God let Micah in on the Promise

Luke 2:1-7

Micah lived about 25 miles southwest of Jerusalem, we are told God showed Micah the fall of Samaria, Jerusalem’s destruction, the Babylonian captivity and the return from exile, as well as the birth of God’s future Davidic ruler in Bethlehem.  (Thoughts taken from HCSB page 1522)  Do you recall King David and God’s promise to him about his throne?  You will find this in 2 Samuel 7:16, “And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever.”  It is almost 700 years till the birth of the Messiah and God opened the eyes of His prophet Micah to see and record what was to come. "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."

Today we would refer to Bethlehem as a suburb of Jerusalem in that it is only about five miles outside of Jerusalem.  Bethlehem was very small, an insignificant city with this one exception, it was the birthplace of King David.  The Gospel according to Matthew gives this account:  “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”  (Matthew 2:1-2 ESV) 

In the gospel according to John, we have more information on the birthplace of the Messiah.  In John 7 we find the people divided over if Jesus is the Christ or a prophet, and this shows the confusion among this group of where Christ was born.  Picking up the account in verse 41, “Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?” (John 7:41-42 ESV)

Luke 2:1-7 is a story preached and told before the day many refer to as the holiday season, but to all who have been changed, forgiven, redeemed, made new, we call it Christmas, for no one else in all the history of the world has done for mankind what Christ Jesus has done for us.  The great prophet Isaiah who lived from around 740-698 shared this event that would not happen till about 700+ years; “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7 ESV)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice