Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men; they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at its entrances; and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian when he comes into our land and treads within our border.
(Micah 5:3-6 ESV)

Lord God in this last Sunday of Advent I am taken with this Shepherd King who being one with the Godhead stands and shepherds in the strength of the Lord and in the majesty of the name of the Lord. In this day and age of leaders who seem to be about making a name for themselves, who don’t shepherd so much as rule, and that in their own capacity; how wonderful it is to know that there is a Shepherd King.

I thank you for coming at the appointed time. Life certainly has its difficulties, it is reassuring to know that even though you may give your people over for a time, you will never be late, but always on time. I thank you too for the wonderful effects that your rule has. In this Shepherd king there is true unity. Not unity based on some philosophical ideal, or vague notion of toleration, but rather unity that comes from having the Messiah as our head, from true heart conversion. Also with the Shepherd King we find security. So often we, I, look for security in money, technology, power, status, you name it. But it is as the Messiah is revealed that we find the meaning for words like security and peace. Finally in this Shepherd King we find the equipping to act as shepherds ourselves in the strength He provides. I need this promise Lord. Whether it is my family or the church or simply being your emissary in the community, I am broke when it comes to my own capacities, but with the mind and strength of the Messiah …

So Father my prayer this week, for myself, my family and my friends, is that this week would see the rise of the Shepherd King in our hearts. As we turn the corner and rush pell-mell into this last week of Advent, may we walk in the light of this unifying, strength-giving, security of the Shepherd King