O Little Town of Bethlehem

Micah 5:2

When we scan news headlines, local or worldwide, we are reminded of the sad reality that our world is in turmoil. We find little to encourage us, wonder when this turmoil will end, and feel that world events may even bring us to an end. The more we pay attention to news headlines, the more anxious and frustrated we can become. So, to decrease anxiety, we may choose to stop listening to news headlines altogether. And, while choice may restore some personal sanity, it does not resolve key underlying questions.

So, a better solution is to focus not on news headlines but on greater biblical truth which gives us hope. That’s what the Christmas season reminds us to do – to refocus on the work that God is doing in the world to triumph over evil and to bring all sad and tragic headlines to a once and final end.

The world was in a similar place when Jesus Christ was born, 2,000 years ago. The Roman Empire had recently overthrown the Greek Empire as the reigning government of known world, overshadowing and threatening Israel’s way of life. Israel had only recently emerged from the Maccabean Revolution, in which they overcame the horrendous cultural and military takeover of the Greek general, Antiochus Epiphanes. They were now overtaxed by the Romans and unable to govern their own political affairs.

And such was the condition of the nation of Israel some 400 years before the birth of Christ, near the end of the Old Testament. The nation of Babylon surrounded the city of Jerusalem in a siege. They would soon demolish the city and take captive its residents, including the final OT king of Israel – Zedekiah. They would not only take him prisoner with his citizens, subjugate the nation, kill Zedekiah’s sons and heirs before his face, and then strike out his eyes.

In the midst of this tragic, ominous time for Israel, God gave a very special prophecy about the future of the nation. A headline, if you will, for the future – a positive headline. Though things looked as though the nation would end, God promised that they would continue, despite their current and oncoming crisis of 400+ years. And this good news hinged on the birth of a very special, unprecedented human being. Let’s take a close look at God’s promise as it was given through the prophet Micah.

A child would be born in Bethlehem.
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah …

Prior to this promise, the prophet Micah acknowledged what was likely the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonian empire as the Babylonians threatened to overthrow them and take them captive. This was a dark, dire time for his people, and they were experiencing these things due to their ongoing, persistent rebellion against God.

Now gather yourself in troops, O daughter of troops; He has laid siege against us; They will strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek. (Mic 5:1)

Then Micah shifts the direction of his message saying, “But you.” This shift introduces something opposite. It introduces something just as encouraging as the siege was discouraging. Just as positive as the circumstances were negative. Just as hopeful as the present situation was hopeless.

After making this shift, Micah singles out a surprising place. If he were going to single out a location, you might expect him to speak of the nation of Israel or perhaps, more specifically, of the city of Jerusalem. Instead, he singles out a place called “Bethlehem Ephrathah,” or Bethlehem for short. He shifts attention from the central, prominent city of Jerusalem to a small, outlying town called Bethlehem.

Bethlehem was a small village of 500-600 people, equal to the population of Audubon, MN or Edgely, ND today. This small village was located about 5 mi. south of Jerusalem, a border-town, a defensive outpost for Southern Judah. What made this village special was that it had been the birthplace of King David, the preeminent king in Israel’s history. But according to this prophecy, he would not be the only king of Israel born in that small town.

Can you see the hope tha this promise would provide? Not only would another king for Israel be born in this small town, but even more importantly, that a king for Israel would be born in this small town meant that even though the nation of Israel would be removed from the land and scattered throughout the world, losing their independence as a nation, the small town of Bethlehem would thrive once again. The end of the nation’s independence would not be forever.

So, who would be born in Bethlehem at this future time?

He would be a ruler.
Yet out of you shall come forth … the One to be Ruler in Israel

He said that a future king, a ruler would be born in this small town. Do you see what this means? It means, again, that the Babylonian captivity would not be the end for Israel. Even though their king was about to be blinded and his heirs were about to be killed, cutting off his branch of the family tree, God would still provide a ruler for Israel from within Israel. The kingship (and kingdom) of Israel would be continued – and from the same place as King David no less.

So, not only would the nation of Israel exist and thrive in their land in the future, on the other side of their coming captivity, but they would have a king once again, as well. They could go into the chaos and turmoil of captivity in Babylon knowing that their nation still had a future in their land and with a king from their own people ruling over them.

He would be a ruler for Yahweh.
Yet out of you shall come forth … … to Me

Now, a future king for Israel would not only be provided, but this king would be superior to all previous kings. If you’ve learned about or studied the kings of Israel and Judah (from Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles), then you know that all the northern kings were ungodly, while all but a few of the southern kings were ungodly.

As you may recall, the nation of Israel was a united kingdom ruled first by King Saul, a failed, ungodly king, then by David and Solomon. After Solomon, the kingdom split into two halves, northern and southern. All total, 19 kings had ruled in succession in the Northern Kingdom and the Bible identifies all 19 of those kings as bad. They worshipped false god and refused to follow God. In the Southern Kingdom of Judah (where Jerusalem was), 19 kings ruled in succession, and the Bible identifies only 4 of those kings as good, and even those 4 kings failed in some way or another. Of these kings, Scripture frequently says, “He did not do what was right in the eyes of the Lord.”

