Ellyn Sanna was twelve years old when she went on a camping trip to New England with her family. Four children and two parents were packed inside the family car. The tent was stowed away on top of the vehicle traveling from site to site. Each night they set up camp as the light faded. She tells that there were many happy memories from that vacation, but there was also the deep feeling of loneliness and being misunderstood.
She was the youngest of the four children and too young to go on the long hiking trips with the other siblings, yet too old to be happy staying behind with her mom and dad. It was an awkward age and she felt painfully aware of her physical appearance. At night she would huddle alone at the picnic table resentful and miserable as she watched groups of teenagers walk by her at the camping sites. She relates how she desperately wished that she were older and less shy; wishing that she was anyone but herself.
One of those bright, beautiful, sunny days, her parents decided to take their family to a lighthouse on a rocky point reaching far out into the Atlantic Ocean. As they pulled into the parking lot and made their way to the entrance, they discovered that the fee for going to the top of the lighthouse was ten cents per person. The price was too steep for the family to pay even for such a scenic view.
A sister pointed to the sign that stated, “Children twelve and under free.” Then she said, “Ellyn could go up.”
Her parents agreed that she could come back and tell them all about the beautiful scenery from atop the lighthouse. So all alone she climbed to the top. She said, “For once I was just the right age: old enough to be allowed out of my mother’s sight, young enough to pay no fee. Panting after the long, winding climb, I emerged into the wind and light at the top.”
She relates how breathtaking the view was from her vantage point. The ocean stretched out before her, and she could see the waves rolling to the shore. The wind tore at her clothes and the sun warmed her head and filled her with wild, joyful singing! “I felt as though I could fly, as though the Holy Spirit were in the strong gusts, ready to lift me off my feet into heaven.”
Ellyn continues, “I stayed there as long as I dared. Knowing that my family would be waiting impatiently, I went down the spiral stairs at last. But inside my heart, I felt as though I carried a promise from God. At twelve, I didn’t know what to call the feeling inside of me. But I know now it was hope."1
Many people in our world have lost hope through the ravages of poverty, hatred, terrorism, natural disasters, and a host of other things that have taken the wind out of their sails. You and I have the opportunity to share with them the greatest news available that can lift their spirits and their very lives. They can put their hope not in a thing, but a person ... Jesus!
Edward Mote wrote the words to one of my favorite songs, “The Solid Rock,” in 1834.
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus name.
When darkness seems to hide his face,
I rest on his unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.
When he shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in him be found!
Dressed in his righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne!
On Christ, the solid rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
Micah had a breathtaking view atop his prophetic vantage point. The ocean of time stretched out before him with the waves of centuries rolling in front of him. He saw one star studded night that in Bethlehem Ephrathah, hope would be born. And he was right!
Hope In The Ruler Of The Ages (Micah 5:2)
Like his fellow prophets, Micah denounces the sins of the people and the sins of the nobility. The people of Judah and Samaria have prostituted themselves to idols. The people have become spiritually unfaithful to their one and only God, Jehovah. Their sin is the misplaced loyalty to the only God who truly loves and cares deeply for them. The leaders of the nation hated justice and perverted all that is righteous and holy. They are building Zion with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity. The judges, priests, and false prophets cared only for themselves, and they would achieve their success at any cost whether through extortion, robbery, or human misery.
The judges were taking bribes so impartially and blind justice was impossible.
The priests were to teach the people about God, but they would only if the price was right. They had exchanged their caring for greediness.
The prophets, too, like the judges and priests would only give their divine predictions for money. It tainted the truth and they only gave favorable prophecies to people who could pay the price.
Leaders and followers alike were proud and offensive to God. Their cup of wickedness was full and running over, so God would pour out his wrath and judgment upon all of them. Micah predicts that because of their sins, Zion would be plowed as a field and Jerusalem would become a heap of dirt. The invasion and destruction by Nebuchadnezzar fulfilled the prophecy with agonizing accuracy. Truly the wages of sin is death and death in every realm and sphere of life.
