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Candia Congregational Church
Micah 5:1-6: God's Ruler From Bethlehem
Our prayer is that on Sundays, God would gather His people together so that their faith may grow and be ready to go into the world as His ambassadors.
Locations & Times
Candia Congregational Church
1 South Rd, Candia, NH 03034, USA
Sunday 9:50 AM
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https://candiacongregational.org/Have-A-QuestionPray With Us
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https://candiacongregational.org/Prayer-Request/Begin a Relationship with Jesus, The Son of God
“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12–13 (ESV) To learn more about how you can become God’s son or daughter, click the link.
Join a Growth Group
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works . . ." Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV) In our Small Groups, you will find men and women, young and old, at various stages in their walk with Jesus. You will find imperfect people wholeheartedly seeking to love God, and people, and learning how to help others do the same. In other words, you will find people just like you!
https://candiacongregational.org/SmallGroupsGive As An Act Of Worship
"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV) Giving is an act of worship that begins with you and God sitting with your Bible and Bank Statement open. This gives you time to reflect on His provision in your life and determine what portion you will give back. Thank you in advance for your love and devotion to God and for partnering with us in His Kingdom Ministry. Please use the link below to access our e-giving platform.
https://app.faithteams.com/portal/desktop/give.html?c=9d530b1a-8930-11ec-9352-0a5ffbc0ff04
Micah 5:1–6, NIV
“Marshal your troops now, city of troops, for a siege is laid against us. They will strike Israel’s ruler on the cheek with a rod.
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
Therefore, Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites.
He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.
And he will be our peace when the Assyrians invade our land and march through our fortresses. We will raise against them seven shepherds, even eight commanders, who will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod with drawn sword.
He will deliver us from the Assyrians when they invade our land and march across our borders.”
“Marshal your troops now, city of troops, for a siege is laid against us. They will strike Israel’s ruler on the cheek with a rod.
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
Therefore, Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites.
He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.
And he will be our peace when the Assyrians invade our land and march through our fortresses. We will raise against them seven shepherds, even eight commanders, who will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod with drawn sword.
He will deliver us from the Assyrians when they invade our land and march across our borders.”
An Opening Thought:
When everything strong starts to crumble — when leaders fail, nations rage, and peace feels impossible — it’s easy to believe that God has stepped away. That’s exactly how it felt in Micah’s day. Jerusalem was surrounded, her king humiliated, her future uncertain. But right there, in the midst of fear and failure, God spoke a promise: “Out of Bethlehem will come a ruler.”
It’s a reminder that God’s redemptive work often begins where human strength ends. The King who would bring lasting peace would not come from the center of power, but from a small, forgotten village — Bethlehem. Through Him, the Shepherd-King, God would rebuild what pride had destroyed, restore what sin had broken, and bring peace that no army or empire could secure.
Micah 5 invites us to lift our eyes from the chaos of the present to the faithfulness of the King who stands forever — Jesus Christ, our peace.
When everything strong starts to crumble — when leaders fail, nations rage, and peace feels impossible — it’s easy to believe that God has stepped away. That’s exactly how it felt in Micah’s day. Jerusalem was surrounded, her king humiliated, her future uncertain. But right there, in the midst of fear and failure, God spoke a promise: “Out of Bethlehem will come a ruler.”
It’s a reminder that God’s redemptive work often begins where human strength ends. The King who would bring lasting peace would not come from the center of power, but from a small, forgotten village — Bethlehem. Through Him, the Shepherd-King, God would rebuild what pride had destroyed, restore what sin had broken, and bring peace that no army or empire could secure.
Micah 5 invites us to lift our eyes from the chaos of the present to the faithfulness of the King who stands forever — Jesus Christ, our peace.
The Main Idea
God’s answer to the collapse of human kingdoms is not more power, but a King who rules through humility, shepherds with love, and brings peace through His sacrifice.
God’s answer to the collapse of human kingdoms is not more power, but a King who rules through humility, shepherds with love, and brings peace through His sacrifice.
Israel Falls but Bethlehem Rises
I. The Fall of the Present King
Micah 5:1, NIV
“Marshal your troops now, city of troops, for a siege is laid against us. They will strike Israel’s ruler on the cheek with a rod.”
The Point:
1. Israel trusted in their own abilities to create strength, power, wealth, comfort, and prosperity. However, their ways were not God's ways. They were ways of injustice and corruption.
Application Question:
1. What are the ways you seek power, wealth, comfort, and prosperity in order to create peace in your life apart from God?
I. The Fall of the Present King
Micah 5:1, NIV
“Marshal your troops now, city of troops, for a siege is laid against us. They will strike Israel’s ruler on the cheek with a rod.”
The Point:
1. Israel trusted in their own abilities to create strength, power, wealth, comfort, and prosperity. However, their ways were not God's ways. They were ways of injustice and corruption.
Application Question:
1. What are the ways you seek power, wealth, comfort, and prosperity in order to create peace in your life apart from God?
