Shepherd and King

TODAY'S SPECIAL: Micah 4:6-5:5

TO CHEW ON: "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 abide
For now He shall be great
To the ends of the earth." Micah 5:4

Do you see how this passage combines the humanity (shepherd) with the kingly deity of the "One to be Ruler in Israel" who would  "come forth" from Bethlehem? It is the One whose birth we have just celebrated—Jesus! Tomorrow (Epiphany) we will read about wise men who came from the east bearing gifts for the King of the Jews. The depictions of Jesus are full of both pictures.

As a Shepherd:

• Prophets pictured the Lord, Messiah in this way - Psalm 23:1,2; Isaiah 40:11; Ezekiel 34:11.

• Jesus referred to Himself as a shepherd - John 10:11.

• The Apostles call Him shepherd in numerous places e.g.: Hebrews 13:20, 1 Peter 2:25; Revelation 7:17.

As a King:

• Prophets depict Messiah as a King - Isaiah 9:7; Jeremiah 23:5; Ezekiel 37:25 and of course Micah 5:2.

And Jesus' story is full of references to Him as king

• The wise men brought gifts to the infant king - Matthew 2:2.

• The people lauded Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey (Palm Sunday) and welcomed Him as a king - Matthew 21:4-9.

• When Pilate asked Jesus directly, 'Are you a king?' He answered 'Yes': Matthew 27:11; Mark 15:2; Luke 23:3; John 18:37.

• The Apostles considered Him a king: Acts 2:30; 1 Corinthians 15:25; 1 Timothy 6:15.

These two pictures of Jesus help us keep a healthy balance in our view of Him. Sure He is the caring, self-sacrificing, looking-out-for-us Shepherd. But He is also the majestic, awe-inspiring, fall-on-our-faces-in-worship King and above us in His wisdom and ways (Psalm 50:21).

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, thank You for laying aside Your majesty and coming to rescue us from the power of darkness into Your kingdom (Colossians 1:13). I worship You as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Amen.

MORE: "We Shall Behold Him" sung by Sandi Patty