Behold the Lamb (Part 2) –
Waiting For A King
Pastor Jerry Gillis – December 11, 2016
Narrator:WhenwelookatthestoryofScripture,wediscoverthatGodis
notdistantandremote,uninterestedintheactivityofHiscreation.Instead,
weseeapersonalGodwhostepsdownandstepsin,intothestory,
rememberingHiscovenantgenerationaftergenerationandtakingaction
todrawpeopletoHimself.ThisiswhatwesawinEgypt.Godcamedown
torescueHischosenpeople.Whenhesawthebloodofthelambtheyhad
sprinkledonthedoorpostHepassedoverthemsotheycouldpassthrough
thewatersoftheRedSea,passthroughintoHispromisedland.Itisinthis
promisedlandthatwediscoverasmalltowncalledBethlehem,avillage
hidinginplainsightonthepagesofScripture,whichatfirstglancemaynot
seemimpressiveorsignificant.Butwhatwefindistheunsuspectingand
unassumingistheperfectsettingforGodtodotheunimaginable.Israel's
greatandfinalKingwon'tcomefromapalaceorabattlefieldastheymight
expect,butthisKingandHiskingdomwillcomeinthemostunlikelyof
placesandinthemostunlikelyofwaysbecausewhenGodstepsdownand
stepsineverythingchanges.HereishowtheLambbecameKing.
PastorJerry:SoIwanttotellyouastorytoday,andIneedyoutoputyour
"Icanhearandlistenandstaywithastoryhat"on.AndIwanttobeginina
prophecycalledMicah.He'saperson,he'saprophet,butIwantyouto
hearwhathehastosay.It'sinMicahchapternumber5beginninginverse
number2."Butyou,BethlehemEphrathah,thoughyouaresmallamong
theclansofJudah,outofyouwillcomeformeonewhowillberulerover
Israel,whoseoriginsarefromofold,fromancienttimes."ThereforeIsrael
willbeabandoneduntilthetimewhenshewhoisinlaborbearsason,and
therestofhisbrothersreturntojointheIsraelites.Hewillstandand
shepherdhisflockinthestrengthoftheLord,inthemajestyofthenameof
theLordhisGod.Andtheywilllivesecurely,forthenhisgreatnesswill
reachtotheendsoftheearth."
Yousee,ladiesandgentlemen,it'sreallyhardtounderestimateIsrael's
desireforakingandakingdom.NowwhenMicahwaswritingwasabout
734BC,giveortake.ItwasrightinthattimeandwhenMicahwaswriting
IsraelwasactuallyunderthecaptivityoftheAssyrians.Noweventhough
theyhadakinginname,theydidn'thaveakinginpowerbecauseAssyria
wasactuallycontrollingIsraelatthattime.Andtheyhadkingsinname
only.
Nowthestruggleisisthatforus,now2700yearsbeyondthateventofthe
AssyriancaptivityandtheprophecyofMicah,it'sreallydifficultforusto
feeltheirlonging,tofeeltheirpainandeventofeeltheirhopefulnesswhen
theyhearawordfromaprophetfromGodaboutaKingthat'sgoingto
come.It'sverydifficultbeingthisfarremoved,nearlythreemillennia
removedforustobeabletofeelallofthat.Infact,it'shardforusto
understandhowspecificthisprophecywasbecausethisprophecythat
MicahiscommunicatingthroughGodisaprophecythatistalkingabouta
Kingthat'sgoingtocometoapeoplewhoarelongingforarealKing.And
henotonlysayswherethisKingisgoingtocomefrom,butheevengives
cluesastowhatthisKingislike.ButyouandI,whenwe'rereadingitso
longafterthefact,wemaymisspartofthestory.Wemaymisswhatthe
prophetistryingtotellus.Wemissstandingintheirshoesandfeeling
whattheyfeelintermsoftheirlongingforaKingthat'sgoingtocome.
So,asweshoulddo,maybeinanygoodstory,maybeitwouldhelpusto
backupfrombeforeMicahabout700yearsearlier.ItoldyouIwasgoing
totellyouastory,it'sabigone.Andit'salongone,andit'sgoingtospana
lotoftime.Ifwebackup700yearsfromthetimeofMicahandthe
Assyriancaptivity,we'rebackinEgyptwiththechildrenofIsraelwho
wereundertheslaveryoftheEgyptians.Theyarewalkingaroundin
chainshavingtodohardlabor,itisaverydifficultexistenceforthem.But
weheardlastweekthatGodraisedupMosestobeabletoleadthemoutof
theircaptivityinEgyptandleadthemondrygroundthroughtheRedSea
andoutofthereachofPharaohandhisarmywhowerecontinually
oppressingthemforhundredsofyears.
Well,theymadeitoutofthereandthentheybegantomaketheirway
towardthePromisedLand.AndtheygottothePromisedLandafterabout
aforty-yearhiatus.NoGPS.TheyfinallymadeittothePromisedLandbut
MoseswholedthemoutofEgyptwasnotthemanwhowasgoingtolead
themintothelandofpromise.Butinsteaditwashisprotege,hismente,his
apprenticenamedJoshua.JoshuameansGodsaves,it'sagreatword.And
heleadsthepeopleintothelandofpromise,intothelandofCanaanand
thenbeginstodivideupthelandofCanaanintoallotmentsforeachofthe
twelvetribes.
Nowtheinterestingthingaboutthisisthatwhentheymaketheirwayinto
thelandofCanaantheyrealizerealquicklythattheydon'thaveaPharaoh
oftheirown.Theydon'thaveaking.Andsowhathappenedwhenthey
weredwellinginthelandofpromiseisthattheyhadjudgesduringthat
time.Noking.
NowwhenyoureadthechronicleofthisinthebookofJudgesforinstance,
youfindoutrealquicklythatthetimeofthejudgesinthelifeofthe
childrenofIsraelwasnotnecessarilythebestoftimes.Infact,notmanyof
thejudgesweregood.Somewere,likeDeborah,butotherswerereallynot
anygoodatallandwhatyouhearinthebookofJudgesrepeatedoverand
overandoveragainmultipletimesisthesamestatement.
Infact,it'sthestatementthatendsthebookofJudgesandyoufindout
fromthatstatementattheveryendofthebookofJudgeswhatthatentire
culturalfeelwaslike.Here'swhatitsaysinJudges21:25:"Inthosedays
Israelhadnoking;everyonedidastheysawfit."Someofyourtranslations
willsayitthisway:"Everyonedidwhatwasrightintheirowneyes."
That'swhatwasgoingonduringthistime.ImeanIsraelhadnoking.Israel
wantedakingthough.Theylongedforakingbuttheydidn'thaveoneand
soeveryonewasdoingwhatwasrightintheirowneyes.Theywere
selfishlyfollowingtheirowndesires,theywerefollowingtheirown
heartbeatanditwasleadingthemintosinandintoidolatryandto
paganismandintoallkindsofweirdness.AndthisisnotwhatGodhad
designedforthem.ThisperiodoftheJudges,itlastedabout400years.This
wasalongperiodoftimeandinthattimeasyoucanimagine,withnoking
andeveryonedoingwhatisrightintheirowneyes,itwasabadscenario.
Well,duringthetimeofthejudgeswe'reactuallyintroducedtoareally
smalltownthat'skindofoutofthewaythat'sreallynotknownforvery
muchinfact,andthreedifferenttimesintheperiodofthejudgesin
Scripture,we'reintroducedtothissamelittletown.It'satowncalled
Bethlehem.Nowthefirsttwotimesthatwe'reintroducedtoBethlehemin
thebookofJudges,ifyouwantedtogobackandread,youcouldreadfrom
Judgeschapter17toJudgeschapter21andyou'llfindtwodifferentstories
thatinvolveBethlehem.One,thefirstone,isaboutoneparticularmanand
aLevitefromBethlehem.Thesecondstoryisaboutanotherparticularman
andaconcubinefromBethlehem.Twodifferentstoriesoverthecourseof
thisfewchapters,bothofwhichpointtokindofgravedisobediencetothe
covenantGodYahweh.Bothofthosestoriesdo.Iwon'tspendalotoftime
withthem,youcangobackandreadthem,Judges17throughJudges21.
Butthere'sathirdstoryaboutBethlehemthatwedon'twanttomiss
duringthetimeoftheJudgesthat'sveryimportanttothewholestory.
BecausenotonlydidwegetthisstoryinJudgesoftwokindofstoriesof
Bethlehemthatdidn'tturnoutverygood,nowwe'vegotastorythatwe
needtopayattentionto.Andwerunintothatstoryintheverybeginning
ofthebookthatfollowsJudges.Remember?ItgoesJoshua,Judges,Ruth.It
wasn'tveryniceofJoshuatojudgeRuth,butnone-the-less,Joshua,Judges,
Ruth.
AttheverybeginningofthebookofRuthlistentowhatitsays."Inthedays
whenthejudgesruled,"sothattellsusthetimeframe,right?"Therewasa
famineintheland.SoamanfromBethleheminJudah,togetherwithhis
wifeandtwosons,wenttoliveforawhileinthecountryofMoab.The
man'snamewasElimelek,hiswife'snamewasNaomi,andthenamesof
histwosonswereMahlonandKilion.TheywereEphrathitesfrom
Bethlehem,Judah.AndtheywenttoMoabandlivedthere.NowElimelek,
Naomi'shusband,died,andshewasleftwithhertwosons.Theymarried
Moabitewomen,onenamedOrpahandtheotherRuth.Andaftertheyhad
livedthereabouttenyears,bothMahlonandKilionalsodied,andNaomi
wasleftwithouthertwosonsandherhusband."
Understandthepicturehere.Bethlehem,thislittletownwhich,bytheway,
translatedmeans"houseofbread",betlehem,houseofbread.Therewasa
famineinBethlehem,orwemightsayitthisway-therewasnobreadin
thehouseofbread.Andsoasaresult,whathadtohappenwasthis.Naomi
alongwithherhusbandElimelek,theyleaveandtheygotofindaplace
wherethefamine,maybetheycouldoutrunit,theycouldlive.Therewas
somethingtoeat.AndsotheygotoMoab.They'rewiththeirsons,Mahlon
andKilion.Whilethey'rethereElimelekdies,MahlonandKilionmarry
Moabitewomenbecausethey'retryingtofitintotheculturethatthey're
in.
Butthenshortlythereafter,MahlonandKiliondieandnowNaomiisleftby
herselfwithnohusbandandnosons,onlytwodaughters-in-law.Thisisa
verybadscenarioforanancientwoman,ladiesandgentlemenbecause
theyneededthementobeabletodowhattheyneededtodo.Itwasa
differenttimeeventhenitisnow.Andtheywouldpotentiallystruggleto
beabletoeatandtolivebasedonthefactthattherewasnohusbandand
therewerenosons,anditwasjustherandherdaughters-in-lawlivingina
landthat'snotherown,thelandofMoab.
AndsowhatNaomideterminestodoisthatshe'sgoingtogobackto
Bethlehem.Nowthefaminehaspassedandshe'sgoingtogobackto
Bethlehembecausethere'sbreadnowinthehouseofbread.Butshesays
toherdaughters-in-law,OrpahandRuth,youneedtogobackandjuststay
here,stayinMoab,I'mgoingbacktoBethlehem,youstayhere,thisis
whereyou'refrom.Orpah,throughtearssaysokay,butRuthsaystoher
"notachance,I'mgoingwithyou,Naomi".Infact,thewayshesaysitisso
beautiful.Shesays"don'tcausemetoturnfromgoingafteryou.Where
yougo,Iwillgo.Whereyoulive,Iwilllive.YourGodwillbemyGod,your
peoplewillbemypeople."ThisiswhatRuthsaid,shesaidI'mgoingto
leavebehindmygodsandI'mgoingtoservetheGodthatyouserve,the
GodofIsrael,andIwanttocomewithyou,eventhoughNaomisaidshe
didn'twantherto.
Butshedid.Verse22tellsusthat.Itsays,"NowNaomireturnedfrom
MoabaccompaniedbyRuththeMoabite,herdaughter-in-law,arrivingin
Bethehemasthebarleyharvestwasbeginning."SotheygettoBethlehem
andtheydon'treallyhavemuchbutwhathappensisthis,isthatNaomi
tellsRuthtogooutintothefieldsofthemanthatsheknows,amanthat
she'srelatedtoonherlatehusband'ssideandhisnameisBoaz.AndRuth
goesoutintothefieldandstartsgleaningfromtheedgesofthefieldand
shegotpermissiontodothat,Boazsaidhey,it'sokaybutthenBoazsaid
youknowwhat,justlethergooutinthefieldandharvestwhatevershe
needs.Becauseheisherkinsman-redeemer,therewereactuallyacouple
ofthembutBoazendsupbeingtheonethatisthekinsman-redeemer.
Inotherwords,whensomebodywhoisrelatedtoyou,maybethrough
marriageandthebrotherdiesandthereisleftawidow,thenthekinsmanredeemertakesontheresponsibilityofthatwomansothatsheiscaredfor
andthatsheislovedandthatshehasachance.
AndsoBoazbecomesthatforRuthandtheyendupasyouknowthestory,
theyendupgettingmarriedandtheyhaveachildandthechild'snameis
Obad.Andyou'rethinkingtoyourself"andwhyisthisapartofthestory
you'retellingus?"Well,becauseObadendeduphavingasonnamedJesse.
Yousaytoyourselfthatdoesn'thelpmeeither.Well,knowthis.Jesseis
reallyimportanttothestory.
Now,allthewhilethisisgoingoninthetimeoftheJudges,whatis
happeningisthatIsraelisstilllongingafteraking,cryingoutforaking
becausetheydon'twanttobesounique,eventhoughGodwantedthemto
beunique.Theywanttobelikealloftheothernationsthatsurroundthem.
Alloftheothernationsaroundthemhaveakingsittingonathronewho's
gotaswordinhishandandwhocommandsarmiesandhaspowerandhas
resourcesbutIsraelthey'vegotnoonetheycansee,it'stheGodwhois
withthemalwaysbuttheycan'tsee.Theywantsomebodyinfleshand
blood.Andsotheykeepcallingoutforthateventhoughthat'snotwhat
Goddesires.Hewantsthemtobeauniquepeople,theyalreadyhavea
Kingandthat'sYahwehthecovenantGodofIsrael.
ButultimatelyGodgrantsthemwhattheywant.AndHegivesthemaking,
Hesaystotheprophet/judgeSamuel,you'retoanointSaul.Saulwasa
stud.That'stheliteralHebrewtranslation.Saulwasastud.Hewasbig,he
wasstrong,hewasgood-looking,buthewasalsocorruptinheart.And
Sauldidn'tturnouttobeaverygoodkingatall.AndthisbrokeSamuel's
heartandSamuel,hisheartbroken,thinkingtohimself,Godnowyou've
giventhepeoplewhattheyaskedfor,andsometimestheyshouldhave
knownwhattheywereaskingfor.
ButGod,Hehasanactualplan.AndjustbecauseSaulisthekingdoesn't
meanthatGodisconfusedabouttheplanthatHewantstoinvolveHimself
in.Listen,infacttowhatitsaysin1Samuelchapter16:"TheLordsaidto
Samuel,"HowlongwillyoumournforSaul,sinceIhaverejectedhimas
kingoverIsrael?Fillyourhornwithoilandbeonyourway;Iamsending
youtoJesseofBethlehem.Ihavechosenoneofhissonstobetheking."
NowyouandIbothknowthatJesseisthefatherofanumberofsons.And
sowhenSamuelwenttoseeJesseheparadedhissonsoutinfrontof
Samuelandsaidhere'smyguys,man,they'restrong,they'rereadytobe
kingandSamuellooksthemoverandhe'slike,no,no,no.Thenhekindof
looksatJesseandsaysdoyouhaveanymorekidsandhe'slikeyeah,man,
mylittleguy'soutinthefield,he'sashepherd.What'shisname?David.Let
megoseeDavid.AndheseesDavidandhesays"thereheis,that'sthe
king".
AndsoheanointsDavidafterGodwasrejectingSaul,eventhoughSaul
wouldreignstillforsometimeasDavidgrewinpower.Butremember
this,thatit'saninterestingthingthatGodwaschoosingthesmallthings.
