This morning sermon text is Micah 5, 1 through 6.

Now muster yourselves in troops, daughter of troops.

They have laid siege against us. With a rod they will smite the judge of Israel

on the cheek. But as for you, Bethlehem Ephratha, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you one will go forth for me to be ruler

in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago from the days of eternity. Therefore he will give them up until the time when she who is in labor has born a child.

Then the remainder of his brethren will return to the sons of Israel.

And he will arise and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.

And they will remain because at that time he will be great to the ends of the earth.

And this one will be our peace.

When the Assyrian invades our land, when he tramples on our citadels, then we will raise against him seven

shepherds and eight leaders of men. And they will shepherd the land of

Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod at its entrances, and he will deliver us from the

Assyrian when he attacks our land and when he tramples our territory.

Let's pray.

pray.

words fail, words fail Lord when we think of the wonder of Christ going forth from of old, from ancient days. Before the Prophet and before his birth, his origin was

from of old. Words failed to express the beauty, wonder, and mystery of God clothed in human flesh lying in a manger born in a little town

Bethlehem growing up never sinning, choosing sovereignly to lay his life down for those who hate

him, rebel against him, praying from the cross.

Father, forgive him, they don't know what they're doing.

We knew what we were doing.

Too well. To this day we know what we're doing when we disobey the Lord and prefer other things to

...