One of Peace

Read Micah 5:2-5

“And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; and he shall be the one of peace.”

Where does our security come from? For many of us, it comes from our identity as part of a group: our family, place of work, circle of friends. For others, it comes from our own abilities: our intelligence, ability to earn money, physical strength, artistic talent. We can be tempted to place our security in any of these things, especially when things are going well- when we are earning lots of money or our family life is flourishing. Yet today’s reading turns our idea of security on its head.

We are secure because our King is great. And His greatness is connected with two specific things.

He shall be great to the ends of the earth. This is a promise, something the Lord assures us will happen. Why is this geographical caveat important? He is not great to me or for me, or for my nation or people group; but He is great to and for all people. This shows the incredible breadth of God’s love. Even in this passage from Micah, where the author is writing about the people of Israel, God’s heart for all the nations comes sneaking in. There’s no escape! God’s love is too wide, too beautiful to be confined to just one group of the people He created. His redemptive plan is for all people, even to the ends of the earth.

How will He be great among all the nations? Will He come in force and with a strong army, so that people are coerced into His orbit? Contrary to our human ways of striving to make our own names great, this King will be one of peace. Here we see the foreshadowing of the cross, of a great King Who lays down His life for His unworthy people; not because we deserve it, but because we are the work of His hands and He loves us. We can rest secure in the love of our great King Jesus.

For Family Discussion: Try to name all the ways that God is a GREAT God. 

For Personal Reflection: Practically speaking, how do we root our identity in Christ and in His greatness, rather than our own?

by Christina Winrich