“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; Who goings forth have been from old, from everlasting (from the days of eternity, Newberry).” Micah 5:2 KJV
“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.” Micah 5:2 NASB
The Prophecy
Micah prophesied approximately 700 years before Christ. We would find it astonishing if a person could predict major events even a week before they happen. But God gave His servant a prophecy 700 years earlier to identify the place where His Son would be born. It served as an advance of the fragmentary revelations God had been planting along the corridor of time.
It began with the promise to Eve (Gen 3:15), then it centered in Abraham (Gen 22:17), went to Judah (Gen 49:10), and then to David (2 Sam 7:12). Then He specified the vehicle as a virgin (Isa 7:14), here the place, Bethlehem, and finally in Daniel, the time (Dan 9). How good and kind of God to prepare His people for the coming of their Messiah and King.
The Place
Inconspicuous, insignificant Bethlehem! Birthplace of Israel’s greatest King — David. Yet the verse tells us it was least among the thousands of Judah. There was another Bethlehem, much closer to Nazareth and a far easier journey for Mary in her expectant condition. But it was to this inconsequential city that the steps of Joseph and Mary were directed. They did not have a star to guide them. It was the edict of Caesar Augustus. Bowing to the power of the reigning authority, this godly couple made their way to the city of David.
God had foretold the place at which the nation could expect the advent of their Messiah. He moved the superpower of the day, Caesar, to fulfill His Word.
Bethlehem is here spoken of as “least” in Judah; yet when we arrive at Matthew 2:6, the Spirit of God, employing the Septuagint version, says, “not the least.” The birth of the Saviour changed the status of this lowly city forever.
The Person
He would come forth from the womb of a virgin, but in reality, His goings forth had been from the days of eternity! The ancient of days chose to become an infant of days. The One Whom the heaven of heavens could not contain chose to be contained in human form. He not only chose to become a Man, but He chose to become a Man for all eternity! He chose to become a Man so that He could experience death. His humanity and deity all confirmed by the Spirit of God in this one verse of Scripture.
“Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see. Hail the incarnate deity.”
The mighty Creator of the universe came into His creation as a dependent and “vulnerable” infant yet maintained His deity and attributes in all their fullness. The great wonder of the downstooping of the God of heaven can only move us to worship!
The Position
This babe, Who came forth from the womb of the virgin, was destined to be Ruler in Israel. David’s Root and David’s Heir will one day ascend the throne and assume universal rule. Yet, He chose to come as a babe, grow as every other human being has grown, and ultimately endure rejection by His own nation. He left earth impaled to a tree and wearing a crown of thorns. How thrilling to know that the next time He enters the city of Jerusalem, it will be not to the song of drunkards but to the chorus of the nation (Ps 24). He will enter it to receive a throne and a crown of glory.
Consider:
Note how the Spirit of God narrows the field of choices as He progressively reveals more of the coming of the Christ in His prophecies.