Davidwastheyoungest,Davidtheyoungestwouldfaceagiantandwould
notusearmorandwouldnotuseswordsandspearsbutinsteadalittle
slingshot.Therewasapatternherethatthereweresmallthingsthatwere
goingonbutDavidwasendedupgoingtobethekingofIsrael.Andfinally
hetakesthethroneofIsraelandhewasawardedwithallkindsofpomp
andcircumstance,thekingshipoverIsraelandwhenheistheking,God
actuallyspeakstohimandmakeshimapromise.
Butit'sinterestingbecauseGodturnsaroundtheideaofwhatDavidis
thinkingaboutdoingforGod.Infact,listentowhatitsaysin2Samuel
chapternumber7.Itsays:"AfterthekingDavidwassettledinhispalace
andtheLordhadgivenhimrestfromallhisenemiesaroundhim,hesaid
toNathantheprophet,"HereIam,livinginahouseofcedar,whiletheark
ofGodremainsinatent."Nathanrepliedtotheking,"Whateveryouhave
inmind,goaheadanddoit,fortheLordiswithyou."Butthatnightthe
wordoftheLordcametoNathan,saying:"GoandtellmyservantDavid,
'ThisiswhattheLordsays:Areyoutheonetobuildmeahousetodwell
in?"Thenlateroninverse11itsays:"TheLorddeclarestoyouthatthe
Lordhimselfwillestablishahouseforyou".Nowthisisreallyinteresting
becausehere'swhatDavidsays.DavidsaystotheLordhereIamina
palace,I'mtheking,Icamefromsmallbeginnings,you'veblessedme,I
can'tbelieveI'msittinghereinapalacemadeofcaesar.
Apalacemadeofcaesar.Itwasasaladpalace.Apalacemadeofcedar.
There'sadifferencebetweencedarandcaesar,oneyoueat,oneyoudon't.
Idon'tknowifyou'veeverhadacedarsalad,butit'sabadsalad.
None-the-less,itwasahouseofcedarandDavidsaysI'mlivinginthis
incrediblehouseofcedarandyetGodisdwellinginatent.Thisshouldn't
be.IwanttobuildyouahouseandGodsays"Hangon,David,you'renot
goingtobuildmeahouse.I'mgoingtobuildyouone.Butit'snotahouse
madeofcedar,it'sahousethatwillbealineage.It'sahousethatwillbea
heritage.It'shousethatwillbeakinglylinefromyouandI'mgoingto
establishitforever."
SoDavidruledoverIsraelandheruledwithstrength.Hesatonathrone,
hehadaswordinhishandandheruledinstrengthandIsraelexperienced
incredibleprosperityandincrediblerelativepeace.Davidfoughtbackand
conqueredenemies,thisshepherd-kingwhowastakingcareofGod's
people.ItwasanextraordinarythingandIsraellookedonDavidwith
reallyalmostaweatleastforthemajorityofhistimeastheking.ButDavid
diedandSolomonhissontookover.SolomonindeeddidbuildGoda
house,hebuiltHimatemple.
ButtheninallofSolomon'swisdomafterbuildingGodatempleand
consecratingthatTempleforworshipoftheOneTrueGod,theGodofnot
onlyIsrael,buttheGodofeverywhere,Solomonwhowassowiseendedup
gettingreallydumb.Andhemarriedalotofforeignwomenandstarted
worshipingforeigngodsanditcosthimsignificantly.Themoralfiberof
Israelbegantojustunravel.AndthenwhenSolomondied,hehadason
thatwastakingoverbutthekingdomsplitanditdivided.Nowyouhad
IsraeltothenorthandyouhadJudahtothesouth,twodifferentkingdoms
whowereestablishingdifferentkingsintheirkingdoms,eventhoughthey
weresupposedtobeonepeople.
Andit'soverthecourseofthattimethatAssyriamovesinandtakesover
andputsincaptivityIsrael.Andsomeyearslater,Babylonsweepsinand
takesoverandputsincaptivityJudah.Andit'sduringthisseason,thistime
wherethepeopleofGodareinAssyriancaptivityandtheymayhaveaking
inname,buttheydon'thaveakinginpowerandakinginrulership,
becausethey'reunderthecaptivityoftheAssyrians.
ItisatthattimethatGodbeginsraisinguptheseprophetswhobegin
prophesyingtoallthepeopleofIsraelandthepeopleofJudah.Andthey
arecallingGod'speoplebacktoHimselfsayingturnawayfromallofyour
wickedness.Turnawayfromdoingeverythingthat'srightinyourown
eyes,andrepentofyoursinandcomebacktotheGodwholovesyou.Stop
puttingyoureyesontemporarykingsinyourareaorkingsthatareover
youandputyoureyesbackonthecovenantGodYahweh.Thisiswhatwas
goingoninIsraelandthisiswhereMicahenteredin.
AndalongwithMicahhehadcontemporaryprophetswhowerealso
prophesyingaboutacomingKing.Peoplelikeforinstance,Isaiah.But
whenMicahsayswhatMicahsayshereinthispassage,Iwantyoutobe
abletofeelalittlebitofhowmuchhopehewasbringing,eventhoughat
otherpointsofhisprophesyhewasbringingwordsofcondemnation,he
wasalsoofferingfromGodsomehopeforthepeople.You'vegottorealize
howmuchhopetheywerehearingwhentheyheardthewordsthatthe
Kingwhowasgoingtocome,HewasgoingtocomefromBethlehem.What
doyouthinkthatconjuredupintheirminds300yearsafterkingDavid?
