1. Before there was
Christmas
2017 Advent Sermon Series
There Was a Ruler

2. Introduction
While many of the prophets are know by their father’s name, Micah is identified by the town he came from, Moresheth. This was a little town about 22 mi. SW of Jerusalem in farming country.

3. Introduction
Micah’s name means “who is like Yahweh?” or “who is like the Lord?”

5. Micah 5:1-3
5 Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek. 2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. 3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of His brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.

6. Micah 5:4-5
4 And He shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God; and they shall abide: for now shall He be great unto the ends of the earth.
5 And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.

7. Introduction
Micah forecasted a Shepherd/King who would arrive and restore His people; a new hope for Israel.

8. PREPARE FOR THE SIEGE OF THE ASSYRIANS (Micah 5:1)
5 Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.

9. PREPARE FOR THE SIEGE OF THE ASSYRIANS (Micah 5:1)
This speaks of the disrespect which was fulfilled when Sennacherib mocked King Hezekiah; it also foreshadowed Christ’s cruel treatment by the Romans.

10. HOPE FOR A PROMISED RULER
(Micah 5:2)
2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

11. HOPE FOR A PROMISED RULER
(Mt. 2:5-6)
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall ruler My people Israel.

12. HOPE FOR A PROMISED RULER
(Mt. 2:5-6)
The Jews in Jesus’ day fully expected the Messiah to come to them from Bethlehem.

13. HOPE FOR A PROMISED RULER
(Jn. 7:40-42)
40Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. 41Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? 42Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?

14. HOPE FOR A PROMISED RULER
(Jn. 7:40-42)
But all the crowds that came to hear Jesus preach knew about Him was that He came from Nazareth of Galilee.

15. DELIVERED INTO THE HANDS OF THEIR ENEMIES (Micah 5:3)
3 Therefore will He give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of His brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.

16. DELIVERED INTO THE HANDS OF THEIR ENEMIES (Micah 5:3)
Israel’s subjection to the Gentile nations would continue until the promised Ruler appeared.

18. THE PROMISED RULER WILL SHEPHERD HIS PEOPLE (Micah 5:4)
4 And He shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God; and they shall abide: for now shall He be great unto the ends of the earth.

19. THE PROMISED RULER WILL SHEPHERD HIS PEOPLE (Micah 5:4)
He will be a Shepherd/King and rule in the strength of the Lord. And not only will He rule over His people; He will also rule over the Gentiles.

20. THE PROMISED RULER WILL BE THEIR PEACE (Micah 5:5)
5 And this Man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.

21. THE PROMISED RULER WILL BE THEIR PEACE (Micah 5:5)
How does this Ruler maintain the peace?
By the Merit of His Blood (Rom. 8:34)

22. THE PROMISED RULER WILL BE THEIR PEACE (Micah 5:5)
How does this Ruler maintain the peace?
By the Merit of His Blood (Rom. 8:34)
By His Intercession (Jas. 5:16)

23. THE PROMISED RULER WILL BE THEIR PEACE (Micah 5:5)
How does this Ruler maintain the peace?
By the Merit of His Blood (Rom. 8:34)
By His Intercession (Jas. 5:16)
By the Sufficiency of His Grace (2 Cor. 12:9)

24. THE PROMISED RULER WILL BE THEIR PEACE (Micah 5:5)
How does this Ruler maintain the peace?
By the Merit of His Blood (Rom. 8:34)
By His Intercession (Jas. 5:16)
By the Sufficiency of His Grace (2 Cor. 12:9)
By His Promise (Heb. 13:5)

25. THE PROMISED RULER WILL BE THEIR PEACE (Micah 5:5)
So, how do we get this peace which is so prevalent and available to us through Jesus Christ? We must know Him.