Psalm 5:1-3

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Micah 5. The Mind of the Spirit engaged the spirit of my mind in verse one:

Micah 5:1 ¶ Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.

Micah 5 is famous for verse 2: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” It is embedded in the story of the wise men who followed His star to Bethlehem. It will be read all over the world during this Christmas season (Matthew 2:1-6).*

How did the people receive their Judge, their King, sent to them from Bethlehem? With a rod, they struck His face upon the cheek (Micah 5:1). “Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth” (Micah 5:3a). Most of us are familiar with the prophecy concerning the travail of Israel culminating in the birth of a nation in a day (Isaiah 66:7-8; see Jeremiah 6:24 to show that the travail began at the time the kingdom was removed from Judah and given to the Gentiles). Jesus said their travail was extended to the end of the times of the Gentiles (Luke 21:24). Jesus came to restore the kingdom to Israel, at the “fullness of times.” But though “the children [were] come to the birth … there [was] not strength to bring forth” (Galatians 4:4 and Isaiah 37:3).

Along the still waters, I thought about how a moment of rash action can extend chastisement. Moses smote the rock twice when he was told to speak to it (Numbers 20:8-12). He was removed from service.

Some smite the Son with the rod of their anger today. In the extreme case, they “crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame” (Hebrews 6:6). These are what we call apostates, a word used in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 to speak of those who fall away (to defect, or depart) from the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 3; see 1 John 2:19). Others don’t go so far as to crucify Him afresh, but with the rod of their tongue they will smite Him upon the cheek (Proverbs 14:3).

Jesus is now to be spoken to, not smitten. Take care you do not step before Him with wrath and doubting (1 Timothy 2:8). We speak to Him for the water we require! Don’t let Satan turn your tongue into a rod and use you to smite the Son. Remember, “no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed
(1 Corinthians 12:3). Humbly speak, don’t pridefully smite.

If anyone has spoken rashly to the LORD or against Him to others, repent! There is forgiveness to be found for this sin (Matthew 12:32; Luke 12:10). If our words have been stout against Him, repent (read Malachi 3:13-15).

The “living waters” that Jesus promised would flow from our belly into the world in rivers (John 7:38-39) come now when we speak to Him with faith and reverence. There is no greater threat to Satan and his agenda on earth, and that’s why the Devil constantly prowls about looking for Christians he can devour in “bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking … with malice” (Ephesians 4:31). He knows these are the things that will “grieve … the Spirit of God” (Ephesians 4:30) and stop His moving into this world as rivers of living water.

In the valley, stilled in the shadow of His Cross, in my mind, I noticed He is not there, smitten to the cruel “tree,” but risen, and ready to “give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him” (Luke 11:13). Then He said something I thought profound: the Spirit was released into the world when the Son of Man of Glorified (John 7:38-39), which wa accomplished on His death and resurrection. He moves through us the same way: when we are crucified with Him (Galatians 2:20) and risen together with Him (Colossians 3:1). He bore the cross that the Spirit (water) might come forth from the Rock. He took the blunt, raw, torturous death of it in our place. Let all who would follow Him “reckon ourselves also to be dead indeed unto sin” (Romans 6:11) and “if ye then be risen with Christ” (Colossians 3:1) let our affections be drawn upward to Him in praise and thanksgiving that He might speak to His “lively stones” (1 Peter 2:5) and call forth the “living water” He ensivioned would flow from our belly like rivers (John 7:28).

He said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

At the table, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy followed as we walked together into the harvest.

Praying for revival! 🙏

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[*Matthew 2:1 ¶ Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

Matthew 2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

Matthew 2:3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

Matthew 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

Matthew 2:5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

Matthew 2:6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.]