesus came at just the right time in God's redemptive plan when the world was perfectly prepared for God's work.2. Sadly, on the night of Christ's birth, it appears that no one was waiting or expecting His birth. Certainly, the Jewish religious leaders were not. As studious as they were of the Old Testament law, and the more than 300 prophecies of the coming Messiah, the religious establishment was not waiting.3. The over 300 Old Testament prophecies being fulfilled in Jesus assure us that He is the Son of God and the long-awaited Messiah.Today's Scripture Verses:Galatians 4:4-5 - “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.”Micah 5:2 - “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.”Isaiah 7:14 - “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”2 Samuel 7:12-13 - “When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”Hosea 11:1 - “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.”Psalm 72:9-10 - “May the desert tribes bow before him and his enemies lick the dust. May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts.”Quick Links:Donate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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 from of old, from ancient days. - Micah 5:2

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. (Micah 5:2 NLT) God could have directed Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem in many ways, but He chose to do it through a Roman emperor's decree. Because Mary and Joseph both traced their ancestry back to King David, they went to the boyhood town of David, which was Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary were in Nazareth, but God needed them in Bethlehem. Micah had prophesied, “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” (Micah 5:2 NLT). Thus, God had a plan. We read in Luke's Gospel, “At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. . . . And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David's ancient home… He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child” (2:1, 4–5 NLT). This reminds us that ultimately, God is in control. World figures come and go. Dictators come and go. Kings, queens, prime ministers, and presidents come and go. But God moves people the way He wants to move them. Proverbs 21:1 says, “The king's heart is like a stream of water directed by the Lord; he guides it wherever he pleases” (NLT). Billy Graham once quoted, “Jesus is the hinge on which the door of history swings, the point at which eternity intersects with time, the Savior who redeems time by drawing all things to himself.” Mary and Joseph made their way to Bethlehem. It was a difficult and dangerous journey, and when they finally arrived, they looked for a place to stay. But there was no room for them, which was indicative of the treatment Jesus received when He walked this earth. Essentially Jesus was homeless. Yes, He would stay in the homes of people, but He also slept out under the stars on the Mount of Olives. We find this interesting verse in Luke: “Every day Jesus went to the Temple to teach, and each evening he returned to spend the night on the Mount of Olives” (21:37 NLT). The One who created Heaven and Earth, the One who said, “There is more than enough room in my Father's home” (John 14:2 NLT), left His home in Heaven so that we, too, could have a home there. It was all part of God's plan for our Savior to be born in the humblest of settings. At the same time, the innkeeper missed out on an opportunity. The same thing can happen to us. We can be so busy shopping for Christmas and talking about Christmas that we can't seem to find time to go to church or even take a moment to pray. Jesus was born so that we could be born again. He left his home in Heaven to make a home in our hearts. We need to make room for Jesus, not only during this Christmas season but all year long. — Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Micah 5:2-5aEnglish Standard Version2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,    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 from of old,    from ancient days.3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time    when she who is in labor has given birth;then the rest of his brothers shall return    to the people of Israel.4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great    to the ends of the earth.5 And he shall be their peace.

Of all the places in the world, it was Bethlehem that hosted the birth of the Messiah.  Micah says, "But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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..." From this little place came the Christ.  God, once again, working in an unexpected way in an unexpected place. The highest of Kings born in the humblest of places.  Sunday we look at how an unexpected place brought us an unrivaled king who brings us unending blessings. 

Micah 5:2-5 English Standard Version2  But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,    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 from of old,    from ancient days.3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time    when she who is in labor has given birth;then the rest of his brothers shall return    to the people of Israel.4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord,    in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great    to the ends of the earth.5 And he shall be their peace.When the Assyrian comes into our land    and treads in our palaces,then we will raise against him seven shepherds    and eight princes of men;English Standard Version (ESV)The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Hope Updated: Nov 30         John 8:12 ESV   12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”       Genesis 3:15 ESV   I will put enmity between you and the woman,   and between your offspring and her offspring;   he shall bruise your head,   and you shall bruise his heel.”       Genesis 12:7 ESV   7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him.       Genesis 49:10 NASB   “The scepter will not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.       Isaiah 7:14 ESV   14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.       Micah 5:2 ESV   But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,   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 from of old,   from ancient days.       Isaiah 35:4-6 ESV   Say to those who have an anxious heart,   “Be strong; fear not!   Behold, your God   will come with vengeance,   with the recompense of God.   He will come and save you.”   5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,   and the ears of the deaf unstopped;   6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer,   and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.       Psalm 22:16-18 ESV   For dogs encompass me;   a company of evildoers encircles me;   they have pierced my hands and feet—   17 I can count all my bones—   they stare and gloat over me;   18 they divide my garments among them,   and for my clothing they cast lots.       1 Peter 3:15 ESV   15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,       Titus 2:11-13 ESV   11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,       Ephesians 1:18 ESV   18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,       1 Peter 1:3-7 ESV   3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.       Hebrews 6:13-14, 17-19 ESV   13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, 14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.”   17 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, 18 so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. 19 We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,              

Christmas (Christmas Day) First Psalm: Psalm 2; Psalm 85 Psalm 2 (Listen) The Reign of the Lord's Anointed 2   Why do the nations rage1    and the peoples plot in vain?2   The kings of the earth set themselves,    and the rulers take counsel together,    against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,3   “Let us burst their bonds apart    and cast away their cords from us.” 4   He who sits in the heavens laughs;    the Lord holds them in derision.5   Then he will speak to them in his wrath,    and terrify them in his fury, saying,6   “As for me, I have set my King    on Zion, my holy hill.” 7   I will tell of the decree:  The LORD said to me, “You are my Son;    today I have begotten you.8   Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,    and the ends of the earth your possession.9   You shall break2 them with a rod of iron    and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.” 10   Now therefore, O kings, be wise;    be warned, O rulers of the earth.11   Serve the LORD with fear,    and rejoice with trembling.12   Kiss the Son,    lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,    for his wrath is quickly kindled.  Blessed are all who take refuge in him. Footnotes [1] 2:1 Or nations noisily assemble [2] 2:9 Revocalization yields (compare Septuagint) You shall rule (ESV) Psalm 85 (Listen) Revive Us Again To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah. 85   LORD, you were favorable to your land;    you restored the fortunes of Jacob.2   You forgave the iniquity of your people;    you covered all their sin. Selah3   You withdrew all your wrath;    you turned from your hot anger. 4   Restore us again, O God of our salvation,    and put away your indignation toward us!5   Will you be angry with us forever?    Will you prolong your anger to all generations?6   Will you not revive us again,    that your people may rejoice in you?7   Show us your steadfast love, O LORD,    and grant us your salvation. 8   Let me hear what God the LORD will speak,    for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;    but let them not turn back to folly.9   Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,    that glory may dwell in our land. 10   Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;    righteousness and peace kiss each other.11   Faithfulness springs up from the ground,    and righteousness looks down from the sky.12   Yes, the LORD will give what is good,    and our land will yield its increase.13   Righteousness will go before him    and make his footsteps a way. (ESV) Second Psalm: Psalm 110; Psalm 132 Psalm 110 (Listen) Sit at My Right Hand A Psalm of David. 110   The LORD says to my Lord:    “Sit at my right hand,  until I make your enemies your footstool.” 2   The LORD sends forth from Zion    your mighty scepter.    Rule in the midst of your enemies!3   Your people will offer themselves freely    on the day of your power,1    in holy garments;2  from the womb of the morning,    the dew of your youth will be yours.34   The LORD has sworn    and will not change his mind,  “You are a priest forever    after the order of Melchizedek.” 5   The Lord is at your right hand;    he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.6   He will execute judgment among the nations,    filling them with corpses;  he will shatter chiefs4    over the wide earth.7   He will drink from the brook by the way;    therefore he will lift up his head. Footnotes [1] 110:3 Or on the day you lead your forces [2] 110:3 Masoretic Text; some Hebrew manuscripts and Jerome on the holy mountains [3] 110:3 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain [4] 110:6 Or the head (ESV) Psalm 132 (Listen) The Lord Has Chosen Zion A Song of Ascents. 132   Remember, O LORD, in David's favor,    all the hardships he endured,2   how he swore to the LORD    and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,3   “I will not enter my house    or get into my bed,4   I will not give sleep to my eyes    or slumber to my eyelids,5   until I find a place for the LORD,    a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.” 6   Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah;    we found it in the fields of Jaar.7   “Let us go to his dwelling place;    let us worship at his footstool!” 8   Arise, O LORD, and go to your resting place,    you and the ark of your might.9   Let your priests be clothed with righteousness,    and let your saints shout for joy.10   For the sake of your servant David,    do not turn away the face of your anointed one. 11   The LORD swore to David a sure oath    from which he will not turn back:  “One of the sons of your body1    I will set on your throne.12   If your sons keep my covenant    and my testimonies that I shall teach them,  their sons also forever    shall sit on your throne.” 13   For the LORD has chosen Zion;    he has desired it for his dwelling place:14   “This is my resting place forever;    here I will dwell, for I have desired it.15   I will abundantly bless her provisions;    I will satisfy her poor with bread.16   Her priests I will clothe with salvation,    and her saints will shout for joy.17   There I will make a horn to sprout for David;    I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.18   His enemies I will clothe with shame,    but on him his crown will shine.” Footnotes [1] 132:11 Hebrew of your fruit of the womb (ESV) Old Testament: Micah 4:1–5; Micah 5:2–4 Micah 4:1–5 (Listen) The Mountain of the Lord 4   It shall come to pass in the latter days    that the mountain of the house of the LORD  shall be established as the highest of the mountains,    and it shall be lifted up above the hills;  and peoples shall flow to it,2     and many nations shall come, and say:  “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,    to the house of the God of Jacob,  that he may teach us his ways    and that we may walk in his paths.”  For out of Zion shall go forth the law,1    and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.3   He shall judge between many peoples,    and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away;  and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,    and their spears into pruning hooks;  nation shall not lift up sword against nation,    neither shall they learn war anymore;4   but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree,    and no one shall make them afraid,    for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.5   For all the peoples walk    each in the name of its god,  but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God    forever and ever. Footnotes [1] 4:2 Or teaching (ESV) Micah 5:2–4 (Listen) 2   1 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,    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 from of old,    from ancient days.3   Therefore he shall give them up until the time    when she who is in labor has given birth;  then the rest of his brothers shall return    to the people of Israel.4   And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD,    in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.  And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great    to the ends of the earth. Footnotes [1] 5:2 Ch 5:1 in Hebrew (ESV) New Testament: 1 John 4:7–16 1 John 4:7–16 (Listen) God Is Love 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. (ESV) Gospel: John 3:31–36 John 3:31–36 (Listen) 31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

 “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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 from of old, from ancient days.” – Micah 5:2 Sermon: Matthew 2:13-18, No Ordinary Reaction Main Point: Beware lest there be […] The post No Ordinary Reaction appeared first on Grace Church Crystal Coast.

