A reflection on Micah 5:2-5a and Psalm 80:1-7 for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, December 19, 2021.
But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
from ancient days.
Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labour has brought forth;
then the rest of his kindred shall return
to the people of Israel.
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.
Micah 5:2-5a (NRSVA)
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock!
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth
before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.
Stir up your might,
and come to save us!
Restore us, O God;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.
O Lord God of hosts,
how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
You have fed them with the bread of tears,
and given them tears to drink in full measure.
You make us the scorn of our neighbours;
our enemies laugh among themselves.
Restore us, O God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.
Psalm 80:1-7 (NRSVA)
Bethlehem was no prominent city.
To be sure, the celebrated King David was born here. It is mentioned a couple of additional times in the Hebrew scriptures as the place Rachel was buried and in association with Caleb’s family and the activities of a young Levite in Judges. The story of Ruth is set in and around the town of Bethlehem.
As the ‘City of David’, it later grew into a city of some significance.
By the time of Jesus’ birth, however, Bethlehem was once again relatively insignificant – one of the ‘little clans of Judah’ as the prophet Micah puts it.
Yet Micah writes of a surprising development in this historic town. Once again a leader will emerge from within Bethlehem’s walls. A second ‘rule of Israel’ will be born here – with clear echoes of his famous ancestor.
To be sure, there will also be significant differences between the one Micah points to and the renowned King David. The prophet is encouraging Israel to look for one ‘whose origin is from of old, from ancient days’. His mother’s labour will mark a turning point in the nation’s history. He will call ‘the rest of his kindred’ back to Israel. This new – expanded – flock will be nourished by the very hand of God.
Micah is clearly articulating a vision beyond Jewish nationalism. His is a restorative God-vision for the whole world.
Alongside this, the lectionary writers invite us to consider – and pray – the opening verses of Psalm 80. It is an articulation of the deep desire and hope for such a restoration that resided in God’s people. Perhaps we are even invited to nurture such a desire ourselves – making the psalmist’s refrain our own:
Restore us, O God of hosts;
let your face shine, that we may be saved.
Inherent in this psalm is a recognition that all is not well. It is a call, a plea for ‘salvation’. The presence of ‘tears’ and ‘scorn’ are openly confessed.
We live, of course, well after this psalm was written and began to be prayed throughout the nation of Israel. We also live well beyond the fulfilment of – at least the first part of Micah’s prophecy. Mary’s labour has ended and a unique leader of Israel – and the world – emerged from the humble town of Bethlehem. Many have come to see in Jesus one from ‘ancient days’.
Some of this prophecy has been fulfilled. We remind ourselves of this reality each Christmas.
Perhaps we would also do well to remind ourselves at least as often that the story of Jesus’ impact on our world is not complete. Not all live in the security he desires. Peace is not in every community or heart. The stories of Jesus and his kingdom are not yet known to the ‘ends of the earth’.
In short, restoration is not complete. The psalmist’s song is still ours and Micah’s prophecy is still to reach its fulfilment.
It’s completion, however, has begun. A birth in Bethlehem – and the extra-ordinary life, death, and resurrection of Jesus’ – assures us of this. It can invest in us a profound sense of hope.
It can remind us that restoration of the universe has begun!
Conversation Starters:
What are the aspects of the world that you most desire to see ‘restored’? What do you imagine this to look like?
How do you feel about living in the middle of the fulfilment of Micah’s prophecy? How does the partial fulfilment of this promise encourage you to respond to that with her is yet to be completed?