Micah 5:4–5 (NRSV)
And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. 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.
CONSIDER THIS
In this passage, we find another prophetic promise of the coming messianic kingdom. This time it’s from Micah, likely a younger contemporary of Isaiah. Although there are similarities of deep significance, Micah’s forecast differs from the vision of Isaiah 11:5–9 in one important way. It tells us exactly what kind of person this Messiah will be. As Micah tells it, “He will be the one of peace.” So the ultimate promise is not just of a peaceful kingdom, but of a peaceful King.
Jesus is the “one of peace.” He came preaching a message of peace, and he fully embodied the words that he spoke. To pick one example, Jesus’s discourse in Luke 6 may be the most unflinching articulation of non-violence on record. His ethic of peace was not the result of a mere political orientation but of a deep encounter with his Abba. Jesus spoke the truth, come what may, because he trusted his Source. He refused to incite violence because he knew that the one who sees all would ultimately right every wrong. He encouraged his followers to have their own encounter, in the hopes that they might reach a similar conclusion. We all rest in the hands of a benevolent God who is more than happy to take care of us. Therefore, we need not expend so much energy trying to take care of ourselves. If the Essence of Existence is actively bringing about the balance of all things, then revenge is a waste of time.
The prophecy in Micah 5 actually begins in chapter 4, where the prophet boldly proclaims that, “They shall study war no more” (4:3) in the coming reign of the Messiah. An end to war is a central theme in a great many messianic prophecies. And now we are reminded again that the Messiah has already arrived . . . in the flesh. In his birth and subsequent life, Jesus has already brought peace. The prevalence of war in our world is an indication of how few of us have actually surrendered to the way of Jesus, who is the ultimate manifestation of God’s character. As we more deeply surrender ourselves to this unprecedented manifestation, I feel that we will find ourselves laying down our weapons and choosing our words with greater wisdom.
THE PRAYER
God of peace, you have revealed yourself most perfectly through Jesus. Help us, by way of your Holy Spirit, to follow his example in becoming a people of peace.
THE QUESTION
There is a direct connection between inner peace and outer peace. Is there an inner restlessness in your life? How is it manifesting in outward hostility? Are you engaged in any daily practices that might help to cultivate peace in your relationships?
For the Awakening,
Josh LeRoy
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4 Responses
When there is spiritual ware inside us (and there is), physical war is intimate.
Hurting people hurt people.
It is the evil one’s way.
When an atomic bomb explodes inwardly, the others experience the effects. Then they, in turn, either respond in like, (going from internal strife to outward retaliation) or respond Christ-like with the intent to defuse the situation.
Reacting in likeness is the evil one’s way.
Responding Christ-like is Jesus’ way.
And if Christ is in us and us in Him, there is only one way we should respond, In Christ!
Until there is no more war inside humanity, war on the outside will reign.
There are only two possibilities for this scenario to change: Every human being calls on the name of Jesus, or Jesus’ second coming return.
Either or.
No middle ground.
Staying 💪’n Christ
Ephesians 6:10
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
spiritual war, not “ware”
I believe that the PEACE that Jesus brought to earth with his incarnation is primarily reconciliation with God and those within the household of faith. We are called to demonstrate that peace (shalom) in our lives through proclamation and demonstration. However, Jesus also said, “I came to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already set ablaze! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how it will consume me until it is finished! Do you think that I came here to bring peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on, five in one household will be divided: three against two, and two against three.” (Luke 12:49-52) In other words, yes, the kingdom of God is a peaceable kingdom within itself, but is at war with the kingdoms of this world. The people of God will be in a spiritual battle with the world, other folks within their own families, and even church congregations, where there is resistance to allegiance to Christ. We need to be prepared to engage in these battles with the weapons of the Spirit. This conflict will not end until Jesus returns.
Once again, a poem formed in my heart as lay in bed early this morning drifting in and out of sleep. It describes the solution to “inner restlessness.”
There’s a place of rest
From your weariness.
Let Jesus, Himself, arrest
Your heart with His presence,
And fill you with a fest
Of faith, hope, and love.
Yesterday in my blog “Free Gas For Your Think Tank” I wrote about the daily practice of listening to Christ’s voice that helps me cultivate peace.
“Words come together in my heart and head while I’m in bed during the night. When I get up in the morning, I grab my laptop and write them down wherever I am. I’m so focused and gripped by those lively words that I’m actually unaware of the space I’m writing in. As I write the appearing words, they edit themselves from within me and grow in length and quality. More and more words come, and I tap them on the screen until they’re finally done. Often times during the day, no matter where I am, new inspiring words come my way by rising up from within me. I quickly post them on Facebook so I don’t forget them.”