The Babylonians take Jerusalem’s king, kill his sons before his eyes, and then blind him, put him in shackles, and haul him away to Babylon where he is imprisoned.
Micah shifts to a positive ruler that will be born and become the shepherd-king to his people. It is a prophecy that will have future ramifications. This shepherd-king who will bring hope to the people will be born in the smallest of areas. Christians assert and believe that it is none other than Jesus Christ who Micah writes and speaks about! He is not only the fulfillment of prophecy, but the fulfillment of hope! His rule is a kingship of care, love, and direction in a world that lost its hope.
Hope In The Strength Of The Lord (Micah 5:4)
His strength comes from surrender, service, and sacrifice. Hope is born to that end. Tom Barnard wrote, “In the spiritual life, there are things that belong together, like perfectly matched oars. Two of the more important ones are surrender and service. They go together. Surrender without service is hollow piety. Service without surrender is sterile duty. Try activating one without the other, and the spiritual cruise will result in circle making. No significant gain will result from such foolish exercise.
“All true Christian service begins with personal surrender to God. Call it what you want — consecration, yielding, commitment — it is a prerequisite to authentic service. One cannot know Christ personally and deeply without catching the winsome contagion of his caring Spirit for others. Yielding to his Spirit calls for the response of one’s heart in meaningful service to others. As someone said, ‘Wherever the Spirit of the Lord controls the heart, there is a passion to serve.’ "2
God authored surrender and service at a specific time and place ... Bethlehem, Christmas night. Christ would grow into adulthood and model surrender and service to a motley group of disciples. He took off his robe, picked up a pitcher of water used for ceremonial cleansing, wrapped a towel around his waist, and proceeded to wash the grime off the feet of each of those men. It was a perfect act of love.
Then he said to the men, “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because it is true. And since I, the Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you.” — John 13:13-15 (NLT)
What have you done lately to birth hope to those mired in sin, loneliness, desperation, despair, and helplessness? Think of people right now who need you to bring them hope. Write down their names and what you can do to bring them an inkling of hope! Remember, you are not going to bring them hope in your own strength but in the strength of the Lord!
Hope In The Peace Of A Savior
When we think of peace normally we view it as a cessation or freedom from war. Peace in the Old Testament also connotes prosperity.
The people in the text are in for big trouble! Their enemy would soon be upon them literally, and they would know the ravages of war. It is spiritual night for them. They have no vision of good and turn to the plans of their fallible leaders who are leading them to destruction. Micah sees beyond the immediate into the future. Humankind is being ravaged by Satan, sin, and evil and needs someone to lead them to victory and peace. Looking down the corridor of time he envisions that God will provide for this very situation. He will graciously send a Messiah, the Lord Jesus, as the light of the world to give light to this people sitting in darkness (Isaiah 9:20). Out of his birth, ministry, death, and resurrection there will come the dispelling of all gloom, darkness, and night from sad hearts.
He will bring peace to a fearful heart! How do we find this peace?
* Draw near to God. “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16 NIV).
* Pray to God. “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16b NIV).
* Live a life of thanksgiving. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6 NIV).
The ancient prayer of Francis of Assisi should be our model.
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace!
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
Oh, divine master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled, as to console;
To be understood, as to understand;
To be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying that we are born to eternal life!
All of this is found in the Savior ... Christ the Lord.
From the cradle to the cross Jesus brings us hope. Hope to go on, even though we feel that life is scattered. Hope to continue to grow in our faith even if we fail and fall. Hope to endure, even when life falters. Hope to believe, even though dreams fade. Give birth to hope that is found in Christ! Amen.
1. Ellyn Sanna, A Beacon Of Hope (Uhrichsville, Ohio: Humble Creek Publishing, 2000), pp. 25-26.
2. Tom Barnard, Tuesday Morning email devotions, November 15, 2005. Used by permission.