Micah Chapter 5
vs 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
https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/smith_chuck/c2000_Mic/Mic_001.cfm
So the prophecy that Bethlehem would be the birthplace of the Messiah.
Now, the Jews believed this for years. In fact, when the wise men came to Herod and inquired concerning the birth of the King, "Where is He to be born who is to be the King of the Jews?" (Matthew 2:6) Herod inquired of the scribes there in Jerusalem and they answered him, "In Bethlehem," because the prophet said, "And thou Bethlehem, I'll be little among the thousands in Judah, yet out of thee." So they believed in that day that Bethlehem would be the birthplace of the Messiah. Now, of course, since Christ was born there, it would be impossible for that prophecy to be fulfilled again, because there is no one from the house of David left in Bethlehem. Bethlehem is now an Arab city. No one from the house of David left in Bethlehem [Is that true? See https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/73044/descendants-king-david-still-temple-mount/] So the rabbis today have made up some other kind of an interpretation of this prophecy in Micah. And they say, "No, it doesn't refer to the Messiah at all." But yet, in the time of Herod the scribes and all definitely believed it and were looking for Bethlehem to be the birthplace of the Messiah
So the prophecy that Bethlehem would be the birthplace of the Messiah.
Now, the Jews believed this for years. In fact, when the wise men came to Herod and inquired concerning the birth of the King, "Where is He to be born who is to be the King of the Jews?" (Matthew 2:6) Herod inquired of the scribes there in Jerusalem and they answered him, "In Bethlehem," because the prophet said, "And thou Bethlehem, I'll be little among the thousands in Judah, yet out of thee." So they believed in that day that Bethlehem would be the birthplace of the Messiah. Now, of course, since Christ was born there, it would be impossible for that prophecy to be fulfilled again, because there is no one from the house of David left in Bethlehem. Bethlehem is now an Arab city. No one from the house of David left in Bethlehem [Is that true? See https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/73044/descendants-king-david-still-temple-mount/] So the rabbis today have made up some other kind of an interpretation of this prophecy in Micah. And they say, "No, it doesn't refer to the Messiah at all." But yet, in the time of Herod the scribes and all definitely believed it and were looking for Bethlehem to be the birthplace of the Messiah
vs 4 - 5a And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace.
Jesus did come to "shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD" (Micah 5:4), but His shepherding wasn't through military advantage. Instead, it was through offering truth, healing and spiritual authority to those He taught and loved.
He did indeed enable His people to "dwell secure" (Micah 5:4), but it wasn't through securing the borders of their land. It was through His death and resurrection, which not only enables His followers to dwell eternally in heaven but also to know and experience the presence of God with them on earth. Jesus did indeed provide "peace" for his people (Micah 5:5), but it wasn't a peace based on circumstances or earthly realities — it is the peace of being able to have a right relationship with God because of what He has accomplished for us. |
Hebrews 2:17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. |
How many of God's people missed the truth of Jesus' lordship when He lived and walked among them because they were expecting Him to be something He wasn't? How many of the Israelites rejected Jesus because His "rule" didn't bring about the end of Roman oppression? This is the temptation God's people faced when Jesus turned out to be a different kind of king than they expected. It is the temptation we face when Jesus doesn't act in ways we expect. How many of us today ignore the lordship of Christ in our lives when He doesn't give us what we want? We might not reject Him as our Savior, but when God doesn't answer our prayers according to our will, we may subtly ignore His lordship in our lives, choosing to try and make things work on our terms rather than waiting for Him to act. We have the daily choice to trust that God's ways are high above our own, and that His way of being king is the best possible thing for us (and for everyone in the world). He has graciously given us His Word so we might know and obey Him, but God does not ask us to understand all that He does. |
Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! |
What He does ask is for us to trust and obey Him even in the midst of our questions, and to rest in the truth that Jesus is Himself our peace.
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Ephesians 2:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
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No circumstance or earthly safety can bring the lasting peace that Christ has won for us through His death and resurrection. His lordship is good, even if it doesn't always look like what we expect it to.
Prayer: Lord, I confess that at times I wish You did things differently. You don't always act the way I expect You to. But today, I choose to reaffirm Your lordship in my life and to trust that Your ways are better than mine. I will obey You even when I don't understand You. I love You. In Jesus' name, amen.
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Prayer: Lord, I confess that at times I wish You did things differently. You don't always act the way I expect You to. But today, I choose to reaffirm Your lordship in my life and to trust that Your ways are better than mine. I will obey You even when I don't understand You. I love You. In Jesus' name, amen.
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