A Promise of Calm in Catastrophe

A Promise of Calm in Catastrophe

Don’t put your hope in what is in this world. Peace is the person of Jesus Christ. We have a promise of calm in catastrophe.

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The last thing anyone wants at this time of year is a Christmas catastrophe. So, how do you handle the catastrophes? How do you deal with the disasters of life? The prophet Micah wrote about a time that Jerusalem was constantly in a time of impending disaster. It is a desperate time when the Babylonians will lay siege against the city and Israel’s king will be humiliated. Micah offers assurance of a promise of calm in catastrophe.

Micah 5:1-2
Marshal your troops now, city of troops, for a siege is laid against us. They will strike Israel’s ruler on the cheek with a rod. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

Micah tells them to prepare themselves for the coming siege and humiliation. He also gives them the promise from God of a ruler and savior. As God often does, He chose a small and insignificant village to place His Son and Messiah.

Micah 5:3-6
Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lordin the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be our peace when the Assyrians invade our land and march through our fortresses. We will raise against them seven shepherds, even eight commanders, who will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod with drawn sword. He will deliver us from the Assyrians when they invade our land and march across our borders.

God also promises a calm and restoration. This promise of a messiah will bring strength and nourishment. His majesty will be unto all the earth. He will be peace. Peace is the man born to a virgin. Jesus is our peace. He took our shame and sin willingly to be our peace and calm in these tumultuous times. The Christmas season should be our time to acknowledge and celebrate the peace we have in Jesus the Messiah.