Lutheran Hour Ministry Advent Devotion for Sunday, 4 January 2015 "The Prophet's Word" by Reverend Wayne Palmer

Advent Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries
 by Reverend Wayne Palmer "The Prophet's Word" for Sunday, 4 January 2015
Read Matthew 2:3-4 When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified—and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”
5-6 They told him, “Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly:
It’s you, Bethlehem, in Judah’s land,
    no longer bringing up the rear.
From you will come the leader
    who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel.”
"Assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born."[Matthew 2:4]
Apparently, Herod was aware of the prophecy of a Messiah -- a King to be born to the Jews. Since he was not Jewish himself, but rather a descendant of Jacob's brother Esau, he consulted the Jewish scholars who would know the prophecy. The chief priests and scribes quickly revealed the birthplace to the king and the wise men, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet, 'And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd My people Israel'"(Matthew 2: 5-6).
Up to now, the wise men had simply been following a silent star. But now they heard the living Word of God. It told them this King of the Jews was a ruler who would lead God's people as a Shepherd. He would gently lead His people, protect them from their enemies, and guide them to safe pasture. Here was God's invitation for Herod and the wise men to follow Him as well.
Had Herod not closed his heart but responded with Spirit-given faith as the wise men did, he would have known the peace and rest His great King Jesus came to bring. He would know his kingdom was secure, and he would be part of Christ's greater, eternal Kingdom. But Herod was blinded by his own hunger for power and prestige. The news of Christ's birth only amplified his insecurity and doubt. No wonder all of Jerusalem was stirred up and fearful when they knew Herod was upset by the news.
In reality, King Herod was a model of this world's ruler, Satan. In desperation and rage Satan uses his forces to try to keep his tight grasp on his earthly kingdom, but his end is coming rapidly. On the cross Jesus Christ already delivered a fatal blow, undoing Satan's devious work in the Garden of Eden. Now the devil awaits the end of his reign and the beginning of his eternal torment in hell when Christ comes again on the Last Day.
In the meantime, God sets these two rulers before us-His own dear Son Jesus Christ and His bitter enemy the devil. We are not the masters of our own fate, or kings of our own kingdom. You and I will serve either Jesus or Satan. So would you rather serve a King who is your loving Shepherd who laid down His life on the cross to defeat the devil and save you from your enemies? Or would you prefer submission to Satan the tyrant who engineered your destruction and seeks your doom?
THE PRAYER: Lord God, thank You for Your Word, which reveals all I need to know about Jesus my Savior. Keep me faithfully trusting Your Word. Defend me against Satan's devious plans and bring me safely to Your eternal Kingdom. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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