Micah 5:4 - Homiletics

The ministering Christ.

The whole of this chapter is more or less occupied with graphic descriptions of the Christ of God drawn ages before he appeared, and setting forth his nature, his work, and his influence upon the world and the race. A little child has been called "an unsolved problem," We dare not be so bold as to attempt to forecast the future of any child. This, however, is done here respecting the "Babe of Bethlehem." Distinct Divine pre-intimations were given concerning the destiny of this mighty Child, and to which he has proved himself gloriously true. Here he is presented to us as the ministering Christ. We have predicted here—

I. THE HOLY MINISTERING LIFE OF THE CHRIST OF GOD . "And he shall stand and feed," etc. ( Micah 5:4 ). It was thus declared that the very coming of Christ would be a descent with a view to helpfulness. In his advent the lofty would descend to the low, the strong to the feeble, for the express purpose of ministering unto them in order that he might lift up the fallen and restore the erring, and strengthen the weak by his own great might and love, This ministering character of the life of the Christ who was to appear was set forth by this and other Hebrew seers under the figure of a shepherd tending his flock. This was natural in view of the national history. The Jewish people gloried in David as one raised from the sheepfold to the throne, and rejoiced in him as their shepherd king. Hence with appropriateness the prophets referred to "great David's greater Son" under this simple yet beautiful emblem. The allusions, too, were in harmony with the destined birthplace of the Messiah—a locality so thoroughly pastoral in its character, and upon the plains of which district the Eastern shepherds kept constant watch. The emblem is admirably suggestive of the character and work of the Messiah, setting forth:

1 . His gentleness; the weak, the tired, the tempted, the erring, being tended by him with patient love ( Isaiah 40:11 ).

2 . His watchfulness . "He shall stand," etc. ( Micah 5:4 ); the posture indicating alertness, readiness to protect and defend.

3 . His succors . He should "feed' the flock, supplying abundantly the spiritual wants of his people, and fully satisfying the longings and aspirations of their hearts. The records of the evangelists indicate how truly "ministering" in character the life of Christ was, and how that the most trusty shepherd watching over the flock committed to his charge but faintly images his wondrous care ( Matthew 20:28 ). His followers are to emulate his example, and to live ministering lives ( Matthew 20:26 , Matthew 20:27 ). He, as "the Man Christ Jesus," pursued his course of holy service "in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the Name of the Lord his God." And this Divine influence is available to all his servants.

II. THE PROSPERITY OF ALL WHO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF HIS MINISTERINGS AND WHO COMMIT THEMSELVES UNTO HIS CARE . "And they shall abide ."

1 . The thought of rest is suggested. "And they shall abide;" literally, "sit." The idea is the same as in Psalms 23:2 , "He maketh me to lie down," etc. Delightful repose, rest for the weary. The pastures of sin are dry and parched, and its waters are troubled, and man seeks in vain therein freedom from unrest; but when the heart reposes in Christ, then it knows what it is to lie down on the pastures of tender grass and by the waters of quietness.

2 . The thought of security is also suggested. They shall sit without fear of harm overtaking them, because he "stands," their Guardian against all intrusion and invasion, ready as their champion to defend them from all peril, and to maintain their cause. So shall they dwell at rest and in security, and true prosperity be theirs perpetually. "And they shall abide ."

III. THE HONOUR WITH WHICH THE MINISTERING CHRIST , BY REASON OF HIS CONDESCENDING AND GRACIOUS SERVICE , SHALL BE CROWNED . "For now shall he be great unto: the ends of the earth." "For now ." The far distant future was present to the prophet's gaze as he uttered these words, and he referred to it as though it had already come. His faith had peered beyond the centuries intervening before the advent of the Messiah, and had rendered that event very real to him; and now he took by faith a yet wider range of vision, and locked on to the ages following the advent, and saw the ever-growing, ever-widening influence and honour the Christ should enjoy, and even beheld this as extending to earth's remotest bounds. Long and weary ages had passed since the prophet of God uttered this prediction; and we today, in the partial fulfilment of his words, have every ground of encouragement to look on to their complete accomplishment. What name is so powerful to inspire within men the holiest emotions, and to move them to devoted consecration, as that of Jesus Christ? He is indeed "great" in the marvellous influence he exerts upon human hearts and lives; and despite all the discouragements which meet us in Christian service, we find this influence widening, and behold cheering signs of the coming of that bright day in which all the ends of the earth shall see his salvation, and the assurance of the angel Gabriel to Mary be fully realized ( Luke 1:32 , Luke 1:33 ). Let us make room for One who comes with such eager gladness to bind up the world's wounds, and to pour into them the balm of his healing love. Let us yield to his holy and heavenly ministerings, and cast ourselves upon his loving, gentle care. True happiness and peace shall then be ours. The path of usefulness shall open out before us here, and in the day of his complete triumph we shall be sharers with him in his victory, and whoa his glory shall be revealed we also shall be glad with exceeding joy ( 1 Peter 4:13 ).