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In the early 1970’s my then-husband and I set out on a road trip from Los Angeles to visit friends in Socorro, New Mexico. We drove an old Citroën which was temperamental at the best of times. On that trip, it chose to break down at night as we drove through a barren, uninhabited stretch of mountains. We had an overcast sky, rare for the Southwest, and a new moon. So … no stars, no moon, no car, and not even a glimmer of light on the horizon. The darkness was impenetrable; we literally could not see our feet below us. Our dog pressed against me for comfort. It was a chastening experience for two “fearless” young city-dwellers. After some time, we saw headlights on the horizon, signs of hope and possibly help; someone was coming! The truck driver who stopped was indeed our help, as he let us hop in, with the dog, and drove us the remaining many miles to Socorro.
Micah, one of the Messianic prophets of the 8th Century BC, preached in Jerusalem to a people who had, since the time of King David, let their faith in God lapse and allowed darkness to settle upon their world. The Holy One whom they couldn’t see, hear, or touch seemed far away – better to deal with a god close at hand, one who didn’t much care what you did as long as you paid your dues to the priests. Micah warns the people:
Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray … … Therefore, it shall be night to you, without vision, and darkness to you, without revelation. The sun shall go down upon the prophets, and the day shall be black over them.
But Micah doesn’t stop there. All is not lost, help is coming. And once again, it is coming from little backwater Bethlehem, home of David and future home of Him who will be the One of Peace.
But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has brought forth; then the rest of his kindred shall return to the people of Israel. 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 live secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth; and he shall be the one of peace.
Perhaps our era is not so different from that of Micah, as we live amid turmoil, dissension, and physical danger. It’s easy to lose hope as we wander in a world that is dark. But the Light, the One of Peace, has come and is coming and will come: Jesus our Light!
Prayer: Come, Lord Jesus!