Anticipating His Advent #2

The Prophet Micah wrote at a time when things did not look too good for God's people. The city was under siege and the judgment of God was at hand. But God always had a message of hope:

2 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.
3 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.
4 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.
5 And he shall be their peace.

God raises up new hope from the most unsuspecting places: small town people; those who do not have an obvious background in leading; those who seem vulnerable, like babies.  He uses shepherds more than He does warriors. This works perfectly in His plan because it is not about His servants; it's about the "majesty of the name of the Lord."  As we go through these next few weeks of anticipation and celebration, let's not get caught up with the big and the obvious; let us be more aware of the calm, the quiet, the humble means God uses to bring Himself glory and draw us closer to Him.