“And this One shall be peace.” Micah 5:5a
The One
I read in the book of Micah this morning. Micah means “Who is like God?” or “Who is like unto Jehovah?” According to Hitchcock’s Bible Names Dictionary, it can also mean poor or humble.
Micah prophesied in Judah during the reign of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, shortly before the ten tribes of Israel would be taken away into captivity. Other prophets of his day included Isaiah, Hosea and Nahum.
Over 700 years before the birth of our Savior, Micah spoke these words: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2).
Micah was given the honor of not only telling of one who is like God, but of the One who is God. Preceding a time of great tribulation for the people of Israel, Micah foretold of the One who would be peace. “And this One shall be peace” (Micah 5:5a)—the One who, from poor and humble beginnings, would be great to the ends of the earth. “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 abide, for now He shall be great to the ends of the earth” (Micah 5:4).
Micah knew, and told of where his light originated: “When I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me” (Micah 7:8), and where his salvation would come from: “Therefore I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me” (Micah 7:7).
We live in uncertain times, but certainly no more than Micah did, and he knew where to turn to. He knew Who to trust. The One who shall be peace is still our Peace. The Lord is still great to the ends of the earth. He hears us and He is our Light and our Salvation.
“Father God, thank You for Your Word which speaks peace and light into our lives. Thank You for sending the One who would save us. In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.”