WhatdoyouthinkwasconjuredupinthemindsofalloftheIsraelites
whentheyheard"there'saKingwho'scomingandHe'scomingfrom
Bethlehemand,bythewayHe'sgoingtoshepherdHispeople."Boy,when
theyheardthathopebegantoriseintheirheartsthatarealKingwas
goingtobeontheway,eveninthemidstoftheircaptivity,eveninthe
midstofthemfeelingenslaved,therewasaKingwhowascomingwhowas
goingtobelikeDavid,butgreater.
YoucouldalmosthearandfeelthelongingofIsraelwhentheyhearthe
messageoftheprophetsandthehopethattheprophetsbringbytalking
aboutOnewhoislikeDavidbutwhoisgoingtobegreaterthanDavid.This
wasthetimeofthecaptivity.ThiswasthetimewhenMicahandIsaiahand
otherswereprophesying.EventuallyJudahwouldmakeitswaybackinto
Jerusalem,butitwouldtakesomeperiodoftime-Imeanitwasroughly
between538BCand444BCthatJudahstartsfloodingbackintoJerusalem.
Andrightattheendofthattimeperiod,oneofthelastoftheprophets
beginstoprophesy.HisnamewasMalachi.Forthoseofyouwhoare
Italian,itwasnottheItalianprophetMal-a-chee.ItwasMalachi.And
MalachibegantoprophesyandhebegantocallthepeopleofGodbackto
God-toturnfromtheirsins,toturnfromthethingsthattheyhaddone
wickedly,toturnfromtheiridolsandtogivetheirheartsbackovertothe
King-thetrueKing,thecovenantKing,Yahweh.
Well,afterMalachifinishedhisprophesyandhedied,forabout400years
therewassilence.GodwasnotspeakingthroughprophetsthatHehad
raisedup.Fourhundredyearsofrelativesilence.ButeventhoughGod's
voicewassilent,Godwasstillsovereign.Hewasstillactivelypursuing
whatHewantedtodotomakeHisstorycomeoutthewayHedesignedfor
ittocomeouteventhoughtherewasasilence.
Yousee,duringthistimeofsilence,aperiodthatwewouldcallthetime
betweentheTestaments-wheretheOldTestamentwasfinishedbutit
wasthetimebeforetheNewTestamenttimeframehadbegun.Fromabout
400BC,forthat400yearsorso,Godwasstilldoingsomethings,andthere
werethingshappeningintheworldunderthesovereignrulershipofGod
thatwereextraordinary.Forinstance,therewasonemanwhocameoutof
aGreekempirewhowasbasicallytakingoveranddominatingtheknown
world.HisnamewasAlexander.ManyrefertohimatAlexandertheGreat.
Andwhathewasdoingintakingoveralloftheknownworldwashewas
Hellenizingtheworld.That'sjustabigwordthatmeanshewasmaking
Greekcultureoutofeverything.Inotherwords,hewascausingpeopleto
nowhavetolearnGreeklanguage-howtoreadtheGreeklanguage,how
tointerfaceinbusinessinGreeklanguage.Hewasdoingallofthis,aswell
asmaybesomeearlywaysofmakingdestinationandtraveleasier
betweentheknownworld.ThiswasallapartofthesovereignplanofGod
thateventually,whentheGospelwouldringout,itwouldbeabletorun
freelybecausemostoftheknownworldknewaparticularlanguage,and
nowtheycouldjustletitrun.Whileeverythingwassilent,Godwasstill
sovereign.
EventuallythoughAlexanderwoulddieandafterAlexander,nationslike
EgyptwouldtakeoveroccupyingIsraelandthenafterEgypt,Syriawould
takeoverandoccupyIsrael.AndsomeoftheJewsthatweretherethat
werereallyfiredupaboutallofthisandreallywantedakingandreally
wantedakingdomandlongedforthat.Theydecidedtorevoltletbyaguy
namedJudasMaccabeus.It'scalledtheMaccabeanRevoltinhistoryifyou
everwanttoreadaboutit.Andindoingsohethrewoffthebondageofthis
beginningtogrowRomanEmpireandtheSyriansandhestartedtosetup
forhimselfabitofakingdomandakingshipeventhoughitwasnever
goingtolast.Ifyoulookatsomeofthenamesofthosekingsthatwerea
partoftheMaccabeanRevolttimeperiod,you'dfindthatalotoftheir
namesareGreek.Itjustwasn'tgoingtoworkfortheJewishpeople.This
wasnevergoingtohappen.
EventuallyRomerealizedthatthiscouldbeaproblem,andsoRomeinits
sprawlingempirenowtookoverIsraelatabout63BCandputtheirstamp
onIsraelabit.Andthensometimelater,begantoappointakinginIsrael
thatwouldbealeaderofIsraelbutwouldbefriendswithRomeandthat
kingwasnamedHerod.Herodwasn'tevenatrueJew.Hewasonlyhalf
Jewish.Andhewasreallyagreatbuilder,butareallycorruptman.Hewas
nuts.InHebrewtheywouldsaymashugana.He'scrazy.Andhewouldeven
-toretainhispower-killhisownfamilyanddid.Buthebuiltupthe
temple,anditbecamejustanincrediblespectacletotheworld.Andthe
templewasgloriousandgorgeousandextraordinaryandoneofthe
wondersoftheworld.
