From Bethlehem comes the Ruler

Published by Stanley Pouw in 2016 · 17 December 2016

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” ³Therefore He shall give them up, until the time that she who is in labor has given birth; then the remnant of His brethren shall return to the children of Israel. ⁴And He shall stand and feed His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God; and they shall abide, for now He shall be great to the ends of the earth.”

What is the future for us who believe? Micah was concerned in the same way because of Israel’s sin and God’s judgment. Micah lived when Assyria captured the northern kingdom and took the ten tribes of Israel captive and he knew that this was all God’s judgment. Verse 3 really says, “Therefore God shall give Israel up until the time of the coming of the Messiah, then the remnant of Israel shall return.”

The chief priest and the scribes knew that Micah 5 was a reference to the Messiah. So they told King Herod in Matthew 2 that He will be born in Bethlehem. God always fulfills His promises and so Jesus was born in Bethlehem, even though his mother and Joseph were living in Nazareth when she got pregnant. He had to be born in Bethlehem because He was the Ruler in Micah 5:2.

Micah 5:4 says, “For now He shall be great to the ends of the earth.” The coming King was not just an earthly king, He is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is going to be great all over the world, not just in Israel. But look how God arranges the birth of Jesus.

There is the contrast between how insignificant Bethlehem was and how very significant the Messiah is. Verse 2, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” Ephrathah is a name that means “fruitful.” Why Bethlehem? Because Jesus is of the lineage of David and he was from Bethlehem.

But the point of verse 2 is that Bethlehem is very small. God chooses something small, quiet and out of the way and does something there that changes the course of history and eternity. Why? So that we cannot boast in the achievements of men but only in the mercy of God. God does always what is best, He does not focus on human accomplishments, but He does everything to magnify His own glory and His grace.

1 Corinthians 1:27-30, “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; 28 and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 29 that no flesh should glory in His presence. 30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.”

God chose a stable so that no innkeeper could boast that God chose his inn. God chose a manger so that no one could boast that he build the bed for Jesus. God chose Bethlehem so that no one could boast that the greatness of the city was the reason it was chosen. And God chose you and me to stop us all from boasting that we are so good. This is the reason for Micah 5.

The deepest meaning of the insignificance of Bethlehem is that God does not grant the Messiah and salvation based on our ability or greatness. When God chooses He does that based on His prerogative to magnify His glory and His mercy. So let us say with the angels, “Glory to God in the highest!” We get the joy and He gets all the glory.

Christ assures us of the promises of God. David was the greatest ruler in Israel and was born in Bethlehem and was a man after God’s own heart, and also a shepherd. Micah is reasserting that God’s promise will come true.

Listen to God’s promise to David in 2 Samuel 7:12-13 “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”

Christ will protect us and give us peace. Verse 4, “And He shall stand and feed His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God; and they shall abide, for now He shall be great to the ends of the earth.” Jesus is alert and working for those who trust Him as their shepherd. And He will feed His flock, He will not leave us hungry or thirsty, He will take care of every need that we have.

“He shall be great to the ends of the earth.” Every knee will bow and confess Him as Lord. The whole earth will be filled with His glory. Micah 4:3 says, “He shall judge between many peoples, and rebuke strong nations afar off; they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.”

The message tonight is that the great enemies of sin and judgment still must be defeated for us to have peace. And the gospel at Christmas is that Christ has defeated the enemy, Satan, on the cross, so that “all our sins are cast into the depths of the sea.” Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those whom He is well pleased, Amen? Let us pray.