" ... the God of my rock; in Him will I trust: He is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence." (II Samuel 22:3)
"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. But thou, Beth-lehem 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." (Micah 5:1)
The last post highlighted a few of the many prophecies pointing to the birth of God our Saviour -- the Lord Jesus Christ. Indeed, as mentioned previously, the evidence that Jesus is the promised Messiah is overwhelming. Indeed, many associate Micah's prophecy as the most important single prophecy in the Old Testament.
For example, when Herod the king asked the scribes and teachers of the law about the location of Jesus' birth, they shared Micah's prophecy. (Matthew 2:5-6; Micah 5:2) Herod was likely surprised by the answer, particularly since Bethlehem (the hometown of David) was never considered prestigious, or a city of influence. Even so, God chose Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Messiah -- the place wherein the Saviour would be born. This is confirmed in Micah 5:2, which states, "But thou, Beth-lehem 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." (Micah 5:2)
The other point worth noting is that this same Lord (called to be the ruler of Israel) was destined to come forth as a mighty man. (Isaiah 42:13; Isaiah 9:6; Isaiah 7:14) But there is more. This same Jesus was before all things. (Colossians 1:16-17) He was in the world and the world made by Him but the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11)
For those who are surprised by this, it's important to know that the Lord God Himself appeared to numerous individuals in the Old Testament, including Abraham. (Genesis 16:7-13; Genesis 32:24-32; Joshua 5:13-15; Judges 6:11-24; Daniel 3) Mary the mother of Jesus acknowledged the "holy thing" within her womb as "God my Saviour." (Luke 1:47) And in Revelation, we recognize the risen Jesus as both Lord and Christ; the King of kings and Lord of lords; the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the ending. (Acts 2:36; Revelation 1:8, 11)
The Emmanuel, being interpreted, God with us. (Matthew 1:21-23)
"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (I Timothy 3:16)
In summary then, the first six verses of Micah 5 foretells of the birth of Jesus, and the later adoption and conversion of the Gentiles. The remainder of the chapter speaks to the triumphs of Israel. Similarly, like Daniel's prophecies, Micah speaks of events that will happen both in the near future and off in the distance. We know that God said that Israel would never enter into His rest until the time when Israel would acknowledge His sacrifice on the cross. (Acts 20:28) Thus, we now know why there would be 430 years of silence. We also know why we all need a Saviour.
Matthew Henry, a Biblical commentator, reaffirms Micah's prophecy as critical to our understanding because "it respects the personal character of the Messiah, and the discoveries of Himself to the world. It distinguishes His human birth from His existing from eternity; it foretells the rejection of the Israelites and Jews for a season, their final restoration, and the universal peace to prevail through the whole earth in the latter days."
So much more to learn in the days ahead. For now, stand in the offering plate.
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