Butevenashebuiltupthetemple,everythingHerodtouchedseemedtobe
involvedwithcorruption,withacorruptheart.Eventhetemplepractice
andthereligiousleadersofIsraelunderhispurviewwerenow
experiencingtheirowncorruption.Itwasjustnotwhatitshouldbe.The
truthisthatIsraelwaslanguishingunderthesinsthatitcontinuedto
experiencethroughthetimesofcaptivityandevenbefore-thevery
reasonsfortheirgoingintocaptivity.Theyjustseemedtohavenotlearned
whattheirneedwas.
Andeventhoughtheyreestablishedallofthesacrificialsystematthe
temple,theycouldn'tkillenoughlambstobeabletoatonefortheirsin.
Theywerekillingthemoften,buttheycouldn'tkillenoughtobeableto
atonefortheirsin-thesinsoftheirleader,theirKingHerod,thesinsofthe
religiousleadersandthesinsofthepeoplethemselves.
Yousee,eventhoughIsraelwasn'tintheshacklesofEgyptliketheywere
inthetimeofPharaohinabout1400BC-eventhoughtheyweren'tinthe
shacklesofEgypt,theywerestillinshacklesnonetheless-shacklesoftheir
sin.AndjustasbadlyasthepeopleofIsraelneededdeliveranceatthat
timefromtheshacklesthatboundtheirwristsandtheirankles,sotoo
now,inthisseasonofsilence,theyneededtobedeliveredfromthesins
thathadputtheminthisplace.Butthroughalloftheirlongingand
throughalloftheirsin,atthispoint,thepeoplewerestillmetwithsilence.
Yousee,theneedforIsraelwasnotadeliverancefromtheRomanempire.
TheneedforIsraelwasadeliverancefromtheirsins.
SoatjusttherighttimeinthesovereigndirectionofGod,Godhad
orchestrateditsuchthattheRomanEmpirehaddeterminedthatthere
neededtobeacensusandthatpeopleneededtogobacktotheirhomes
wheretheycamefromsothattheycouldcountthemall.Thiswassothat
theycouldcontinuetodominatethem.ButGodhaddifferentplansforhow
thatwasallgoingtogodownaswell.
Butpriortothembeingsetout,therewasayoungladynamedMarywho
wasbetrothedtobemarriedtoamannamedJoseph.Andthatdoesn'tjust
meanthatshewashisfiancé.Betrothalwaswaymorelegallybindingthan
ourideaofbeingafiancé.Buttheyhadnotyetbeentogetherand
consummatedtheirmarriageasamarriedcouplewoulddo.Andanangel
appearedtoMaryandbegantotellherwhatwasgoingtotranspire.But
thentheangellaterappearedtoJosephandtoldhimaswell,becauseyou
couldimaginethatthatwouldhavebeenahardthingforhimtohear.
Here'showthestoryisrecordedinMatthewchapter1.Itsaysthis:Thisis
howthebirthofJesustheMessiahcameabout:HismotherMarywas
pledgedtobemarriedtoJoseph,butbeforetheycametogether,shewas
foundtobepregnantthroughtheHolySpirit.BecauseJosephherhusband
wasfaithfultothelaw,andyetdidnotwanttoexposehertopublic
disgrace,hehadinmindtodivorceherquietly.Butafterhehadconsidered
this,anangeloftheLordappearedtohiminadreamandsaid,"Josephson
ofDavid,donotbeafraidtotakeMaryhomeasyourwife,becausewhatis
conceivedinherisfromtheHolySpirit.Shewillgivebirthtoason,and
youaretogivehimthenameJesus,becausehewillsavehispeoplefrom
theirsins."
Yousee,thepromisedKingwasnotcomingtolifttheburdenofRome's
oppression.ThepromisedKingwascomingtolifttheburdenofsin's
oppressiononthepeopleofGod.Butyoucanimaginethatwhenallofthis
transpiredandtheyweremakingtheirwaybacktoJoseph'shomelandin
Bethlehem,thesameplacebythewaythatanearlyancestornamedRuth
endedupwhowasnotevenfromBethlehembutwhowasfromMoaband
whomarriedBoazandhadObedwhohadJessewhohadDavid.They're
goingbacktothesameplace,becausethat'swhereJoseph'sfamily
originatesfrom.
Andsoastheymaketheirwaybackyoucanimaginethatwhenwordgets
totheotherkingthat'sexistingduringthistime-Herod-thatthereisa
child,ababyKing,thatisborninthatareareallyclosetoJerusalem-
walkingdistancefromJerusalemtoBethlehem-thatHerodwasgreatly
disturbed.Herodwoulddoanythingtomaintainhispowerandhewas
greatlydisturbed.ListentowhatitsaysinMatthew2.ItsaysafterJesus
wasborninBethleheminJudea,duringthetimeofKingHerod,Magifrom
theeastcametoJerusalemandasked,"Whereistheonewhohasbeen
bornKingoftheJews?WesawHisstarwhenitroseandhavecometo
worshipHim."WhenKingHerodheardthishewasdisturbed,andall
Jerusalemwithhim.Whenhehadcalledtogetherallthepeople'schief
priestsandteachersofthelaw,heaskedthemwheretheMessiahwasto
beborn."InBethleheminJudea,"theyreplied,"forthisiswhattheprophet
haswritten:(seeifthissoundsfamiliar)"Butyou,Bethlehem,inthelandof
Judah,arebynomeansleastamongtherulersofJudah;foroutofyouwill
comearulerwhowillshepherdmypeopleIsrael.'"
Yourememberthatprophesy,right?It'swhatwestartedonandwhat
we'vebeentalkingabouttheentiretime-Micahchapter5.Sothereligious
leadersarecalledinbyHerodwhoobviouslydoesn'tknowhisJewish
Scripturesverywell.Hedoesn'treallycarethatmuchaboutthembuthe
asksthemandhesayswhere'stheMessiahKingsupposedtocomefrom?
Andtheysay,well,he'scomingfromBethlehem.Herodisreallynervous
nowbecausekingmakersfromtheEastcalledMagiwhicharebasically
peoplewhoanointkings.TheyhaveshownupnowinBethlehemandthey
arelookingforthisnewking.Herodwouldn'tstopatkillinghisownfamily
andbelieveme,hedidn'twanttostopiftherewasanotheronethatwas
goingtothreatenhiskingdom.
ButwhenheasksthemwherethisMessiahking,theshepherdkingis
supposedtobeborn,theteachersofthelawpointhimtoMicahchapter5.
ButwhattheydowithMicahchapter5istheydon'treadhimthewholeof
Micahchapter5,theycondenseit.Theyslamtogetherthefirstpartof
Micah5:2,andthemslamtogetherapartofversenumber4andmashit
together.Butit'simportantwhattheyleftout.Yousee,ifwelookbackat
Micahchapter5:2wherewebegan,listentowhatverse2says:"Butyou,
BethlehemEphrathah,thoughyouaresmallamongtheclansofJudah,out
ofyouwillcomeformeonewhowillberuleroverIsrael,whoseorigins
arefromofold,fromancienttimes."
NowwhenyoufirstmaylookatthatrealizingthatMicahiswriting-stay
withmehere-Micahiswriting300yearsafterthetimeofKingDavid.You
mightbeinclinedtothinkwhenyouhearMicahsaythathe'sgoingtobea
rulerfromofold,fromancienttimes,thathe'sjustreferringbacktoDavid
andthere'sonethat'sgoingtocomethatisgoingtobelikeDavid.Butif
youandIdothatwewillhavemissedthebiggestpicturehere.That
certainlyistrue,butthetextitselfwon'tallowustojustbelievethat,
becausewhenhesaysthiskingisfromofold,fromofancienttimes,that's
significant.
Infact,ifIcouldbendyoubackfromMicah5intoMicahchapter4,this
wordthatusedforancienttimesorfromofold,thatsameHebrewwordis
usedinMicahchapter4anditactuallytranslatessomethingalittlemore
cleartomeandyou.Andinfact,GodusesitaboutHimself.Listentowhat
Micah4:7says:Iwillmakethelamemyremnant,thosedrivenawaya
strongnation.TheLordwillruleovertheminMountZionfromthatday
and(hereitis)forever.
ThatisthesameHebrewwordthatisusedaboutthiscomingKing.That
thiscomingKingisgoingtohaveoriginsfromforever.Fromofold.Fromof
ancienttimes.ThiswasHebrewlanguagethatwasthestrongestwords
thattheycouldmusterintheirlanguagetosaythatthisKingwillactually
beeternal.ThatHewasgoingtobeonelikeDavid,butHewouldbeone
thatwouldhaveprecededDavidandwouldliveonbeyondDavid.Thatis
whatthisKingislikethatMicahtellsusabout.Youcanimaginehowthat
wouldmaketheirmindsbegintospin.
ButwhywouldtheyneedaneternalKing?Wellit'sverysimple.Yousee,
it'sbecausetherebellionagainstthecrownthathadbeengoingon
generationaftergenerationaftergenerationcontinuedtooutliveevery
earthlyking.Therewasarebellionthatwaslongerthanthelifespanofany
kingincludingDavid,asgoodakingashewas.Andsoitwouldberequired
thataneternalKingwouldbetheonlyonethatcoulddealwiththis.
Youknow,it'sthesamethingtoday,ladiesandgentlemen.Thatoursins
thatwearebornintoandthatwecommitwhenwecomeintothisworld,
they'regoingtooutrunusifweleavethemalone.Theywerethesamefor
ourparents,thesameforourgrandparents,andtheirgrandparentsand
great-grandparentsbeforethem.Everygenerationhasthediseaseofsin,
andnomatterevenifwelooktoearthlyrulerstotryandfreeusfromthat,
theydonothavetheremedy,theydonothavethecapacitytofreeusfrom
thediseaseofsin.It'strueofyou.It'strueofme.Andit'sbeentrueof
everyone.That'swhyweneedaneternalking.
Ifthere'sanything,ladiesandgentlemen,thatwelearnfromthehistoryof
Israelandtheirlongingforaking,andtheirsettingupofallofthesekings
inIsraelandJudahandgoingforward,here'swhatwecanlearn:thatthe
earthlykingsdon'tevenhavearemedyfortheirownsin,letalonethesins
ofthepeople.AndIwouldtellyouthesamethingtoday.Ifyouwanttoput
yourhopeandyourconfidenceinkingsorleadersorprimeministersor
presidentsorpresidentelectsthatyouthinkaregoingtosaveyouand
makeeverythingdifferent,knowthis:earthlykingscomeandearthlykings
go.Theonlyonethatcanrescueusfromthatwhichpainsusinthedepth
ofourdiseaseofsinisaneternalKing.That'stheonlyone.