Old Testament: Micah 4–7 Micah 4–7 (Listen) The Mountain of the Lord 4   It shall come to pass in the latter days    that the mountain of the house of the LORD  shall be established as the highest of the mountains,    and it shall be lifted up above the hills;  and peoples shall flow to it,2     and many nations shall come, and say:  “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,    to the house of the God of Jacob,  that he may teach us his ways    and that we may walk in his paths.”  For out of Zion shall go forth the law,1    and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.3   He shall judge between many peoples,    and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away;  and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,    and their spears into pruning hooks;  nation shall not lift up sword against nation,    neither shall they learn war anymore;4   but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree,    and no one shall make them afraid,    for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.5   For all the peoples walk    each in the name of its god,  but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God    forever and ever. The Lord Shall Rescue Zion 6   In that day, declares the LORD,    I will assemble the lame  and gather those who have been driven away    and those whom I have afflicted;7   and the lame I will make the remnant,    and those who were cast off, a strong nation;  and the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion    from this time forth and forevermore. 8   And you, O tower of the flock,    hill of the daughter of Zion,  to you shall it come,    the former dominion shall come,    kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem. 9   Now why do you cry aloud?    Is there no king in you?  Has your counselor perished,    that pain seized you like a woman in labor?10   Writhe and groan,2 O daughter of Zion,    like a woman in labor,  for now you shall go out from the city    and dwell in the open country;    you shall go to Babylon.  There you shall be rescued;    there the LORD will redeem you    from the hand of your enemies. 11   Now many nations    are assembled against you,  saying, “Let her be defiled,    and let our eyes gaze upon Zion.”12   But they do not know    the thoughts of the LORD;  they do not understand his plan,    that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor.13   Arise and thresh,    O daughter of Zion,  for I will make your horn iron,    and I will make your hoofs bronze;  you shall beat in pieces many peoples;    and shall devote3 their gain to the LORD,    their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth. The Ruler to Be Born in Bethlehem 5   4 Now muster your troops, O daughter5 of troops;    siege is laid against us;  with a rod they strike the judge of Israel    on the cheek.2   6 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,    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 from of old,    from ancient days.3   Therefore he shall give them up until the time    when she who is in labor has given birth;  then the rest of his brothers shall return    to the people of Israel.4   And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD,    in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.  And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great    to the ends of the earth.5   And he shall be their peace.   When the Assyrian comes into our land    and treads in our palaces,  then we will raise against him seven shepherds    and eight princes of men;6   they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword,    and the land of Nimrod at its entrances;  and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian    when he comes into our land    and treads within our border. A Remnant Shall Be Delivered 7   Then the remnant of Jacob shall be    in the midst of many peoples  like dew from the LORD,    like showers on the grass,  which delay not for a man    nor wait for the children of man.8   And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations,    in the midst of many peoples,  like a lion among the beasts of the forest,    like a young lion among the flocks of sheep,  which, when it goes through, treads down    and tears in pieces, and there is none to deliver.9   Your hand shall be lifted up over your adversaries,    and all your enemies shall be cut off. 10   And in that day, declares the LORD,    I will cut off your horses from among you    and will destroy your chariots;11   and I will cut off the cities of your land    and throw down all your strongholds;12   and I will cut off sorceries from your hand,    and you shall have no more tellers of fortunes;13   and I will cut off your carved images    and your pillars from among you,  and you shall bow down no more    to the work of your hands;14   and I will root out your Asherah images from among you    and destroy your cities.15   And in anger and wrath I will execute vengeance    on the nations that did not obey. The Indictment of the Lord 6   Hear what the LORD says:  Arise, plead your case before the mountains,    and let the hills hear your voice.2   Hear, you mountains, the indictment of the LORD,    and you enduring foundations of the earth,  for the LORD has an indictment against his people,    and he will contend with Israel. 3   “O my people, what have I done to you?    How have I wearied you? Answer me!4   For I brought you up from the land of Egypt    and redeemed you from the house of slavery,  and I sent before you Moses,    Aaron, and Miriam.5   O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised,    and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him,  and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,    that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD.” What Does the Lord Require? 6   “With what shall I come before the LORD,    and bow myself before God on high?  Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,    with calves a year old?7   Will the LORD be pleased with7 thousands of rams,    with ten thousands of rivers of oil?  Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”8   He has told you, O man, what is good;    and what does the LORD require of you  but to do justice, and to love kindness,8    and to walk humbly with your God? Destruction of the Wicked 9   The voice of the LORD cries to the city—    and it is sound wisdom to fear your name:  “Hear of the rod and of him who appointed it!910     Can I forget any longer the treasures10 of wickedness in the house of the wicked,    and the scant measure that is accursed?11   Shall I acquit the man with wicked scales    and with a bag of deceitful weights?12   Your11 rich men are full of violence;    your inhabitants speak lies,    and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.13   Therefore I strike you with a grievous blow,    making you desolate because of your sins.14   You shall eat, but not be satisfied,    and there shall be hunger within you;  you shall put away, but not preserve,    and what you preserve I will give to the sword.15   You shall sow, but not reap;    you shall tread olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil;    you shall tread grapes, but not drink wine.16   For you have kept the statutes of Omri,12    and all the works of the house of Ahab;    and you have walked in their counsels,  that I may make you a desolation, and your13 inhabitants a hissing;    so you shall bear the scorn of my people.” Wait for the God of Salvation 7   Woe is me! For I have become    as when the summer fruit has been gathered,    as when the grapes have been gleaned:  there is no cluster to eat,    no first-ripe fig that my soul desires.2   The godly has perished from the earth,    and there is no one upright among mankind;  they all lie in wait for blood,    and each hunts the other with a net.3   Their hands are on what is evil, to do it well;    the prince and the judge ask for a bribe,  and the great man utters the evil desire of his soul;    thus they weave it together.4   The best of them is like a brier,    the most upright of them a thorn hedge.  The day of your watchmen, of your punishment, has come;    now their confusion is at hand.5   Put no trust in a neighbor;    have no confidence in a friend;  guard the doors of your mouth    from her who lies in your arms;146   for the son treats the father with contempt,    the daughter rises up against her mother,  the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;    a man's enemies are the men of his own house.7   But as for me, I will look to the LORD;    I will wait for the God of my salvation;    my God will hear me. 8   Rejoice not over me, O my enemy;    when I fall, I shall rise;  when I sit in darkness,    the LORD will be a light to me.9   I will bear the indignation of the LORD    because I have sinned against him,  until he pleads my cause    and executes judgment for me.  He will bring me out to the light;    I shall look upon his vindication.10   Then my enemy will see,    and shame will cover her who said to me,    “Where is the LORD your God?”  My eyes will look upon her;    now she will be trampled down    like the mire of the streets. 11   A day for the building of your walls!    In that day the boundary shall be far extended.12   In that day they15 will come to you,    from Assyria and the cities of Egypt,  and from Egypt to the River,16    from sea to sea and from mountain to mountain.13   But the earth will be desolate    because of its inhabitants,    for the fruit of their deeds. 14   Shepherd your people with your staff,    the flock of your inheritance,  who dwell alone in a forest    in the midst of a garden land;17  let them graze in Bashan and Gilead    as in the days of old.15   As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt,    I will show them18 marvelous things.16   The nations shall see and be ashamed of all their might;  they shall lay their hands on their mouths;    their ears shall be deaf;17   they shall lick the dust like a serpent,    like the crawling things of the earth;  they shall come trembling out of their strongholds;    they shall turn in dread to the LORD our God,    and they shall be in fear of you. God's Steadfast Love and Compassion 18   Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity    and passing over transgression    for the remnant of his inheritance?  He does not retain his anger forever,    because he delights in steadfast love.19   He will again have compassion on us;    he will tread our iniquities underfoot.  You will cast all our19 sins    into the depths of the sea.20   You will show faithfulness to Jacob    and steadfast love to Abraham,  as you have sworn to our fathers    from the days of old. Footnotes [1] 4:2 Or teaching

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION“On a starlit hillside, shepherds watched their sheep.Slowly, David's city drifted off to sleep.But to this little town of no great renownThe Lord had a promise to keep. Prophets had foretold it, a mighty King would come,Long awaited Ruler, God's Anointed One.But the Sovereign of all looked helpless and smallAs God gave the world His own Son. Wondrous gift of heaven: the Father sends the Son.Planned from time eternal, moved by holy love.He will carry our curse and death He'll reverse,So we can be daughters and sons. And who would have dreamed or ever foreseenThat we could hold God in our hands?The Giver of Life is born in the nightRevealing God's glorious planTo save the world.”~“Who Would Have Dreamed,” Sovereign Grace Music “The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”~“O Little Town of Bethlehem,” Phillips Brooks “God promises to keep His people and He will keep His promises.”~ Charles Spurgeon, 19th century Baptist preacher “King of Kings yet born of Mary,As of old on earth he stood,Lord of lords in human vesture,In the body and the blood,He will give to all the faithfulHis own self for heavenly food.”~“Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence,” The Divine Liturgy of St. JamesSERMON PASSAGEMicah 5:1-5, 7:7-20 (ESV)Micah 51 Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops;   siege is laid against us;   with a rod they strike the judge of Israel   on the cheek.2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,   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 from of old,   from ancient days.3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time   when she who is in labor has given birth;   then the rest of his brothers shall return   to the people of Israel.4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock   in the strength of the Lord,   in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.   And they shall dwell secure,   for now he shall be great   to the ends of the earth.5 And he shall be their peace.   When the Assyrian comes into our land   and treads in our palaces,   then we will raise against him seven shepherds   and eight princes of men;   Micah 77 But as for me, I will look to the Lord;   I will wait for the God of my salvation;   my God will hear me.8 Rejoice not over me, O my enemy;   when I fall, I shall rise;   when I sit in darkness,   the Lord will be a light to me.9 I will bear the indignation of the Lord   because I have sinned against him,   until he pleads my cause   and executes judgment for me.   He will bring me out to the light;   I shall look upon his vindication.10 Then my enemy will see,  and shame will cover her who said to me,   “Where is the Lord your God?”   My eyes will look upon her;   now she will be trampled down   like the mire of the streets.11 A day for the building of your walls!   In that day the boundary shall be far extended.12 In that day they will come to you,   from Assyria and the cities of Egypt,   and from Egypt to the River,   from sea to sea and from mountain to mountain.13 But the earth will be desolate   because of its inhabitants,   for the fruit of their deeds.14 Shepherd your people with your staff,   the flock of your inheritance,   who dwell alone in a forest   in the midst of a garden land;   let them graze in Bashan and Gilead   as in the days of old.15 As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt,   I will show them marvelous things.16 The nations shall see and be ashamed of all their might;   they shall lay their hands on their mouths;   their ears shall be deaf;17 they shall lick the dust like a serpent,   like the crawling things of the earth;   they shall come trembling out of their strongholds;   they shall turn in dread to the Lord our God,   and they shall be in fear of you.18 Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity   and passing over transgression   for the remnant of his inheritance?   He does not retain his anger forever,   because he delights in steadfast love.19 He will again have compassion on us;   he will tread our iniquities underfoot.   You will cast all our sins   into the depths of the sea.20 You will show faithfulness to Jacob   and steadfast love to Abraham,   as you have sworn to our fathers   from the days of old.

Old Testament: Micah 4–7 Micah 4–7 (Listen) The Mountain of the Lord 4   It shall come to pass in the latter days    that the mountain of the house of the LORD  shall be established as the highest of the mountains,    and it shall be lifted up above the hills;  and peoples shall flow to it,2     and many nations shall come, and say:  “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,    to the house of the God of Jacob,  that he may teach us his ways    and that we may walk in his paths.”  For out of Zion shall go forth the law,1    and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.3   He shall judge between many peoples,    and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away;  and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,    and their spears into pruning hooks;  nation shall not lift up sword against nation,    neither shall they learn war anymore;4   but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree,    and no one shall make them afraid,    for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.5   For all the peoples walk    each in the name of its god,  but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God    forever and ever. The Lord Shall Rescue Zion 6   In that day, declares the LORD,    I will assemble the lame  and gather those who have been driven away    and those whom I have afflicted;7   and the lame I will make the remnant,    and those who were cast off, a strong nation;  and the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion    from this time forth and forevermore. 8   And you, O tower of the flock,    hill of the daughter of Zion,  to you shall it come,    the former dominion shall come,    kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem. 9   Now why do you cry aloud?    Is there no king in you?  Has your counselor perished,    that pain seized you like a woman in labor?10   Writhe and groan,2 O daughter of Zion,    like a woman in labor,  for now you shall go out from the city    and dwell in the open country;    you shall go to Babylon.  There you shall be rescued;    there the LORD will redeem you    from the hand of your enemies. 11   Now many nations    are assembled against you,  saying, “Let her be defiled,    and let our eyes gaze upon Zion.”12   But they do not know    the thoughts of the LORD;  they do not understand his plan,    that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor.13   Arise and thresh,    O daughter of Zion,  for I will make your horn iron,    and I will make your hoofs bronze;  you shall beat in pieces many peoples;    and shall devote3 their gain to the LORD,    their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth. The Ruler to Be Born in Bethlehem 5   4 Now muster your troops, O daughter5 of troops;    siege is laid against us;  with a rod they strike the judge of Israel    on the cheek.2   6 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,    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 from of old,    from ancient days.3   Therefore he shall give them up until the time    when she who is in labor has given birth;  then the rest of his brothers shall return    to the people of Israel.4   And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD,    in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.  And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great    to the ends of the earth.5   And he shall be their peace.   When the Assyrian comes into our land    and treads in our palaces,  then we will raise against him seven shepherds    and eight princes of men;6   they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword,    and the land of Nimrod at its entrances;  and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian    when he comes into our land    and treads within our border. A Remnant Shall Be Delivered 7   Then the remnant of Jacob shall be    in the midst of many peoples  like dew from the LORD,    like showers on the grass,  which delay not for a man    nor wait for the children of man.8   And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations,    in the midst of many peoples,  like a lion among the beasts of the forest,    like a young lion among the flocks of sheep,  which, when it goes through, treads down    and tears in pieces, and there is none to deliver.9   Your hand shall be lifted up over your adversaries,    and all your enemies shall be cut off. 10   And in that day, declares the LORD,    I will cut off your horses from among you    and will destroy your chariots;11   and I will cut off the cities of your land    and throw down all your strongholds;12   and I will cut off sorceries from your hand,    and you shall have no more tellers of fortunes;13   and I will cut off your carved images    and your pillars from among you,  and you shall bow down no more    to the work of your hands;14   and I will root out your Asherah images from among you    and destroy your cities.15   And in anger and wrath I will execute vengeance    on the nations that did not obey. The Indictment of the Lord 6   Hear what the LORD says:  Arise, plead your case before the mountains,    and let the hills hear your voice.2   Hear, you mountains, the indictment of the LORD,    and you enduring foundations of the earth,  for the LORD has an indictment against his people,    and he will contend with Israel. 3   “O my people, what have I done to you?    How have I wearied you? Answer me!4   For I brought you up from the land of Egypt    and redeemed you from the house of slavery,  and I sent before you Moses,    Aaron, and Miriam.5   O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised,    and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him,  and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,    that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD.” What Does the Lord Require? 6   “With what shall I come before the LORD,    and bow myself before God on high?  Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,    with calves a year old?7   Will the LORD be pleased with7 thousands of rams,    with ten thousands of rivers of oil?  Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”8   He has told you, O man, what is good;    and what does the LORD require of you  but to do justice, and to love kindness,8    and to walk humbly with your God? Destruction of the Wicked 9   The voice of the LORD cries to the city—    and it is sound wisdom to fear your name:  “Hear of the rod and of him who appointed it!910     Can I forget any longer the treasures10 of wickedness in the house of the wicked,    and the scant measure that is accursed?11   Shall I acquit the man with wicked scales    and with a bag of deceitful weights?12   Your11 rich men are full of violence;    your inhabitants speak lies,    and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.13   Therefore I strike you with a grievous blow,    making you desolate because of your sins.14   You shall eat, but not be satisfied,    and there shall be hunger within you;  you shall put away, but not preserve,    and what you preserve I will give to the sword.15   You shall sow, but not reap;    you shall tread olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil;    you shall tread grapes, but not drink wine.16   For you have kept the statutes of Omri,12    and all the works of the house of Ahab;    and you have walked in their counsels,  that I may make you a desolation, and your13 inhabitants a hissing;    so you shall bear the scorn of my people.” Wait for the God of Salvation 7   Woe is me! For I have become    as when the summer fruit has been gathered,    as when the grapes have been gleaned:  there is no cluster to eat,    no first-ripe fig that my soul desires.2   The godly has perished from the earth,    and there is no one upright among mankind;  they all lie in wait for blood,    and each hunts the other with a net.3   Their hands are on what is evil, to do it well;    the prince and the judge ask for a bribe,  and the great man utters the evil desire of his soul;    thus they weave it together.4   The best of them is like a brier,    the most upright of them a thorn hedge.  The day of your watchmen, of your punishment, has come;    now their confusion is at hand.5   Put no trust in a neighbor;    have no confidence in a friend;  guard the doors of your mouth    from her who lies in your arms;146   for the son treats the father with contempt,    the daughter rises up against her mother,  the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;    a man's enemies are the men of his own house.7   But as for me, I will look to the LORD;    I will wait for the God of my salvation;    my God will hear me. 8   Rejoice not over me, O my enemy;    when I fall, I shall rise;  when I sit in darkness,    the LORD will be a light to me.9   I will bear the indignation of the LORD    because I have sinned against him,  until he pleads my cause    and executes judgment for me.  He will bring me out to the light;    I shall look upon his vindication.10   Then my enemy will see,    and shame will cover her who said to me,    “Where is the LORD your God?”  My eyes will look upon her;    now she will be trampled down    like the mire of the streets. 11   A day for the building of your walls!    In that day the boundary shall be far extended.12   In that day they15 will come to you,    from Assyria and the cities of Egypt,  and from Egypt to the River,16    from sea to sea and from mountain to mountain.13   But the earth will be desolate    because of its inhabitants,    for the fruit of their deeds. 14   Shepherd your people with your staff,    the flock of your inheritance,  who dwell alone in a forest    in the midst of a garden land;17  let them graze in Bashan and Gilead    as in the days of old.15   As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt,    I will show them18 marvelous things.16   The nations shall see and be ashamed of all their might;  they shall lay their hands on their mouths;    their ears shall be deaf;17   they shall lick the dust like a serpent,    like the crawling things of the earth;  they shall come trembling out of their strongholds;    they shall turn in dread to the LORD our God,    and they shall be in fear of you. God's Steadfast Love and Compassion 18   Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity    and passing over transgression    for the remnant of his inheritance?  He does not retain his anger forever,    because he delights in steadfast love.19   He will again have compassion on us;    he will tread our iniquities underfoot.  You will cast all our19 sins    into the depths of the sea.20   You will show faithfulness to Jacob    and steadfast love to Abraham,  as you have sworn to our fathers    from the days of old. Footnotes [1] 4:2 Or teaching

View the bulletin for Sunday, December 24, 2023 Christmas Eve2:00 p.m. - Worship Service - prelude music begins at 1:30 p.m.7:00 p.m. - Candlelight Worship Service - prelude music begins at 6:00 p.m. (The 7:00 p.m. candlelight service will be streamed on our YouTube channel)Archive of AUDIO “Readings & Sermons”Archive of VIDEO “Complete Service”Archive of BulletinsFirst Reading: Genesis 3:8-15, 17-19 And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”The Lord God said to the serpent,“Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field;on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring;he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”And to Adam he said,“Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the treeof which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,'cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread,till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken;for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”Second Reading: Isaiah 9:2, 6-7 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be calledWonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end,on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold itwith justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.Third Reading: Micah 5:1-5 Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops; siege is laid against us;with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek.But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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 from of old, from ancient days.Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth;then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel.And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.And he shall be their peace.When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces,then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of menFourth Reading: Luke 1:26-35, 38 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.Fifth Reading: Luke 2:1-7 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.Sixth Reading: Luke 2:8-16 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.Seventh Reading: Matthew 2:1-12 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'”Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

Morning: Micah 4–5 Micah 4–5 (Listen) The Mountain of the Lord 4   It shall come to pass in the latter days    that the mountain of the house of the LORD  shall be established as the highest of the mountains,    and it shall be lifted up above the hills;  and peoples shall flow to it,2     and many nations shall come, and say:  “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,    to the house of the God of Jacob,  that he may teach us his ways    and that we may walk in his paths.”  For out of Zion shall go forth the law,1    and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.3   He shall judge between many peoples,    and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away;  and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,    and their spears into pruning hooks;  nation shall not lift up sword against nation,    neither shall they learn war anymore;4   but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree,    and no one shall make them afraid,    for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.5   For all the peoples walk    each in the name of its god,  but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God    forever and ever. The Lord Shall Rescue Zion 6   In that day, declares the LORD,    I will assemble the lame  and gather those who have been driven away    and those whom I have afflicted;7   and the lame I will make the remnant,    and those who were cast off, a strong nation;  and the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion    from this time forth and forevermore. 8   And you, O tower of the flock,    hill of the daughter of Zion,  to you shall it come,    the former dominion shall come,    kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem. 9   Now why do you cry aloud?    Is there no king in you?  Has your counselor perished,    that pain seized you like a woman in labor?10   Writhe and groan,2 O daughter of Zion,    like a woman in labor,  for now you shall go out from the city    and dwell in the open country;    you shall go to Babylon.  There you shall be rescued;    there the LORD will redeem you    from the hand of your enemies. 11   Now many nations    are assembled against you,  saying, “Let her be defiled,    and let our eyes gaze upon Zion.”12   But they do not know    the thoughts of the LORD;  they do not understand his plan,    that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor.13   Arise and thresh,    O daughter of Zion,  for I will make your horn iron,    and I will make your hoofs bronze;  you shall beat in pieces many peoples;    and shall devote3 their gain to the LORD,    their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth. The Ruler to Be Born in Bethlehem 5   4 Now muster your troops, O daughter5 of troops;    siege is laid against us;  with a rod they strike the judge of Israel    on the cheek.2   6 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,    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 from of old,    from ancient days.3   Therefore he shall give them up until the time    when she who is in labor has given birth;  then the rest of his brothers shall return    to the people of Israel.4   And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD,    in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.  And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great    to the ends of the earth.5   And he shall be their peace.   When the Assyrian comes into our land    and treads in our palaces,  then we will raise against him seven shepherds    and eight princes of men;6   they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword,    and the land of Nimrod at its entrances;  and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian    when he comes into our land    and treads within our border. A Remnant Shall Be Delivered 7   Then the remnant of Jacob shall be    in the midst of many peoples  like dew from the LORD,    like showers on the grass,  which delay not for a man    nor wait for the children of man.8   And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations,    in the midst of many peoples,  like a lion among the beasts of the forest,    like a young lion among the flocks of sheep,  which, when it goes through, treads down    and tears in pieces, and there is none to deliver.9   Your hand shall be lifted up over your adversaries,    and all your enemies shall be cut off. 10   And in that day, declares the LORD,    I will cut off your horses from among you    and will destroy your chariots;11   and I will cut off the cities of your land    and throw down all your strongholds;12   and I will cut off sorceries from your hand,    and you shall have no more tellers of fortunes;13   and I will cut off your carved images    and your pillars from among you,  and you shall bow down no more    to the work of your hands;14   and I will root out your Asherah images from among you    and destroy your cities.15   And in anger and wrath I will execute vengeance    on the nations that did not obey. Footnotes [1] 4:2 Or teaching [2] 4:10 Or push [3] 4:13 Hebrew devote to destruction [4] 5:1 Ch 4:14 in Hebrew [5] 5:1 That is, city [6] 5:2 Ch 5:1 in Hebrew (ESV) Evening: Revelation 11 Revelation 11 (Listen) The Two Witnesses 11 Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, 2 but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months. 3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. 6 They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire. 7 And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit1 will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, 8 and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically2 is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, 10 and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth. 11 But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13 And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come. The Seventh Trumpet 15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying,   “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,    who is and who was,  for you have taken your great power    and begun to reign.18   The nations raged,    but your wrath came,    and the time for the dead to be judged,  and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints,    and those who fear your name,    both small and great,  and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.” 19 Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings,3 peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail. Footnotes [1] 11:7 Or the abyss [2] 11:8 Greek spiritually [3] 11:19 Or voices, or sounds (ESV)

We are in a Christmas series that asks the question, is it really joy to the world? The gospel is the greatest news that has ever been told, but it's only good news to those who hear it and respond in belief. In this sermon Pastor Dan explains how the advent of King Jesus is joy to the world and our expectancy should be for His second advent. More joy is coming! Sermon Notes: Scripture: Luke 1:26-38 Jesus isn't just any King – He is the greatest King ever! Zechariah 9:9-10 - Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem; and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations; his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. A. Jesus is a righteous King! Righteous – This word means just, innocent, in the right. How many kings or other leaders has the world known that were just? Perhaps a few. How many of them were innocent?C. Jesus is a humble King! The One who created everything in the world entered into it with nothing… D. Jesus is a peaceful King! (Shalom) which is the best kind of peace – it's all encompassing… E. Jesus the King brings Salvation! F. Israel thought that salvation was political – but it was so much more! A. This King is the greatest King and WILL rule the entire earth.B. Every biblical prophecy about this coming King has played out in perfection. Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Micah 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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 from of old, from ancient days. Isaiah 53:5-7 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. all we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. Revelation 19:6-9 Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” We can have confidence that what God says will happen, will happen! We can be filled with joy because God sent His Son on that first Christmas morning. Joy best experienced is joy that is shared with others. 1. There is joy in the coming King!2. There is joy in who this King is and in the results of His coming.3. This joy is for everyone!

For today’s installment of our Advent Meditation series, our brother Dan Keating provides commentary on Mic 5:1-4. Take a listen or click here to download. Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek. But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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 from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. Mic 5:1-4

Christian joy is not dependent upon circumstances, it is dependent upon a person. And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.  And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:8-14 God comes to those who are attentive no matter what society thinks of them. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. 1 Corinthians 15:41 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Luke 2:1-2 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. Luke 2:3-5 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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 from of old, from ancient days. Micah 5:2 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:6-7 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5 Christians have the ability to look beyond the suffering and look to a sovereign God who uses suffering to refine our character because He loves us.  “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” John 15:9-11 Jesus says if you want joy that transcends your circumstances then do two things: obey His word and remain in His love.

2[a]But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,who are too little to be among the clans ofJudah,from you shall come forth for meone who is to beruler in Israel,whose coming forth isfrom of old,from ancient days. Micah 5:2 The Visit of the Wise Men 2Nowafter Jesus was born inBethlehem of Judeain the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men[a]fromthe east came to Jerusalem,2saying, Where is he who has been bornking of the Jews? For we sawhis star when it rose[b]and have come toworship him.3When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;4and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them wherethe Christ was to be born.5They told him, In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: 6And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;for from you shall come a rulerwho willshepherd my people Israel. 7Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared.8And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.9After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was.10When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.11And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures,they offered him gifts,gold andfrankincense andmyrrh.12Andbeing warnedin a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. Matthew 2:1-12

SCRIPTURE: Genesis 49:8-12 / 1 Samuel 17:12 / Micah 5:2 SHOW NOTES: Welcome to this Advent season. Over the next five weeks, we will look more closely at a tiny town in Israel, chosen by the Lord to play an essential part in His sovereign plan. Today, we ask this question, “Why Bethlehem?” The passages we will discuss today go back almost 2,000 years before the first Christmas took place. This town was small and insignificant, yet it was God's choice. But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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 from of old, from ancient days. – Micah 5:2SONG: "Messiah" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D14wX0K9XJQ

We're so glad you are here! Thanks for checking out Sunday's message!---- SUNDAY'S NOTES ----But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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 from of old, from ancient days. Micah 5:2 ESVNow after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2 ESVJesus has always made Himself easy to find for those who are looking for Him! And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:8-11 ESVJesus, the baby in the manger, was our Messiah on mission from the very beginning.The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw His glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son… John 1:14 MSGFor the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost. Luke 19:10 NLTIf a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? Matthew 18:12 NLT You will always be found by Jesus if you choose to look to Him.Finding the missing is our mission too!As for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works. Psalm 73:28 NASB That God would choose to be with us in every season and circumstance is Christmas's greatest gift.ESV---------------------------Download the 828 Church app!To view our latest e-newsletter, the Midweek Momentum, and subscribe to our weekly updates, go here! https://linktr.ee/828church

Advent Hope   John 8:12 NASB   12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; the one who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”         Jeremiah 25:8-11 ESV   8 “Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts: Because you have not obeyed my words, 9 behold, I will send for all the tribes of the north, declares the Lord, and for Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants, and against all these surrounding nations. I will devote them to destruction, and make them a horror, a hissing, and an everlasting desolation. 10 Moreover, I will banish from them the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the grinding of the millstones and the light of the lamp. 11 This whole land shall become a ruin and a waste, and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.       Jeremiah 29:10-11 ESV   10 “For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.       Genesis 3:15 NASB   15 And I will make enemies   Of you and the woman,   And of your offspring and her Descendant;   He shall bruise you on the head,   And you shall bruise Him on the heel.”       Genesis 12:7 ESV   7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. Paul and the LXX help us here-to whom applies.       Galatians 3:16 ESV   16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ.       Genesis 49:10 NIV   The scepter will not depart from Judah,   nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,   until he to whom it belongs shall come   and the obedience of the nations shall be his.       Micah 5:2 ESV   But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,   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 from of old,   from ancient days.       Isaiah 9:6-7 ESV   For to us a child is born,   to us a son is given;   and the government shall be upon his shoulder,   and his name shall be called   Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.       Isaiah 7:14 ESV   14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.       Isaiah 35:5-6 ESV   Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,   and the ears of the deaf unstopped;   6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer,   and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.       Psalm 41:9 ESV   Even my close friend in whom I trusted,   who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.       Psalm 22:16-18 ESV   For dogs encompass me;   a company of evildoers encircles me;   they have pierced my hands and feet—   17 I can count all my bones—   they stare and gloat over me;   18 they divide my garments among them,   and for my clothing they cast lots.       1 Peter 3:15 ESV   15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,       Acts 1:11-12 ESV   10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”       Titus 2:11-14 NIV   11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.  

We're so glad you are here! Thanks for checking out Sunday's message!---- SUNDAY'S NOTES ----But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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 from of old, from ancient days. Micah 5:2 ESVNow after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2 ESVJesus has always made Himself easy to find for those who are looking for Him! And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:8-11 ESVJesus, the baby in the manger, was our Messiah on mission from the very beginning.The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw His glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son… John 1:14 MSGFor the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost. Luke 19:10 NLTIf a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won't he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? Matthew 18:12 NLT You will always be found by Jesus if you choose to look to Him.Finding the missing is our mission too!As for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all Your works. Psalm 73:28 NASB That God would choose to be with us in every season and circumstance is Christmas's greatest gift.ESV---------------------------Download the 828 Church app!To view our latest e-newsletter, the Midweek Momentum, and subscribe to our weekly updates, go here! https://linktr.ee/828church

With family: 1 Chronicles 28; 2 Peter 2 1 Chronicles 28 (Listen) David's Charge to Israel 28 David assembled at Jerusalem all the officials of Israel, the officials of the tribes, the officers of the divisions that served the king, the commanders of thousands, the commanders of hundreds, the stewards of all the property and livestock of the king and his sons, together with the palace officials, the mighty men and all the seasoned warriors. 2 Then King David rose to his feet and said: “Hear me, my brothers and my people. I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD and for the footstool of our God, and I made preparations for building. 3 But God said to me, ‘You may not build a house for my name, for you are a man of war and have shed blood.' 4 Yet the LORD God of Israel chose me from all my father's house to be king over Israel forever. For he chose Judah as leader, and in the house of Judah my father's house, and among my father's sons he took pleasure in me to make me king over all Israel. 5 And of all my sons (for the LORD has given me many sons) he has chosen Solomon my son to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. 6 He said to me, ‘It is Solomon your son who shall build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. 7 I will establish his kingdom forever if he continues strong in keeping my commandments and my rules, as he is today.' 8 Now therefore in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God, observe and seek out all the commandments of the LORD your God, that you may possess this good land and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever. David's Charge to Solomon 9 “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. 10 Be careful now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary; be strong and do it.” 11 Then David gave Solomon his son the plan of the vestibule of the temple,1 and of its houses, its treasuries, its upper rooms, and its inner chambers, and of the room for the mercy seat; 12 and the plan of all that he had in mind for the courts of the house of the LORD, all the surrounding chambers, the treasuries of the house of God, and the treasuries for dedicated gifts; 13 for the divisions of the priests and of the Levites, and all the work of the service in the house of the LORD; for all the vessels for the service in the house of the LORD, 14 the weight of gold for all golden vessels for each service, the weight of silver vessels for each service, 15 the weight of the golden lampstands and their lamps, the weight of gold for each lampstand and its lamps, the weight of silver for a lampstand and its lamps, according to the use of each lampstand in the service, 16 the weight of gold for each table for the showbread, the silver for the silver tables, 17 and pure gold for the forks, the basins and the cups; for the golden bowls and the weight of each; for the silver bowls and the weight of each; 18 for the altar of incense made of refined gold, and its weight; also his plan for the golden chariot of the cherubim that spread their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the LORD. 19 “All this he made clear to me in writing from the hand of the LORD, all the work to be done according to the plan.” 20 Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished. 21 And behold the divisions of the priests and the Levites for all the service of the house of God; and with you in all the work will be every willing man who has skill for any kind of service; also the officers and all the people will be wholly at your command.” Footnotes [1] 28:11 Hebrew lacks of the temple (ESV) 2 Peter 2 (Listen) False Prophets and Teachers 2 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. 4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell1 and committed them to chains2 of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;3 7 and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked 8 (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); 9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials,4 and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who indulge5 in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones, 11 whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord. 12 But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction, 13 suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions,6 while they feast with you. 14 They have eyes full of adultery,7 insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! 15 Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, 16 but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness. 17 These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. 18 For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves8 of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. 20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.” Footnotes [1] 2:4 Greek Tartarus [2] 2:4 Some manuscripts pits [3] 2:6 Some manuscripts an example to those who were to be ungodly [4] 2:9 Or temptations [5] 2:10 Greek who go after the flesh [6] 2:13 Some manuscripts love feasts [7] 2:14 Or eyes full of an adulteress [8] 2:19 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface (ESV) In private: Micah 5; Luke 14 Micah 5 (Listen) The Ruler to Be Born in Bethlehem 5   1 Now muster your troops, O daughter2 of troops;    siege is laid against us;  with a rod they strike the judge of Israel    on the cheek.2   3 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,    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 from of old,    from ancient days.3   Therefore he shall give them up until the time    when she who is in labor has given birth;  then the rest of his brothers shall return    to the people of Israel.4   And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD,    in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.  And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great    to the ends of the earth.5   And he shall be their peace.   When the Assyrian comes into our land    and treads in our palaces,  then we will raise against him seven shepherds    and eight princes of men;6   they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword,    and the land of Nimrod at its entrances;  and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian    when he comes into our land    and treads within our border. A Remnant Shall Be Delivered 7   Then the remnant of Jacob shall be    in the midst of many peoples  like dew from the LORD,    like showers on the grass,  which delay not for a man    nor wait for the children of man.8   And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations,    in the midst of many peoples,  like a lion among the beasts of the forest,    like a young lion among the flocks of sheep,  which, when it goes through, treads down    and tears in pieces, and there is none to deliver.9   Your hand shall be lifted up over your adversaries,    and all your enemies shall be cut off. 10   And in that day, declares the LORD,    I will cut off your horses from among you    and will destroy your chariots;11   and I will cut off the cities of your land    and throw down all your strongholds;12   and I will cut off sorceries from your hand,    and you shall have no more tellers of fortunes;13   and I will cut off your carved images    and your pillars from among you,  and you shall bow down no more    to the work of your hands;14   and I will root out your Asherah images from among you    and destroy your cities.15   And in anger and wrath I will execute vengeance    on the nations that did not obey. Footnotes [1] 5:1 Ch 4:14 in Hebrew [2] 5:1 That is, city [3] 5:2 Ch 5:1 in Hebrew (ESV) Luke 14 (Listen) Healing of a Man on the Sabbath 14 One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully. 2 And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy. 3 And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” 4 But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away. 5 And he said to them, “Which of you, having a son1 or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?” 6 And they could not reply to these things. The Parable of the Wedding Feast 7 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,' and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” The Parable of the Great Banquet 12 He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers2 or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13 But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14 and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” 15 When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant3 to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.' 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.' 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.' 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.' 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.' 23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you,4 none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'” The Cost of Discipleship 25 Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. 28 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.' 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? 32 And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. Salt Without Taste Is Worthless 34 “Salt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? 35 It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” Footnotes [1] 14:5 Some manuscripts a donkey [2] 14:12 Or your brothers and sisters [3] 14:17 Or bondservant; also verses 21 (twice), 22, 23 [4] 14:24 The Greek word for you here is plural (ESV)

Micah 1–7 Micah 1–7 (Listen) 1 The word of the LORD that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. The Coming Destruction 2   Hear, you peoples, all of you;1    pay attention, O earth, and all that is in it,  and let the Lord GOD be a witness against you,    the Lord from his holy temple.3   For behold, the LORD is coming out of his place,    and will come down and tread upon the high places of the earth.4   And the mountains will melt under him,    and the valleys will split open,  like wax before the fire,    like waters poured down a steep place.5   All this is for the transgression of Jacob    and for the sins of the house of Israel.  What is the transgression of Jacob?    Is it not Samaria?  And what is the high place of Judah?    Is it not Jerusalem?6   Therefore I will make Samaria a heap in the open country,    a place for planting vineyards,  and I will pour down her stones into the valley    and uncover her foundations.7   All her carved images shall be beaten to pieces,    all her wages shall be burned with fire,    and all her idols I will lay waste,  for from the fee of a prostitute she gathered them,    and to the fee of a prostitute they shall return. 8   For this I will lament and wail;    I will go stripped and naked;  I will make lamentation like the jackals,    and mourning like the ostriches.9   For her wound is incurable,    and it has come to Judah;  it has reached to the gate of my people,    to Jerusalem. 10   Tell it not in Gath;    weep not at all;  in Beth-le-aphrah    roll yourselves in the dust.11   Pass on your way,    inhabitants of Shaphir,    in nakedness and shame;  the inhabitants of Zaanan    do not come out;  the lamentation of Beth-ezel    shall take away from you its standing place.12   For the inhabitants of Maroth    wait anxiously for good,  because disaster has come down from the LORD    to the gate of Jerusalem.13   Harness the steeds to the chariots,    inhabitants of Lachish;  it was the beginning of sin    to the daughter of Zion,  for in you were found    the transgressions of Israel.14   Therefore you shall give parting gifts2    to Moresheth-gath;  the houses of Achzib shall be a deceitful thing    to the kings of Israel.15   I will again bring a conqueror to you,    inhabitants of Mareshah;  the glory of Israel    shall come to Adullam.16   Make yourselves bald and cut off your hair,    for the children of your delight;  make yourselves as bald as the eagle,    for they shall go from you into exile. Woe to the Oppressors 2   Woe to those who devise wickedness    and work evil on their beds!  When the morning dawns, they perform it,    because it is in the power of their hand.2   They covet fields and seize them,    and houses, and take them away;  they oppress a man and his house,    a man and his inheritance.3   Therefore thus says the LORD:  behold, against this family I am devising disaster,3    from which you cannot remove your necks,  and you shall not walk haughtily,    for it will be a time of disaster.4   In that day they shall take up a taunt song against you    and moan bitterly,  and say, “We are utterly ruined;    he changes the portion of my people;  how he removes it from me!    To an apostate he allots our fields.”5   Therefore you will have none to cast the line by lot    in the assembly of the LORD. 6   “Do not preach”—thus they preach—    “one should not preach of such things;    disgrace will not overtake us.”7   Should this be said, O house of Jacob?    Has the LORD grown impatient?4    Are these his deeds?  Do not my words do good    to him who walks uprightly?8   But lately my people have risen up as an enemy;  you strip the rich robe from those who pass by trustingly    with no thought of war.59   The women of my people you drive out    from their delightful houses;  from their young children you take away    my splendor forever.10   Arise and go,    for this is no place to rest,  because of uncleanness that destroys    with a grievous destruction.11   If a man should go about and utter wind and lies,    saying, “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,”    he would be the preacher for this people!12   I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob;    I will gather the remnant of Israel;  I will set them together    like sheep in a fold,  like a flock in its pasture,    a noisy multitude of men.13   He who opens the breach goes up before them;    they break through and pass the gate,    going out by it.  Their king passes on before them,    the LORD at their head. Rulers and Prophets Denounced 3   And I said:  Hear, you heads of Jacob    and rulers of the house of Israel!  Is it not for you to know justice?—2     you who hate the good and love the evil,  who tear the skin from off my people6    and their flesh from off their bones,3   who eat the flesh of my people,    and flay their skin from off them,  and break their bones in pieces    and chop them up like meat in a pot,    like flesh in a cauldron. 4   Then they will cry to the LORD,    but he will not answer them;  he will hide his face from them at that time,    because they have made their deeds evil. 5   Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets    who lead my people astray,  who cry “Peace”    when they have something to eat,  but declare war against him    who puts nothing into their mouths.6   Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision,    and darkness to you, without divination.  The sun shall go down on the prophets,    and the day shall be black over them;7   the seers shall be disgraced,    and the diviners put to shame;  they shall all cover their lips,    for there is no answer from God.8   But as for me, I am filled with power,    with the Spirit of the LORD,    and with justice and might,  to declare to Jacob his transgression    and to Israel his sin. 9   Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob    and rulers of the house of Israel,  who detest justice    and make crooked all that is straight,10   who build Zion with blood    and Jerusalem with iniquity.11   Its heads give judgment for a bribe;    its priests teach for a price;    its prophets practice divination for money;  yet they lean on the LORD and say,    “Is not the LORD in the midst of us?    No disaster shall come upon us.”12   Therefore because of you    Zion shall be plowed as a field;  Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins,    and the mountain of the house a wooded height. The Mountain of the Lord 4   It shall come to pass in the latter days    that the mountain of the house of the LORD  shall be established as the highest of the mountains,    and it shall be lifted up above the hills;  and peoples shall flow to it,2     and many nations shall come, and say:  “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,    to the house of the God of Jacob,  that he may teach us his ways    and that we may walk in his paths.”  For out of Zion shall go forth the law,7    and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.3   He shall judge between many peoples,    and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away;  and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,    and their spears into pruning hooks;  nation shall not lift up sword against nation,    neither shall they learn war anymore;4   but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree,    and no one shall make them afraid,    for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.5   For all the peoples walk    each in the name of its god,  but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God    forever and ever. The Lord Shall Rescue Zion 6   In that day, declares the LORD,    I will assemble the lame  and gather those who have been driven away    and those whom I have afflicted;7   and the lame I will make the remnant,    and those who were cast off, a strong nation;  and the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion    from this time forth and forevermore. 8   And you, O tower of the flock,    hill of the daughter of Zion,  to you shall it come,    the former dominion shall come,    kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem. 9   Now why do you cry aloud?    Is there no king in you?  Has your counselor perished,    that pain seized you like a woman in labor?10   Writhe and groan,8 O daughter of Zion,    like a woman in labor,  for now you shall go out from the city    and dwell in the open country;    you shall go to Babylon.  There you shall be rescued;    there the LORD will redeem you    from the hand of your enemies. 11   Now many nations    are assembled against you,  saying, “Let her be defiled,    and let our eyes gaze upon Zion.”12   But they do not know    the thoughts of the LORD;  they do not understand his plan,    that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor.13   Arise and thresh,    O daughter of Zion,  for I will make your horn iron,    and I will make your hoofs bronze;  you shall beat in pieces many peoples;    and shall devote9 their gain to the LORD,    their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth. The Ruler to Be Born in Bethlehem 5   10 Now muster your troops, O daughter11 of troops;    siege is laid against us;  with a rod they strike the judge of Israel    on the cheek.2   12 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,    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 from of old,    from ancient days.3   Therefore he shall give them up until the time    when she who is in labor has given birth;  then the rest of his brothers shall return    to the people of Israel.4   And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD,    in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.  And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great    to the ends of the earth.5   And he shall be their peace.   When the Assyrian comes into our land    and treads in our palaces,  then we will raise against him seven shepherds    and eight princes of men;6   they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword,    and the land of Nimrod at its entrances;  and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian    when he comes into our land    and treads within our border. A Remnant Shall Be Delivered 7   Then the remnant of Jacob shall be    in the midst of many peoples  like dew from the LORD,    like showers on the grass,  which delay not for a man    nor wait for the children of man.8   And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations,    in the midst of many peoples,

Psalms and Wisdom: Proverbs 30–31:9 Proverbs 30–31:9 (Listen) The Words of Agur 30 The words of Agur son of Jakeh. The oracle.1   The man declares, I am weary, O God;    I am weary, O God, and worn out.22   Surely I am too stupid to be a man.    I have not the understanding of a man.3   I have not learned wisdom,    nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.4   Who has ascended to heaven and come down?    Who has gathered the wind in his fists?  Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment?    Who has established all the ends of the earth?  What is his name, and what is his son's name?    Surely you know! 5   Every word of God proves true;    he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.6   Do not add to his words,    lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar. 7   Two things I ask of you;    deny them not to me before I die:8   Remove far from me falsehood and lying;    give me neither poverty nor riches;    feed me with the food that is needful for me,9   lest I be full and deny you    and say, “Who is the LORD?”  or lest I be poor and steal    and profane the name of my God. 10   Do not slander a servant to his master,    lest he curse you, and you be held guilty. 11   There are those3 who curse their fathers    and do not bless their mothers.12   There are those who are clean in their own eyes    but are not washed of their filth.13   There are those—how lofty are their eyes,    how high their eyelids lift!14   There are those whose teeth are swords,    whose fangs are knives,  to devour the poor from off the earth,    the needy from among mankind. 15   The leech has two daughters:    Give and Give.4  Three things are never satisfied;    four never say, “Enough”:16   Sheol, the barren womb,    the land never satisfied with water,    and the fire that never says, “Enough.” 17   The eye that mocks a father    and scorns to obey a mother  will be picked out by the ravens of the valley    and eaten by the vultures. 18   Three things are too wonderful for me;    four I do not understand:19   the way of an eagle in the sky,    the way of a serpent on a rock,  the way of a ship on the high seas,    and the way of a man with a virgin. 20   This is the way of an adulteress:    she eats and wipes her mouth    and says, “I have done no wrong.” 21   Under three things the earth trembles;    under four it cannot bear up:22   a slave when he becomes king,    and a fool when he is filled with food;23   an unloved woman when she gets a husband,    and a maidservant when she displaces her mistress. 24   Four things on earth are small,    but they are exceedingly wise:25   the ants are a people not strong,    yet they provide their food in the summer;26   the rock badgers are a people not mighty,    yet they make their homes in the cliffs;27   the locusts have no king,    yet all of them march in rank;28   the lizard you can take in your hands,    yet it is in kings' palaces. 29   Three things are stately in their tread;    four are stately in their stride:30   the lion, which is mightiest among beasts    and does not turn back before any;31   the strutting rooster,5 the he-goat,    and a king whose army is with him.6 32   If you have been foolish, exalting yourself,    or if you have been devising evil,    put your hand on your mouth.33   For pressing milk produces curds,    pressing the nose produces blood,    and pressing anger produces strife. The Words of King Lemuel 31 The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him: 2   What are you doing, my son?7 What are you doing, son of my womb?    What are you doing, son of my vows?3   Do not give your strength to women,    your ways to those who destroy kings.4   It is not for kings, O Lemuel,    it is not for kings to drink wine,    or for rulers to take strong drink,5   lest they drink and forget what has been decreed    and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.6   Give strong drink to the one who is perishing,    and wine to those in bitter distress;87   let them drink and forget their poverty    and remember their misery no more.8   Open your mouth for the mute,    for the rights of all who are destitute.99   Open your mouth, judge righteously,    defend the rights of the poor and needy. Footnotes [1] 30:1 Or Jakeh, the man of Massa [2] 30:1 Revocalization; Hebrew The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal [3] 30:11 Hebrew There is a generation; also verses 12, 13, 14 [4] 30:15 Or “Give, give,” they cry [5] 30:31 Or the magpie, or the greyhound; Hebrew girt-of-loins [6] 30:31 Or against whom there is no rising up [7] 31:2 Hebrew What, my son? [8] 31:6 Hebrew those bitter in soul [9] 31:8 Hebrew are sons of passing away (ESV) Pentateuch and History: Deuteronomy 28:15–68 Deuteronomy 28:15–68 (Listen) Curses for Disobedience 15 “But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God or be careful to do all his commandments and his statutes that I command you today, then all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you. 16 Cursed shall you be in the city, and cursed shall you be in the field. 17 Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. 18 Cursed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. 19 Cursed shall you be when you come in, and cursed shall you be when you go out. 20 “The LORD will send on you curses, confusion, and frustration in all that you undertake to do, until you are destroyed and perish quickly on account of the evil of your deeds, because you have forsaken me. 21 The LORD will make the pestilence stick to you until he has consumed you off the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 22 The LORD will strike you with wasting disease and with fever, inflammation and fiery heat, and with drought1 and with blight and with mildew. They shall pursue you until you perish. 23 And the heavens over your head shall be bronze, and the earth under you shall be iron. 24 The LORD will make the rain of your land powder. From heaven dust shall come down on you until you are destroyed. 25 “The LORD will cause you to be defeated before your enemies. You shall go out one way against them and flee seven ways before them. And you shall be a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth. 26 And your dead body shall be food for all birds of the air and for the beasts of the earth, and there shall be no one to frighten them away. 27 The LORD will strike you with the boils of Egypt, and with tumors and scabs and itch, of which you cannot be healed. 28 The LORD will strike you with madness and blindness and confusion of mind, 29 and you shall grope at noonday, as the blind grope in darkness, and you shall not prosper in your ways.2 And you shall be only oppressed and robbed continually, and there shall be no one to help you. 30 You shall betroth a wife, but another man shall ravish her. You shall build a house, but you shall not dwell in it. You shall plant a vineyard, but you shall not enjoy its fruit. 31 Your ox shall be slaughtered before your eyes, but you shall not eat any of it. Your donkey shall be seized before your face, but shall not be restored to you. Your sheep shall be given to your enemies, but there shall be no one to help you. 32 Your sons and your daughters shall be given to another people, while your eyes look on and fail with longing for them all day long, but you shall be helpless. 33 A nation that you have not known shall eat up the fruit of your ground and of all your labors, and you shall be only oppressed and crushed continually, 34 so that you are driven mad by the sights that your eyes see. 35 The LORD will strike you on the knees and on the legs with grievous boils of which you cannot be healed, from the sole of your foot to the crown of your head. 36 “The LORD will bring you and your king whom you set over you to a nation that neither you nor your fathers have known. And there you shall serve other gods of wood and stone. 37 And you shall become a horror, a proverb, and a byword among all the peoples where the LORD will lead you away. 38 You shall carry much seed into the field and shall gather in little, for the locust shall consume it. 39 You shall plant vineyards and dress them, but you shall neither drink of the wine nor gather the grapes, for the worm shall eat them. 40 You shall have olive trees throughout all your territory, but you shall not anoint yourself with the oil, for your olives shall drop off. 41 You shall father sons and daughters, but they shall not be yours, for they shall go into captivity. 42 The cricket3 shall possess all your trees and the fruit of your ground. 43 The sojourner who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you, and you shall come down lower and lower. 44 He shall lend to you, and you shall not lend to him. He shall be the head, and you shall be the tail. 45 “All these curses shall come upon you and pursue you and overtake you till you are destroyed, because you did not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep his commandments and his statutes that he commanded you. 46 They shall be a sign and a wonder against you and your offspring forever. 47 Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, 48 therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the LORD will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you. 49 The LORD will bring a nation against you from far away, from the end of the earth, swooping down like the eagle, a nation whose language you do not understand, 50 a hard-faced nation who shall not respect the old or show mercy to the young. 51 It shall eat the offspring of your cattle and the fruit of your ground, until you are destroyed; it also shall not leave you grain, wine, or oil, the increase of your herds or the young of your flock, until they have caused you to perish. 52 “They shall besiege you in all your towns, until your high and fortified walls, in which you trusted, come down throughout all your land. And they shall besiege you in all your towns throughout all your land, which the LORD your God has given you. 53 And you shall eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of your sons and daughters, whom the LORD your God has given you, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemies shall distress you. 54 The man who is the most tender and refined among you will begrudge food to his brother, to the wife he embraces,4 and to the last of the children whom he has left, 55 so that he will not give to any of them any of the flesh of his children whom he is eating, because he has nothing else left, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemy shall distress you in all your towns. 56 The most tender and refined woman among you, who would not venture to set the sole of her foot on the ground because she is so delicate and tender, will begrudge to the husband she embraces,5 to her son and to her daughter, 57 her afterbirth that comes out from between her feet and her children whom she bears, because lacking everything she will eat them secretly, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemy shall distress you in your towns. 58 “If you are not careful to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name, the LORD your God, 59 then the LORD will bring on you and your offspring extraordinary afflictions, afflictions severe and lasting, and sicknesses grievous and lasting. 60 And he will bring upon you again all the diseases of Egypt, of which you were afraid, and they shall cling to you. 61 Every sickness also and every affliction that is not recorded in the book of this law, the LORD will bring upon you, until you are destroyed. 62 Whereas you were as numerous as the stars of heaven, you shall be left few in number, because you did not obey the voice of the LORD your God. 63 And as the LORD took delight in doing you good and multiplying you, so the LORD will take delight in bringing ruin upon you and destroying you. And you shall be plucked off the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 64 “And the LORD will scatter you among all peoples, from one end of the earth to the other, and there you shall serve other gods of wood and stone, which neither you nor your fathers have known. 65 And among these nations you shall find no respite, and there shall be no resting place for the sole of your foot, but the LORD will give you there a trembling heart and failing eyes and a languishing soul. 66 Your life shall hang in doubt before you. Night and day you shall be in dread and have no assurance of your life. 67 In the morning you shall say, ‘If only it were evening!' and at evening you shall say, ‘If only it were morning!' because of the dread that your heart shall feel, and the sights that your eyes shall see. 68 And the LORD will bring you back in ships to Egypt, a journey that I promised that you should never make again; and there you shall offer yourselves for sale to your enemies as male and female slaves, but there will be no buyer.” Footnotes [1] 28:22 Or sword [2] 28:29 Or shall not succeed in finding your ways [3] 28:42 Identity uncertain [4] 28:54 Hebrew the wife of his bosom [5] 28:56 Hebrew the husband of her bosom (ESV) Chronicles and Prophets: Micah 5 Micah 5 (Listen) The Ruler to Be Born in Bethlehem 5   1 Now muster your troops, O daughter2 of troops;    siege is laid against us;  with a rod they strike the judge of Israel    on the cheek.2   3 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,    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 from of old,    from ancient days.3   Therefore he shall give them up until the time    when she who is in labor has given birth;  then the rest of his brothers shall return    to the people of Israel.4   And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD,    in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.  And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great    to the ends of the earth.5   And he shall be their peace.   When the Assyrian comes into our land    and treads in our palaces,  then we will raise against him seven shepherds    and eight princes of men;6   they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword,    and the land of Nimrod at its entrances;  and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian    when he comes into our land    and treads within our border. A Remnant Shall Be Delivered 7   Then the remnant of Jacob shall be    in the midst of many peoples  like dew from the LORD,    like showers on the grass,  which delay not for a man    nor wait for the children of man.8   And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations,    in the midst of many peoples,  like a lion among the beasts of the forest,    like a young lion among the flocks of sheep,  which, when it goes through, treads down    and tears in pieces, and there is none to deliver.9   Your hand shall be lifted up over your adversaries,    and all your enemies shall be cut off. 10   And in that day, declares the LORD,    I will cut off your horses from among you    and will destroy your chariots;11   and I will cut off the cities of your land    and throw down all your strongholds;12   and I will cut off sorceries from your hand,    and you shall have no more tellers of fortunes;13   and I will cut off your carved images    and your pillars from among you,  and you shall bow down no more

