Peace has a Name

 For the second week of Advent, we start worship reading:

Micah 5:1-5

Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops;

    siege is laid against us;

with a rod they strike the judge of Israel

    on the cheek.

Last week we saw the nations stream toward Israel for its justice as a way to peace.  But rather than aligning with that law they rail against it.  For any law they would want applied to others to obtain justice would be applied to them.

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,

    who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,

from you shall come forth for me

    one who is to be ruler in Israel,

whose coming forth is from of old,

    from ancient days.

Instead of a judge, now a ruler will be sent. A judge administers the law.  A ruler writes the law.

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.

But this ruler is not a warlord, but rather a shepherd who gathers.

And he shall be their peace.

Instead of using war, or diplomacy, to obtain peace.  This ruler will use . . . himself.  For the law that He authored will be applied to Himself on our behalf.  

Our peace has a name.