That'swhytheeternalKingcansaveus,andthat'swhytheeternalKing
JesustookoffHisroyaldiademinthegloryofheavenandputontheflesh
ofababybecausethisKinghadtobecomelikeallofusinordertosaveall
ofus.ThisKinghadtobeartheweightofoursininordertosweepitoffof
ourshoulders.
SothisKing,Jesus,wasbornandhegrewupandhebegantoteachabout
theKingdomofGod.AndHeloved.AndHehealed.AndHeastounded
peopleeverytimethattheywerearoundHim.Andrightaroundinthe
neighborhoodof30ADatthetimeofPassoverJesuswouldmakeonelast
triptoJerusalem.WhenHeenteredthecityHeenteredlikeaking.He
cameonthebackofadonkey,justlikeSauldidwhenhecameinto
JerusalemasthefirstkingofIsrael.Hewasgreetedwithpalmbranches,
justlikeSaulwaswhenhecameintoJerusalemlikeaking.Hehasthescent
ofthesmellofanaromatickingbecausejustthenightbefore,overthehill
oftheMountofOlivesinBethany,Jesushadbeenanointedwithvery
expensiveperfumeandasHeisgoingdownthehill,Heisgivingoffthe
scentofaKing.ThepraisesarethattoaKing.He'ssittingonadonkeylike
aKing.He'sbeingworshippedwithpalmbrancheslikeaKing.Thatwas
Sunday.
ButbythetimeFridaycamearound,Hedidn'tseemtolooklikeaKingto
anyoneanymore,butinsteadlookedlikealambthatwasledtothe
slaughter.Butasdefeatingasthatsounds,it'sexactlywhattheeternal
Kinghadplanned.ThiswasgoingexactlyhowHedesignedit.That'swhy
theScripturetellsusthatJesus,inthebookofRevelationchapter13,that
JesusistheLambwhowasslainbeforethecreationoftheworld.Thiswas
alwaystheeternalKing'splan.
DoyourealizewhatthisteachesusaboutGod?Staywithmehere.When
webegintounderstandit,doyourealizewhatitteachesusaboutGod?
ThatGodhasalovesovast,thatHeinitiatedarescueoperationforthose
thathadbeeninrebelliontothecrown?Forthosewhohadchosenlesser
kingsormaybeeventriedtocrownthemselves?ThatHislovewassovast
thatwhiletheywerehelplessandhopeless,Heinitiatedarescueplanthat
hadbeenplannedbeforeanythingwasevercreated.Thishadalwaysbeen
inHisheart.Thatkindoflove.
Italsotellsusaboutourcondition.Howdeepdoyouthinkoursinproblem
hastobeforaneternalKingtoleaveHiscrownroomtobeborntoa
teenagegirlinabackwatertowninafeedingtroughforanimals?Toput
ourfleshandourskinon,towalkaroundonourground.Howbadmust
oursinhavebeenanoffensetoaHolyGodthatitwouldrequirethiskind
oflove?
Youseeoursin,ourdiseaseofsintriestoconvinceusthatwereallydon't
needaking.Wecanbeourownkingsandpickourselvesupfromour
bootstraps.Ourdiseaseofsintriestoconvinceusthatwedon'tneeda
savior.I'mdoingfinemyself,thankyouverymuch.Ourdiseaseofsintries
toconvinceusthatwedon'tneedashepherdtoguideusthroughlife,but
thatwecandoitourselves.ButtheloveofGodwassovastthatwewere
stillsinners,Heinitiatedanoperationtorescueusfromoursin.
ThinkofthelengthsthattheKingwentto,tobringyouintoHiskingdom.
Borninafeedingtrough,tookuponHimtheshameofbeinglabeledthe
bastardsonofMary,rejectedanddespisedbyHisownpeoplethatledHim
allthewaytoacrosswhereHeexchangedwhatHeusedtowear-aroyal
crownfullofjewelsforacrownofthorns,becauseHewastakingupon
HimselfyourcurseandmineeventhoughHewassinless.AndthenHe
enduredtheunthinkable,unimaginableagonyofthephysicalcrucifixion
onacrossthatactuallypaledincomparisontothespiritualanguishthat
theKingwasfeelingwhenHebecamesinforussothatinHimwemight
becometherighteousnessofGod.AllofthisHeknewinadvance.Allofthis
Heplannedinadvance,andIdon'tknowwhatelsetosaybut,whataKing!
Yousee,whatwelearnfromthisstoryisthataKingcameoutof
Bethlehem,butthattheKingwasfrometernity.ThataKingcameoutof
thesmallestofJudahbutthatthisKing'sgreatnesswouldreachtotheends
oftheearth.ThattheKingwasfromDavid'slineage,thattheKingwas
actuallyDavid'sLord.ThattheKingwouldshepherdHispeoplebeautifully
bybeingaLambthatwassacrificedforthem.JesustheKing.Jesusthe
Shepherd.JesustheSavior.JesustheLamb.Behold,theLambofGod.
Narrator:GodHimselfistheauthorofthisgreatstory.Thestoryof
redemption,thestoryofHislove.AndGodwritesHimselfintothestoryat
justtherighttimeinthepersonofJesus,theLambwhobecameShepherd
King,theLionofJudah.EventhoughthisKingJesuscameoutofIsrael,He
willbetheKingovereverykingwithaneverlasting,never-ending,world
filling,self-sacrificing,hopebringing,lightshining,lifegivingkindof
Kingdom.HisKingdom.AKingdomflowingfromHiswounds.Hestepped
downfromHeavenandintoourstorytodeliverus.HeisaKingunlikeany
otherKing.Behold,theLambofGod.