Ruler of Peace

Judges 1
Micah 5:2-5

A lot of times, I struggle with these Advent passages. As we wait for the celebration of Your coming, we read all that led up to Your birth. The miracles of the angel's messages, the coming of John the Baptist, Psalms of praise and rejoicing, and the prophecies of Your coming. Sometimes I struggle with putting all the different readings into one theme. Sometimes, however, I struggle with believing that the passage of prophecy really truly came true.

Look at all of Micah 5:2-5. A ruler will come, and be over Israel, and he will rule them and they will find security. That really didn't seem to happen. The words often used with Jesus (ruler, king, leader) really lend to political understandings. I know that Jesus came and tried to make the people understand differently the words. But, I can see why many people didn't get it. Especially those who were committed to the text. And especially those who viewed the text literally. Because apparently Jesus fulfilled these prophecies about being a ruler without ever really taking the political throne in Israel.

So, I guess what really scares me about all this Lord is: what am I missing? What am I interpreting too literally? Where are You that I have not seen You?

Through all this, the final promise in Micah is that the "ruler" will be the peace of the people. I can see that in You. You do often become the peace in people's lives. And even when You walked the earth You brought peace.

Advent readings, prophecies, doubts, and wonders. But the peace makes You true to me. How can I not praise You and feel at peace when my beautiful son has just turned 2 years old today? How can I not be peaceful while sitting in the bleak mid-winter with my wife who is pregnant with our second child. You are the peace of my life as I sit with my church and talk about how to do things that I'm terrible at (details) and yet the rest of the community comes through for me with great suggestions.

You are my rest in the mornings. Thanks.