12-15-19 Sermon Notes
“Overwhelming – Bethlehem” Micah 5:1-2; Matthew 2:1-6 and Luke 2:4-7
Last week, we discovered that not only did Judas betray Jesus but that all of His followers deserted Him as He went to the cross. This week we will focus on the prophecy of the birthplace of Jesus.
Introduction
In Micah 5:2, there is a prophecy that reveals that Bethlehem would be the birthplace of the Messiah. This prophecy was written sometime between 740-710 BC by the prophet Micah. That was approximately 700 years before Christ was born.
Read Micah 5:1-2 New International Version (NIV)
“Marshal your troops now, city of troops,
for a siege is laid against us.
They will strike Israel’s ruler
on the cheek with a rod.
2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.”
Message
Micah 5:2 makes a couple of predictions. First, the birthplace of this future “ruler of Israel” would be Bethlehem Ephrathah. Since there were two locations known as Bethlehem at the time of Micah’s writing, the addition of Ephrathah is significant. It specifies the Bethlehem in Judah, the portion of Israel in which the capital, Jerusalem, was located. Bethlehem was considered “little,” or insignificant, among the cities of Judah, yet would serve as the birthplace of this future ruler.
Second, the coming ruler of Jewish background was one “whose coming forth is from old, from ancient days.” What else could this refer to other than the Messiah? Only the Messiah fits the description of a ruler in Israel whose origin was from times past. In fact, “from ancient days” is sometimes synonymous with “eternal” (as in Habakkuk 1:12). Only the Jewish Messiah could be a ruler in Israel from eternity past.
This interpretation is strengthened by the fact that the Jewish religious leaders in the first century identified Micah 5:2 as a Messianic prophecy. In Matthew 2:1-6, wise men from the East visited King Herod in Jerusalem and asked where the king of the Jews had been born. Herod assembled all the chief priests and scribes, and “he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea,’” basing their answer on Micah 5:2.
Only Jesus Christ fits the Messianic claims of Micah 5:2. He was born in Bethlehem Ephrathah (Matthew 2:1 andLuke 2:4-7). He also fits the description as being “from ancient times” or eternal (John 1:1 and Colossians 1:16-17). No other ruler in Israel fits these requirements.
Concluding Remarks and Application
Once again, we see how the Bible accurately predicted the coming of the Messiah by pinpointing the exact place where Jesus would be born. 27 centuries have come and gone and no other city, but Bethlehem Ephrathah has ever been seriously considered His birthplace.
So, what is the application for us who are solidly convinced that indeed Jesus was born in Bethlehem and as we will further see next week that yet another prophecy was fulfilled by Jesus being born of a virgin?
Perhaps, we have taken this prophecy and fulfillment for granted and have not given much or any thought of why God chose His Son to be born in a small insignificant town rather than a major city of that day like Rome, Antioch or Jerusalem. Could it be that this was a signal to those living at that time and also for us today that Jesus came into this world to save even the least important? In fact, doesn’t it put all of us on equal footing in God’s sight before coming to faith and after that salvation is not exclusively for the ‘important’ among us?
One more thought – Think about the song, “O Little Town of Bethlehem” and the comfort and appeal it brings to us when we sing it. Give it some thought as you read the following verses.
O little town of Bethlehem
How still we see thee lie
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight
For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth
And praises sing to God the King
And Peace to men on earth
How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still
The dear Christ enters in
O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel”