Wise Men
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.
Micah 5:1–5a
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Wise Men
The wise men come from the east looking for the Christ who has been born. They have followed his star and have come to the great city of Jerusalem. They ask, “Where is he that has been born King of the Jews?” Herod is terrified. So is all of Jerusalem. Jerusalem should be terrified. When Herod is paranoid, strange and horrible things happen. Will a new king take his kingdom from him? But the real king, Augustus, isn’t worried about a baby in little ole Ephrathah—in Bethlehem—only Herod. So the Chief Priests and the Scribes search the Scriptures for the location of the birth of the King of the Jews. They search and land on Micah 5:2. Little Bethlehem, the city of David, in the insignificant half tribe of Ephrathah, is the location of the birth of your Savior. All the prophecies of the Law and the Prophets come to completion in this Jesus, born in Bethlehem. The promise, even in the Garden of Eden, is made complete in Bethlehem. Now, the little half tribe isn’t so little and insignificant. Just like humanity isn’t any longer lame and dejected. The people who were rotten in sin and death are now forgiven and alive and made whole. He has delivered us out of the hand of every enemy.
Micah 5:1–5a
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Wise Men
The wise men come from the east looking for the Christ who has been born. They have followed his star and have come to the great city of Jerusalem. They ask, “Where is he that has been born King of the Jews?” Herod is terrified. So is all of Jerusalem. Jerusalem should be terrified. When Herod is paranoid, strange and horrible things happen. Will a new king take his kingdom from him? But the real king, Augustus, isn’t worried about a baby in little ole Ephrathah—in Bethlehem—only Herod. So the Chief Priests and the Scribes search the Scriptures for the location of the birth of the King of the Jews. They search and land on Micah 5:2. Little Bethlehem, the city of David, in the insignificant half tribe of Ephrathah, is the location of the birth of your Savior. All the prophecies of the Law and the Prophets come to completion in this Jesus, born in Bethlehem. The promise, even in the Garden of Eden, is made complete in Bethlehem. Now, the little half tribe isn’t so little and insignificant. Just like humanity isn’t any longer lame and dejected. The people who were rotten in sin and death are now forgiven and alive and made whole. He has delivered us out of the hand of every enemy.
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January
Responding to GodLamentationSeek GodThe Day of the LordA Matter of FaithThe Secure and the ComplacentThe Pride of the PeopleFrom Depths of WoeVisions of FireA Plumb LineAmaziahSummer FruitA Final VisionA Word of HopeA VisionHumiliationDisplacedStanding AloofHouse of FireRestorationHeeding God’s CallOverboardInside the Great FishFor a Second TimeMessage ReceivedNot FairA Lesson on MercyWho Is Like the Lord?O Earth!Then and NowLament
February
Courtroom DramaEnemies of GodThe Lord GathersFalse ProphetsZionRestorationWise MenIn, But Not OfGod’s ReproachSurvey the CrossLook to the LordVindicationThe Lord’s DeliveranceA Merciful HymnBack AgainLord’s Wrath and CareDoom and DeliveranceThe Enemies of GodOur ConquerorWoe to the City of BloodshedNo Other God’sAre You Better?Prophecy FulfilledThe Prophet SawHow Long?God in the MidstJustice ServedThe God of History
March
Waiting for an AnswerA Dire SituationA Twisting of the TruthIn His Image and In His LikenessThe Lord’s NameThe Sin of ManFear, Love, and TrustThe Day of SalvationThe Word of the LordThe Lord’s JudgmentClear and to the PointBe SilentThe Day of WrathSeek the LordGardensRunning After Other GodsSwordsThe Kingdoms of this WorldWhere is Your Trust?The Lord’s RemnantThe Truth of His WordThe Human HeartA Song of VictoryRebuildingObedienceSurpassing GloryA Faithful ResponseLooking to the FutureReturn to the Lord!A Performative WordFour Horns