Looking for Peace in All the Wrong Places

December 9, 2018

Sermon Notes

At Christmas time, people are searching for peace in all the wrong places. Christ has come not to bring us peace but to be our peace.

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.

  • Zedekiah was the last king in David’s line to rule on the throne when Nebuchadnezzar conquered the city (2 Kings 25:1-2).
  • God has promised His people that judgment would come due to their sin.
  • Even in His judgment, He promised another king who would come from the city of Bethlehem who would come to rule over Israel (Mic. 5:2) and to reach the nations (Mic. 5:4).
  • Instead of bringing peace, this Messiah would become our peace (Mic. 5:5).