Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 22, 2024
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Confidence
Bethlehem-Ephrathah. Too small, but from you shall come forth.
What is this confidence that small things so often possess? They are indomitable. They never give up. They win. They are alive in all the right ways.
This … “house of bread” Bethlehem is just such a small thing. Village barely visible outside Jerusalem, but what a place it will become, birthplace of the savior Messiah, king of Israel.
He shall stand firm and shepherd his flock by the strength of the LORD, in the majestic name of the LORD, his God.
Micah’s is one of the most beloved of all the prophecies concerning the birth of Jesus. And although there were two Bethlehems in Israel, this one, also named Ephrathah meaning “fruitful,” was where God wanted everyone to know centuries in advance that the future savior would be born.
Bethlehem-Ephrathah, are you ready for a king?
His greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth. And he shall be peace.
On Friday we took our two young grandboys on a Christmas shopping spree. Their friend Diane gave them each a $20 gift card. Jasper found an army-green military tank complete with missiles, helicopter, decals, storage and soldiers. Miles settled on something he’d seen months ago but was now $20 off, a nerf gatling gun with 72 darts and a belt that feeds 40 of those darts through the blaster in just a few seconds. Of course it takes minutes, not seconds, to pick them all up. They didn’t seem to mind.
The peaceful nights of Advent are sometimes rocked with the sound of strife. Not just our kiddos who we hope are getting it out of their system, but grown-up trucks and motorcycles and even weapons that draw everyone’s attention. The poor we will always have with us. Wars and rumors of wars will always keep us on guard, and always we will pray for relief or rescue.
Mary’s ordeal following Gabriel’s revelation is not something she must struggle through alone. When she visits Elizabeth she discovers that her cousin is also pregnant in a miraculous way. And this baby leaps in her womb when Mary appears.
How does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? The baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
Bethlehem-Ephrathah, are you ready for a king?
We watched Mile and Jasper swell with pride and confidence as they shook the world with their weapons. They don’t yet realize that their enemies are not flesh and blood nor rival armies, but that their struggle, as is true for all of us, is with the rulers and authorities of this dark world, spiritual forces in the heavenly realms.
Paul wrote those words about evil to his Ephesian brothers and sisters, but he had near-death experiences with flesh-and-blood men and women who thought they hated him. A widespread army of Pharisees rose up against their renegade brother and sought to eliminate him sooner rather than later. Paul’s persuasive skills and his persevering character frightened them, so they used all their tools trying to kill him.
O shepherd of Israel, rouse your power and come to save us! Look down from heaven and see, take care of this vine and protect what your right hand has planted.
Miles and Jasper look around wherever they are and hear the cry of battle. Often it’s a Christian cry, as God enlists his children in his army. Over time this will become more substantive than the national anthem of our country or any country. Then their tanks and guns will gather dust.
May your help be with the man of your right hand, with the son of man whom you yourself made strong. Lord, make us turn to you. Let us see your face and we shall be saved.
 (Micah 5, Psalm 80, Hebrews 10, Luke 1)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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