“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel.” Micah 5:2
Dear Ones:
If there is one consistent, dominant theme throughout the Scriptures, it is that God, the Lord Jesus, possess all power and authority “in heaven and in earth.” In the Old Testament, He is seen as the King, and Lord. It is very possible that one reason for which David, the king of Israel, is given such a prominent place in the Biblical record, is to illustrate in part the role of a king. Of course, king David, though blessed of God, was beset by flaws, sins, and inconsistencies. However, he was a man filled with the Spirit of God at times, led and inspired by God. It would be from his lineage that the Son of God would be born in the “city of David,” Bethlehem. It is remarkable that Luke records the words of the angel to the shepherds, announcing Jesus’ birth: “For unto you is born this day IN the city of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord.” (2:11) The perfect King would be born in the lineage of an imperfect king, but by the Holy Spirit, making Him to be the King Eternal, and only wise God. This would be the One of whom Isaiah wrote: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulders.” (9:6)
What does he mean by this word, “government?” He later writes, “Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order and to establish it…” (9:7) Christ’s government is His reign, kingship, the dominance of His power and authority. That which accompanies this reign is His peace, and His capacity and will to order and establish it. In Jesus’ model prayer, which we call, “the Lord’s prayer,” He puts this matter of God’s kingdom, second only to the Hallowing, or Honoring, of the name of God. The phrase, “Thy kingdom come and Thy will be done,” are the natural, and ordered requests given to us by God. Why? The answer lies in the hymnwriter’s words: “…blessings abound where’re He reigns.” It is under the authority of God, that man is free from the authority of sin and death. It is there also, that the power of Christ’s indestructible Life fills the believer, communicating to Him the nature of God in His fullness. How then are we to see Jesus at this time in history, when the “world” and sinful man have belittled him, making him just a little better than the best of us all?
Perhaps nowhere in Scripture is the issue of the Kingship, and its worth and power, so clearly and simply seen, as in the Psalmist’s words: “Yet, I have set my King upon My holy hill of Zion.” (Ps. 2:6) We know that these are the words of God given to the Psalmist, and that they are speaking of Christ because of the words that follow: “I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto Me, ‘Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten Thee.'” (v.7) This “ruler in Israel” of whom Micah spoke, is described also as, “…whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2) So, the Psalmist, Isaiah, Micah, and Luke are speaking of the same King, this one to whom by His own words: “All power (or authority) is given unto Me in heaven and earth.” (Matthew 28:18)
What is the application to our lives of knowing that Christ is the Everlasting King, and that all power and authority is His? True faith is revealed by our submission to, and dependence upon, the only true King, at all times and in every place. It is for this reason that the Lord Jesus instructs His disciples to go into all the earth, unto all nations, and make disciples, baptizing them and teaching them also to observe all that He has commanded.
Dear Father, Open our eyes to see, worship, and serve our blessed King. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad