chanting tbo natal-song," Glory to God in tho highest," etc. (Luke ii. 14). And if a humble 'llillage through its connection with the Christ of God became thus exal red, much more surely shall human hearts and lives. Associated with him, they w1,o, judged by the world's standards, are accounted mean and despicable, secure to them- selves present dignity and eternal honour. III. THIS PROPIIEOY BEBPEOTING THE MEBBU.H's LOWLY BmTHPLA0E LIVED IN TIIE MEMORIES AND HEABTS 0B' Gon'& ANCIENT PEOPLE. Two striking confirmations of this are given in the Gospels. 1. In connection with the visit of the M-a<rians to Jerusalem. Herod in his alarm gathered the Jewish Sanhedrin togeth~r, and imperiously demanded information from the priests and scribes as to where, io accordance with Jewish traditions, the Mes,iah was to be born. And their reply (Matt. ii. 5, 6) indicates that they had in their memory this prophecy by Mic,h; whilst the readiness with which they replied to the inquiry of Herod manifests how clearly this prophecy had become impressed upon the Jewish mind. 2. In connectiori with Christ's appearance in Jerusalem at "the Feast of Tabernacles." His bearers., moved by his marvellous teaching, began to acknowledge him as the Messiah, when lo! the Pharisees cried, "Shall Christ came out of Galilee? Bath not the Scripture said. that Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of Bethlehem, where David was ? " (John vii. 42). It is evident that these Pharisees knew all about this ancient prediction, and that they expected the Messiah, in accordance with it, to appear in Bethlehem. Note-- IV. THE BEMABKABLB FULFILMENT, Dr TBE ORDEB OF PROVIDENCE, OF THTB NATIONAL BXPEOTATION. The decree went forth from Cmsar Au.,17\lstus that all the Roman .world should be enrolled (Luke ii. 1). The emperor, in issuing the decree, thought only of his imperial authority and the glory of the empire; but God was working through all, and making the earthly kingdom to serve the heavenly, and. bringing about the fulfilment of the prophecy that in Bethlehem the Christ should. appear. So, earthly princes anil potentates, statesmen and diplomatists, are ever itt work, thinking only of the interests of their own nations; but above all is the God of nations, the. supreme Ruler, sitting on the throne of his majesty in perfect repose, and overruling all to the accomplishment of his purposes of love and mercy towards the whole race (Prov. ui. 1; xvi. 33). . Ver. 2.-ne-nawre oftM Mes8iah's rule. "That is to b6 Ruler in Israel." In the first verse Micah had spoken of the failure of earthly rulers. "The judge of Israel ahou\d, be smitten with a rod upon the cheek." '£he rulers who had so lamentably failed.in their administration should come to nought, but there should rise. up in the time appointed "a King to reign in righteousness," and who should establish a king- dom which should n·ever be" moved." Unfortunately, however, in the Jewish mind, the nature of this kingdom took a visible shape; and they anticipated that the Me8siah should establish a· kingdom which should be marked by regal splendour and worldly power; Hence, when he appeared, the appeal was made to him to free them from paying tribut.e to Caisar (Matt. uii. 17-22); to sit in judgment, and to sett.le dis- putes (Luke xii. 13; John viii. 2-11); and they sought to take him by force, and to compel him to set up his throne (John vi. 15). And it is easy to understand how that, cherishing these mistaken notions, the Christ of God became an enigma to them; and that, disappointed in the course he pursued, they turned aside from him, cherished ·hostility towards him, and even cried, "Away with him ! crucify him!" But, for all this, in the spiritual sense predicted by Micah and others, he was the true King of Israel, and his claim can be fully vindicated. He was "Ruler in Israel" in a far higber and nobler sense·than David and his successors had ever been the sovereigns of the people. The functions which Jesus declined to fulfil were, after all, the lesser aud inferior functions of the King of Israel. The higher functions were those which the Lord God himself had fulfilled in relation to the Jewish nation, and before ihat nation in the pride of its heart had demanded an earthly ruler. God had been their King. David and his successors were but Jehovah's deputies, and were appointed by hi,n to discharge the lesser and secondary functions; but there were higher functions, which Jehovah alone haJ fulfilled. It was he who by his appointment and power had separated that people from among the nations, and it was he who of his infiuite 72 THE BOOK OF MICAH. [on. v. 1-15.
1•.-i~dom framc>d those Divine laws by which the people thus separated were to be gn,emed, and in obedience to which they were to find happiness e.nd security. .And Christ Jesus became in the highest sense "the Ruler in Israel," in that he came to gather a people to his praise out or the wreck and ruin sin had wrought among the nations, and t-0 give them that Christian law of rectitude and righteousneBB, of mercy and love, the embodiment and perfecting of all previous revelations, and in following which there should be experienced the truest peace and the most abiding joy. He came to set up on earth "the kingdom of heaven," and to establish amongst men a Divine and heavenly rule. His is not a kingdom of the senses, but of the spirit; it consists not in "meat and drink," but in "righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" (R-Om. xiv. 17). He is "the Ruler," and the principles of his rule are such as, finding a lodgment in the heart and drawing the soul to him in loving loyalty and devotion, renders it true and good, holy and happy. .And all that is needed in order to render the world sin bas blighted bright and blessed, is that his rulership be universally acknowledged and his reign be established in every human soul. "Hark the glad sound, the Saviour comes, The Saviour promised long; Let every heart prepare a throne, And every voice 11, eong."