Micah 1–7 Micah 1–7 (Listen) 1 The word of the LORD that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. The Coming Destruction 2   Hear, you peoples, all of you;1    pay attention, O earth, and all that is in it,  and let the Lord GOD be a witness against you,    the Lord from his holy temple.3   For behold, the LORD is coming out of his place,    and will come down and tread upon the high places of the earth.4   And the mountains will melt under him,    and the valleys will split open,  like wax before the fire,    like waters poured down a steep place.5   All this is for the transgression of Jacob    and for the sins of the house of Israel.  What is the transgression of Jacob?    Is it not Samaria?  And what is the high place of Judah?    Is it not Jerusalem?6   Therefore I will make Samaria a heap in the open country,    a place for planting vineyards,  and I will pour down her stones into the valley    and uncover her foundations.7   All her carved images shall be beaten to pieces,    all her wages shall be burned with fire,    and all her idols I will lay waste,  for from the fee of a prostitute she gathered them,    and to the fee of a prostitute they shall return. 8   For this I will lament and wail;    I will go stripped and naked;  I will make lamentation like the jackals,    and mourning like the ostriches.9   For her wound is incurable,    and it has come to Judah;  it has reached to the gate of my people,    to Jerusalem. 10   Tell it not in Gath;    weep not at all;  in Beth-le-aphrah    roll yourselves in the dust.11   Pass on your way,    inhabitants of Shaphir,    in nakedness and shame;  the inhabitants of Zaanan    do not come out;  the lamentation of Beth-ezel    shall take away from you its standing place.12   For the inhabitants of Maroth    wait anxiously for good,  because disaster has come down from the LORD    to the gate of Jerusalem.13   Harness the steeds to the chariots,    inhabitants of Lachish;  it was the beginning of sin    to the daughter of Zion,  for in you were found    the transgressions of Israel.14   Therefore you shall give parting gifts2    to Moresheth-gath;  the houses of Achzib shall be a deceitful thing    to the kings of Israel.15   I will again bring a conqueror to you,    inhabitants of Mareshah;  the glory of Israel    shall come to Adullam.16   Make yourselves bald and cut off your hair,    for the children of your delight;  make yourselves as bald as the eagle,    for they shall go from you into exile. Woe to the Oppressors 2   Woe to those who devise wickedness    and work evil on their beds!  When the morning dawns, they perform it,    because it is in the power of their hand.2   They covet fields and seize them,    and houses, and take them away;  they oppress a man and his house,    a man and his inheritance.3   Therefore thus says the LORD:  behold, against this family I am devising disaster,3    from which you cannot remove your necks,  and you shall not walk haughtily,    for it will be a time of disaster.4   In that day they shall take up a taunt song against you    and moan bitterly,  and say, “We are utterly ruined;    he changes the portion of my people;  how he removes it from me!    To an apostate he allots our fields.”5   Therefore you will have none to cast the line by lot    in the assembly of the LORD. 6   “Do not preach”—thus they preach—    “one should not preach of such things;    disgrace will not overtake us.”7   Should this be said, O house of Jacob?    Has the LORD grown impatient?4    Are these his deeds?  Do not my words do good    to him who walks uprightly?8   But lately my people have risen up as an enemy;  you strip the rich robe from those who pass by trustingly    with no thought of war.59   The women of my people you drive out    from their delightful houses;  from their young children you take away    my splendor forever.10   Arise and go,    for this is no place to rest,  because of uncleanness that destroys    with a grievous destruction.11   If a man should go about and utter wind and lies,    saying, “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,”    he would be the preacher for this people!12   I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob;    I will gather the remnant of Israel;  I will set them together    like sheep in a fold,  like a flock in its pasture,    a noisy multitude of men.13   He who opens the breach goes up before them;    they break through and pass the gate,    going out by it.  Their king passes on before them,    the LORD at their head. Rulers and Prophets Denounced 3   And I said:  Hear, you heads of Jacob    and rulers of the house of Israel!  Is it not for you to know justice?—2     you who hate the good and love the evil,  who tear the skin from off my people6    and their flesh from off their bones,3   who eat the flesh of my people,    and flay their skin from off them,  and break their bones in pieces    and chop them up like meat in a pot,    like flesh in a cauldron. 4   Then they will cry to the LORD,    but he will not answer them;  he will hide his face from them at that time,    because they have made their deeds evil. 5   Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets    who lead my people astray,  who cry “Peace”    when they have something to eat,  but declare war against him    who puts nothing into their mouths.6   Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision,    and darkness to you, without divination.  The sun shall go down on the prophets,    and the day shall be black over them;7   the seers shall be disgraced,    and the diviners put to shame;  they shall all cover their lips,    for there is no answer from God.8   But as for me, I am filled with power,    with the Spirit of the LORD,    and with justice and might,  to declare to Jacob his transgression    and to Israel his sin. 9   Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob    and rulers of the house of Israel,  who detest justice    and make crooked all that is straight,10   who build Zion with blood    and Jerusalem with iniquity.11   Its heads give judgment for a bribe;    its priests teach for a price;    its prophets practice divination for money;  yet they lean on the LORD and say,    “Is not the LORD in the midst of us?    No disaster shall come upon us.”12   Therefore because of you    Zion shall be plowed as a field;  Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins,    and the mountain of the house a wooded height. The Mountain of the Lord 4   It shall come to pass in the latter days    that the mountain of the house of the LORD  shall be established as the highest of the mountains,    and it shall be lifted up above the hills;  and peoples shall flow to it,2     and many nations shall come, and say:  “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,    to the house of the God of Jacob,  that he may teach us his ways    and that we may walk in his paths.”  For out of Zion shall go forth the law,7    and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.3   He shall judge between many peoples,    and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away;  and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,    and their spears into pruning hooks;  nation shall not lift up sword against nation,    neither shall they learn war anymore;4   but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree,    and no one shall make them afraid,    for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.5   For all the peoples walk    each in the name of its god,  but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God    forever and ever. The Lord Shall Rescue Zion 6   In that day, declares the LORD,    I will assemble the lame  and gather those who have been driven away    and those whom I have afflicted;7   and the lame I will make the remnant,    and those who were cast off, a strong nation;  and the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion    from this time forth and forevermore. 8   And you, O tower of the flock,    hill of the daughter of Zion,  to you shall it come,    the former dominion shall come,    kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem. 9   Now why do you cry aloud?    Is there no king in you?  Has your counselor perished,    that pain seized you like a woman in labor?10   Writhe and groan,8 O daughter of Zion,    like a woman in labor,  for now you shall go out from the city    and dwell in the open country;    you shall go to Babylon.  There you shall be rescued;    there the LORD will redeem you    from the hand of your enemies. 11   Now many nations    are assembled against you,  saying, “Let her be defiled,    and let our eyes gaze upon Zion.”12   But they do not know    the thoughts of the LORD;  they do not understand his plan,    that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor.13   Arise and thresh,    O daughter of Zion,  for I will make your horn iron,    and I will make your hoofs bronze;  you shall beat in pieces many peoples;    and shall devote9 their gain to the LORD,    their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth. The Ruler to Be Born in Bethlehem 5   10 Now muster your troops, O daughter11 of troops;    siege is laid against us;  with a rod they strike the judge of Israel    on the cheek.2   12 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,    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 from of old,    from ancient days.3   Therefore he shall give them up until the time    when she who is in labor has given birth;  then the rest of his brothers shall return    to the people of Israel.4   And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD,    in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.  And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great    to the ends of the earth.5   And he shall be their peace.   When the Assyrian comes into our land    and treads in our palaces,  then we will raise against him seven shepherds    and eight princes of men;6   they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword,    and the land of Nimrod at its entrances;  and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian    when he comes into our land    and treads within our border. A Remnant Shall Be Delivered 7   Then the remnant of Jacob shall be    in the midst of many peoples  like dew from the LORD,    like showers on the grass,  which delay not for a man    nor wait for the children of man.8   And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations,    in the midst of many peoples,

Old Testament: Micah 4–7 Micah 4–7 (Listen) The Mountain of the Lord 4   It shall come to pass in the latter days    that the mountain of the house of the LORD  shall be established as the highest of the mountains,    and it shall be lifted up above the hills;  and peoples shall flow to it,2     and many nations shall come, and say:  “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,    to the house of the God of Jacob,  that he may teach us his ways    and that we may walk in his paths.”  For out of Zion shall go forth the law,1    and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.3   He shall judge between many peoples,    and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away;  and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,    and their spears into pruning hooks;  nation shall not lift up sword against nation,    neither shall they learn war anymore;4   but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree,    and no one shall make them afraid,    for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.5   For all the peoples walk    each in the name of its god,  but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God    forever and ever. The Lord Shall Rescue Zion 6   In that day, declares the LORD,    I will assemble the lame  and gather those who have been driven away    and those whom I have afflicted;7   and the lame I will make the remnant,    and those who were cast off, a strong nation;  and the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion    from this time forth and forevermore. 8   And you, O tower of the flock,    hill of the daughter of Zion,  to you shall it come,    the former dominion shall come,    kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem. 9   Now why do you cry aloud?    Is there no king in you?  Has your counselor perished,    that pain seized you like a woman in labor?10   Writhe and groan,2 O daughter of Zion,    like a woman in labor,  for now you shall go out from the city    and dwell in the open country;    you shall go to Babylon.  There you shall be rescued;    there the LORD will redeem you    from the hand of your enemies. 11   Now many nations    are assembled against you,  saying, “Let her be defiled,    and let our eyes gaze upon Zion.”12   But they do not know    the thoughts of the LORD;  they do not understand his plan,    that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor.13   Arise and thresh,    O daughter of Zion,  for I will make your horn iron,    and I will make your hoofs bronze;  you shall beat in pieces many peoples;    and shall devote3 their gain to the LORD,    their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth. The Ruler to Be Born in Bethlehem 5   4 Now muster your troops, O daughter5 of troops;    siege is laid against us;  with a rod they strike the judge of Israel    on the cheek.2   6 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,    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 from of old,    from ancient days.3   Therefore he shall give them up until the time    when she who is in labor has given birth;  then the rest of his brothers shall return    to the people of Israel.4   And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD,    in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.  And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great    to the ends of the earth.5   And he shall be their peace.   When the Assyrian comes into our land    and treads in our palaces,  then we will raise against him seven shepherds    and eight princes of men;6   they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword,    and the land of Nimrod at its entrances;  and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian    when he comes into our land    and treads within our border. A Remnant Shall Be Delivered 7   Then the remnant of Jacob shall be    in the midst of many peoples  like dew from the LORD,    like showers on the grass,  which delay not for a man    nor wait for the children of man.8   And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations,    in the midst of many peoples,  like a lion among the beasts of the forest,    like a young lion among the flocks of sheep,  which, when it goes through, treads down    and tears in pieces, and there is none to deliver.9   Your hand shall be lifted up over your adversaries,    and all your enemies shall be cut off. 10   And in that day, declares the LORD,    I will cut off your horses from among you    and will destroy your chariots;11   and I will cut off the cities of your land    and throw down all your strongholds;12   and I will cut off sorceries from your hand,    and you shall have no more tellers of fortunes;13   and I will cut off your carved images    and your pillars from among you,  and you shall bow down no more    to the work of your hands;14   and I will root out your Asherah images from among you    and destroy your cities.15   And in anger and wrath I will execute vengeance    on the nations that did not obey. The Indictment of the Lord 6   Hear what the LORD says:  Arise, plead your case before the mountains,    and let the hills hear your voice.2   Hear, you mountains, the indictment of the LORD,    and you enduring foundations of the earth,  for the LORD has an indictment against his people,    and he will contend with Israel. 3   “O my people, what have I done to you?    How have I wearied you? Answer me!4   For I brought you up from the land of Egypt    and redeemed you from the house of slavery,  and I sent before you Moses,    Aaron, and Miriam.5   O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised,    and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him,  and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,    that you may know the righteous acts of the LORD.” What Does the Lord Require? 6   “With what shall I come before the LORD,    and bow myself before God on high?  Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,    with calves a year old?7   Will the LORD be pleased with7 thousands of rams,    with ten thousands of rivers of oil?  Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”8   He has told you, O man, what is good;    and what does the LORD require of you  but to do justice, and to love kindness,8    and to walk humbly with your God? Destruction of the Wicked 9   The voice of the LORD cries to the city—    and it is sound wisdom to fear your name:  “Hear of the rod and of him who appointed it!910     Can I forget any longer the treasures10 of wickedness in the house of the wicked,    and the scant measure that is accursed?11   Shall I acquit the man with wicked scales    and with a bag of deceitful weights?12   Your11 rich men are full of violence;    your inhabitants speak lies,    and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.13   Therefore I strike you with a grievous blow,    making you desolate because of your sins.14   You shall eat, but not be satisfied,    and there shall be hunger within you;  you shall put away, but not preserve,    and what you preserve I will give to the sword.15   You shall sow, but not reap;    you shall tread olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil;    you shall tread grapes, but not drink wine.16   For you have kept the statutes of Omri,12    and all the works of the house of Ahab;    and you have walked in their counsels,  that I may make you a desolation, and your13 inhabitants a hissing;    so you shall bear the scorn of my people.” Wait for the God of Salvation 7   Woe is me! For I have become    as when the summer fruit has been gathered,    as when the grapes have been gleaned:  there is no cluster to eat,    no first-ripe fig that my soul desires.2   The godly has perished from the earth,    and there is no one upright among mankind;  they all lie in wait for blood,    and each hunts the other with a net.3   Their hands are on what is evil, to do it well;    the prince and the judge ask for a bribe,  and the great man utters the evil desire of his soul;    thus they weave it together.4   The best of them is like a brier,    the most upright of them a thorn hedge.  The day of your watchmen, of your punishment, has come;    now their confusion is at hand.5   Put no trust in a neighbor;    have no confidence in a friend;  guard the doors of your mouth    from her who lies in your arms;146   for the son treats the father with contempt,    the daughter rises up against her mother,  the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;    a man's enemies are the men of his own house.7   But as for me, I will look to the LORD;    I will wait for the God of my salvation;    my God will hear me. 8   Rejoice not over me, O my enemy;    when I fall, I shall rise;  when I sit in darkness,    the LORD will be a light to me.9   I will bear the indignation of the LORD    because I have sinned against him,  until he pleads my cause    and executes judgment for me.  He will bring me out to the light;    I shall look upon his vindication.10   Then my enemy will see,    and shame will cover her who said to me,    “Where is the LORD your God?”  My eyes will look upon her;    now she will be trampled down    like the mire of the streets. 11   A day for the building of your walls!    In that day the boundary shall be far extended.12   In that day they15 will come to you,    from Assyria and the cities of Egypt,  and from Egypt to the River,16    from sea to sea and from mountain to mountain.13   But the earth will be desolate    because of its inhabitants,    for the fruit of their deeds. 14   Shepherd your people with your staff,    the flock of your inheritance,  who dwell alone in a forest    in the midst of a garden land;17  let them graze in Bashan and Gilead    as in the days of old.15   As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt,    I will show them18 marvelous things.16   The nations shall see and be ashamed of all their might;  they shall lay their hands on their mouths;    their ears shall be deaf;17   they shall lick the dust like a serpent,    like the crawling things of the earth;  they shall come trembling out of their strongholds;    they shall turn in dread to the LORD our God,    and they shall be in fear of you. God's Steadfast Love and Compassion 18   Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity    and passing over transgression    for the remnant of his inheritance?  He does not retain his anger forever,    because he delights in steadfast love.19   He will again have compassion on us;    he will tread our iniquities underfoot.  You will cast all our19 sins    into the depths of the sea.20   You will show faithfulness to Jacob    and steadfast love to Abraham,  as you have sworn to our fathers    from the days of old. Footnotes [1] 4:2 Or teaching [2]

It was a long-awaited night. Mary had waited nine months, but the waiting had started long ago. Throughout the Old Testament, the Prophets spoke of a coming Messiah. He would be a suffering servant that would save His people from their sins. Year after year the people waited for this coming Messiah. When would He come?Main Points:1. Jesus came at just the right time in God's redemptive plan, when the world was perfectly prepared for God's work.2. Sadly, on the night of Christ's birth, it appears that no one was waiting or expecting His birth. Certainly, the Jewish religious leaders were not. As studious as they were of the Old Testament law, and the more than 300 prophecies of the coming Messiah, the religious establishment was not waiting.3. The over 300 Old Testament prophecies being fulled in Jesus give us assurance that He is the Son of God and the long-awaited Messiah.Today's Scripture Verses:Galatians 4:4-5 - “But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law. God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.”Micah 5:2 - “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.”Isaiah 7:14 - “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”2 Samuel 7:12-13 - “When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”Hosea 11:1 - “When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.”Psalm 72:9-10 - “May the desert tribes bow before him and his enemies lick the dust. May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts.”Quick Links:Subscribe to The 5 Minute Discipleship NewsletterDonate to support this podcastLeave a review on Apple PodcastsGet a copy of The 5 Minute Discipleship JournalConnect on SocialJoin The 5 Minute Discipleship Facebook Group5 Minute Discipleship on Instagram