KJV Micah 5:2 “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.”
NASB Micah 5:2 “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.”
The Progress of Revelation
In the Old Testament, the Spirit of God slowly but carefully reveals truth concerning the advent of the Christ. He is preparing the nation, supplying detail after detail so that His identity could not be mistaken.
Amidst Eden’s tragedy, He announced that it would be the Seed of the woman. Then to Abraham, the promise is made through a covenant that it would be through his seed. That covenant promise is renewed to Isaac and Jacob. The latter confirms the promise to his son, Judah.
We wait perhaps 600 years to receive the next piece of information when King David and his lineage are selected to be the family through whom Messiah would come. Another 300 years elapse, and Isaiah adds that it will be through a virgin birth. Micah’s contribution is to tell us of the location, Bethlehem, and Daniel, in his prophecy of seventy weeks, gives us a timeline.
The Person Revealed
Micah, in revealing the location of His birth, affords us far more; he gives us a full-length portrait of the coming Messiah. He informs us of —
His Humanity — There is to be a place of birth, an actual advent into the human family, that will be Bethlehem.
His Humility — The only person Who ever came into the world who could choose and control his parentage and place of birth chose peasant parents and the village of Bethlehem, a village “little among the thousands in Judah.” He did not seek earthly fame or attention by entering via a prominent name or place.
His Deity — Though born in a non-descriptive village, this very One would have been of old from the days of eternity. His eternal character and existence are assured by this description. His eternal Sonship is seen in His own statement, “I came forth from the Father and am come into the world” (John 16:28).
His Piety — “Shall come forth unto Me.” Here is the One Who brought, moment by moment, infinite pleasure to God. In Micah’s prophecy, the nation of Israel is seen as bringing grief to God. Here was One Who was the “servant … in Whom My soul delights” (Isaiah 42:1, 2). He came forth “unto” God, a life lived for His pleasure and delight. He was a dependent babe, a devoted Son, a diligent Servant.
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His Royalty — He will be ruler in Israel. He will be a King Who reigns in righteousness. While good men ascended the throne of Judah at times, none will so occupy it with the righteous character of this ruler.
His Ministry — He will rule as a shepherd. Here is God’s ideal for a ruler — the Shepherd character reflecting His heart and care. Then, and only then, will Israel be able to take up the words of Psalm 23 and sing that Psalm with a full appreciation for all it means.
His Victory — Prosperity and victory are assured (vv 6-8). The invading Assyrian (perhaps Ezekiel 38, 39) will be no match for this ruler.
What Micah did not foresee in his prophecy is Calvary.
Consider:
What did the other Minor Prophets contribute to our knowledge about the coming and character of Christ?