II. The Birth of a True King - A Shepherd King
Micah 5:2-3, NIV
““But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites.”
The Point:
1. God uses the weak and the small to demonstrate His strength and grandeur.
2. God uses suffering to bring about His redemptive work.
Application:
1. Do not minimize your size, influence, and strength because "God delights to choose the weak and despised things of this world to shame the strong, that man may boast in the Lord alone.”
2. Never despise your suffering because God uses our suffering for the work of redemption.
Micah 5:2-3, NIV
““But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites.”
The Point:
1. God uses the weak and the small to demonstrate His strength and grandeur.
2. God uses suffering to bring about His redemptive work.
Application:
1. Do not minimize your size, influence, and strength because "God delights to choose the weak and despised things of this world to shame the strong, that man may boast in the Lord alone.”
2. Never despise your suffering because God uses our suffering for the work of redemption.
The Reign of the Shepherd-King
Micah 5:4-6, NIV
“He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be our peace when the Assyrians invade our land and march through our fortresses. We will raise against them seven shepherds, even eight commanders, who will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod with drawn sword. He will deliver us from the Assyrians when they invade our land and march across our borders.”
The Point: This is the heart of the passage - the character of the Shepher-King.
1) He STANDS forever and will not fail.
2) He SHEPHERDS by being compassionate, protecting, and sustaining His flock.
3) He STRENGTHENS those who trust in Him and not in human efforts.
4) He BRINGS PEACE (shalom) - a sense of wholeness that frees us to serve.
Application: We must reflect the Shepherd's Heart.
1) Parents, shepherd your children with patience and compassion.
2) Leaders, shepherd with integrity.
3) Every believer, bring peace where you live — not by winning arguments, but by bearing witness to grace.
Micah 5:4-6, NIV
“He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be our peace when the Assyrians invade our land and march through our fortresses. We will raise against them seven shepherds, even eight commanders, who will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod with drawn sword. He will deliver us from the Assyrians when they invade our land and march across our borders.”
The Point: This is the heart of the passage - the character of the Shepher-King.
1) He STANDS forever and will not fail.
2) He SHEPHERDS by being compassionate, protecting, and sustaining His flock.
3) He STRENGTHENS those who trust in Him and not in human efforts.
4) He BRINGS PEACE (shalom) - a sense of wholeness that frees us to serve.
Application: We must reflect the Shepherd's Heart.
1) Parents, shepherd your children with patience and compassion.
2) Leaders, shepherd with integrity.
3) Every believer, bring peace where you live — not by winning arguments, but by bearing witness to grace.
Final Thoughts
Micah’s world was filled with fear, failure, and uncertainty — much like ours. Yet in the middle of collapse, God gave a promise: a King would come, not from the halls of power, but from the fields of Bethlehem. He would stand when all others fall, shepherd His people in the strength of the Lord, and bring peace that cannot be shaken.
That King has come — His name is Jesus.
He reigns even now, and one day His peace will fill the earth.
Until then, we live as citizens of His kingdom, trusting that when our strength fails, His still stands.
“And He will be our peace.” — Micah 5:5
Micah’s world was filled with fear, failure, and uncertainty — much like ours. Yet in the middle of collapse, God gave a promise: a King would come, not from the halls of power, but from the fields of Bethlehem. He would stand when all others fall, shepherd His people in the strength of the Lord, and bring peace that cannot be shaken.
That King has come — His name is Jesus.
He reigns even now, and one day His peace will fill the earth.
Until then, we live as citizens of His kingdom, trusting that when our strength fails, His still stands.
“And He will be our peace.” — Micah 5:5
Your Blessing
May the Shepherd-King who came from Bethlehem stand guard over your heart and your home.
When your strength fails, may His strength sustain you.
When the world trembles, may His peace hold you fast.
And as you go, may you walk in His humility,
live in His strength,
and share His peace —
until the day His greatness reaches to the ends of the earth.
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
May the Shepherd-King who came from Bethlehem stand guard over your heart and your home.
When your strength fails, may His strength sustain you.
When the world trembles, may His peace hold you fast.
And as you go, may you walk in His humility,
live in His strength,
and share His peace —
until the day His greatness reaches to the ends of the earth.
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
A 5 Day Sermon Based Devotional
This 5-day devotional invites you to slow down and reflect on the humility, power, and peace of Jesus — the true Ruler from Bethlehem. As you read, let His kingdom shape your trust, your perspective, and your daily life.
https://candiacongregational.org/blog/5DD-Micah5-1-6Small Group Sermon Based Discussion Guide
This guide is designed to help your group wrestle with these truths, share honestly, and encourage one another to follow Jesus together in belonging, freedom, and obedience.
https://candiacongregational.org/blog/SGDG-Micah-5-1-6
Check Out Our Website For More Information and Resources
There is so much more to know about the Christian life. Check out our website for information about this church, its ministries, and other ways to grow and find your place in God's Kingdom.
https://candiacongregational.org/