Waiting for hope - Bible in a Year Pastor Fred Kingman - December 3rd, 2023 Creation & Covenants (Genesis) Exodus & Law (Exodus-Deuteronomy) Second (Joshua-Nehemiah) Wisdumb (Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes) He Hears Us (Psalms) Faith & Future (Isaiah-Daniel) Hot & Bothered (Song of Solomon) Waiting For (Minor Prophets) Advent means Arrival. Four Candles: Hope Peace Joy Love With Advent, we’re either preparing with anticipation or waiting to be surprised. Matthew 2:1-6 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born. “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah: Because out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.” They expected illumination but instead got darkness. Where will he come from? Who will he be? What will he do? Hope means homework Micah 5:1-2 Now, daughter who is under attack, you slash yourself in grief; a siege is set against us! They are striking the judge of Israel on the cheek with a rod. Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; one will come from you to be ruler over Israel for me. His origin is from antiquity, from ancient times. Where Will He Come From? Anguish Ambiguity Antiquity Micah 5:2 Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; one will come from you to be ruler over Israel for me. His origin is from antiquity, from ancient times. Bad = not good Adam/Eve conspired with a demon Their son murdered his brother Human evil led God to kill virtually everyone Noah got drunk and exposed himself to his son Abraham’s nephew impregnated his two daughters Priests slept with women in the tabernacle Micah 5:3-4 Therefore, Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of the ruler’s brothers will return to the people of Israel. He will stand and shepherd them in the strength of the Lord, in the majestic name of the Lord his God. They will live securely, for then his greatness will extend to the ends of the earth. Who Will He Be? Son Savior Shepherd Micah 5:4 He will stand and shepherd them in the strength of the Lord, in the majestic name of the Lord his God. Micah 5:5-6 He will be their peace. When Assyria invades our land, when it marches against our fortresses, we will raise against it seven shepherds, even eight leaders of men. They will shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod with a drawn blade. So he will rescue us from Assyria when it invades our land, when it marches against our territory. What Will He Do? Reign Repress Rescue Micah 5:6 So he will rescue us from Assyria when it invades our land, when it marches against our territory. J.R.R. Tolkien “It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn't want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you..” - Samwise Gamgee Homework Be prepared Be careful Be extravagant Next Week: Waiting for Peace