And he shall be their peace.
When the Assyrian comes into our land
and treads in our palaces,
then we will raise against him seven shepherds
and eight princes of men;
6 they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword,
and the land of Nimrod at its entrances;
and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian
when he comes into our land
and treads within our border.
Abandon all hope, ye who enter here. So reads the sign at the entrance of Hades in Dante’s Inferno. There should have been a similar sign for the enemies of God’s people. Although God used the Assyrians and Babylonians to exact judgment on Israel and Judah, their lot would be far worse because they were not his people but his instruments. The peace Micah references is not for the enemies of God but his children. This is the peace of the Christmas card; according to the NAC commentary, “security, prosperity, general well-being, and at times even internal, spiritual peace”.
There is no other way to attain this peace, though Woodrow Wilson’s 14 points and Neville Chamberlain’s Munich Agreement with Hitler were nice tries. There will always be Assyrians and Babylonians as long as there is evil in the world. Only when the Prince of Peace returns and treads within our border will there be real peace. He will shepherd his people into the security of his borders and we will be safe in his arms. All who enter there will be assured of hope.
Dear Lord, thank you for sending the Prince of Peace to bring hope and peace to your people. Teach us today to grasp hope and not abandon it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Brad Boyer
Cape Community Church