Of only one king did God announce the following glowing endorsement:

I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will do all my will (Acts 13:22)

And even this king, the greatest of them all, failed quite terribly. That’s why Micah’s prophecy here is so incredible. This new king God promised in the future would be born “unto him,” meaning that he would be a ruler who governed and ruled for God. He would be a king who ruled with God’s heart and interests as his own. He would not be like the former kings, who had led Israel into idolatry, immorality, and spiritual failure – resulting in their captivity. He would truly rule for God.

He has made repeated appearances in history.
Whose goings forth are from of old…

Now, here’s an even more remarkable thing about this king. He will have been making repeated appearances in history prior to his birth. In other words, he would not begin to exist at his birth – or more specifically, at his conception. This would be a king who has been “coming and going” throughout history before his birth occurred.

“Whose goings forth are from of old” means that he had been “coming and going” throughout history. Can you imagine in your mind a set of swinging doors, like at the entrance of a saloon in a Western film, or a revolving door, like at the entrance to a fancy hotel today? People come and go through these doors, back and forth. That’s what this king had been doing prior to his birth in Bethlehem. He had been coming and going into and out of the world, making his appearances then stepping away, over and over again.

Can you imagine the mother of this child, giving birth to and holding a person who had somehow been actively involved with the events and people of history? Someone who had been “coming and going” before his birth? Just how long had this future king been coming and going in history?

He has been doing this from the beginning.
From everlasting…

“From everlasting” (or “from time immemorial”). This additional description makes clear that this king had no beginning and had been active within human history from the earliest moments. As we read this, we recognize that this king could be none other than Jesus Christ. Of him, the Apostle John wrote (John 1:3):

“All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”

And the Apostle Paul said this about Christ (Col 1:16-17):

“By Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”

So, this child would be the one who had not only been present at the creation of the world, but himself created the world, mankind, and set history into motion. What an amazing reality this is. What an amazing king this would be!

But did you know that the OT records instances of this coming king “coming and going”? Though numerous clear and even more possible examples exist, let’s take a look at one of the clearest, earliest instances (Gen 16:7-13):

She called the name of Yahweh who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, “Have I also here seen him who sees me?”

In this example, we find Hagar – the Egyptian servant to Abraham’s wife, Sarah – being treated harshly. As a result of her poor treatment by Sarah, she ran away into the wilderness with her son, Ishmael – born to Abraham. Since Ishmael was born due to Abraham’s unbelief and since he was a threat to Abraham and Sarah’s son, Isaac, through whom God’s plan for redemption would come, we might be surprised to find how God responded to Hagar here.

Of note, pay attention to the person called “the Angel of Yahweh.” Notice how he speaks with authority and perception. Notice how he promises to multiply Hagar’s descendants, something no mere angel can do. Notice how he describes the future of Ishmael in clear terms. Then notice how Hagar says that it was the Yahweh himself who spoke with her and called him “You are the God Who Sees.” So, putting these clues together, who was this Angel of Yahweh? It is God himself, the messenger of God, the second person of the Godhead – not the Father but the Son. Here we have an example of Christ himself personally involving himself in the affairs of history to care for Hagar and Ishmael, who themselves would be the ancestors of many Arab people today.

We find other examples of Christ involving himself in the affairs of history this way throughout the Old Testament:

• In Gen 18:1-15, he appeared to Abraham to guarantee the birth of Isaac and also foretell the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
• In Gen 32:24-30, he wrestled with Jacob at night.
• In Exo 3:2-10, he appeared to Moses in the burning bush to assign him the task of leading Israel out from slavery in Egypt.
• In Num 22:22-35, he confronted the false prophet Balaam as he attempted to curse the people of Israel for money.
• In Josh 5:13-15, he appeared to Joshua as “the Commander of the Lord’s Armies” prior to Israel entering the Promised Land and conquering the enemy cities.
• In Judges 13, he appeared to Manoah and his wife to prepare them for the birth of Samson.
• In Dan 3:16-28, appears as a fourth man in the fiery furnace, along with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as they refused to bow down to the Babylonian statue.

These are just some of the notable examples of this coming king’s “comings and goings” from the beginning. Isn’t this amazing? So, he has not only existed eternally, but has been actively and intimately involved in the affairs of human history, stepping into our world and personally involving himself in a hands-on way to bring about the plan of redemption.

As we marvel at these amazing realities of Christ, let’s make three impactful observations.

He personally guides the details of history.

In saying this, I would like to make two related points. First, I highlight that he guides. He guides not only the small details but the big headlines and details as well. The prophet Daniel says this (Dan 2:20-21):

He changes the times and the seasons; he removes kings and raises up kings.

This means that he does not sit back and just let history run its course. If world history were a board game, we might feel as though it was a “dice roll” game, one entirely reliant upon the roll of the dice and the random selection of cards, as in Risk, one in which God sits back and lets things play out by chance, stepping in on rare occasions to make necessary adjustments and course corrections.

Instead, we find that Scripture presents a very different picture. If history were a board game, it would be one with very little chance at all – if any. It would resemble a serious strategy-style game in which actions and gameplay rely upon careful, well-thought-out, well-planned moves and strategies, with God making the ultimate, major moves. So, when an empire changes, a new political leader takes a position, a war is waged and won, that these seemingly random or chaotic chance occurrences are guided by the finger and strategy of God. That’s why Paul says so confidently in Rom 13:1:

“Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.”

In addition to this, we note that he not only guides the affairs of history in a big and sweeping way, but he does so in a personal, intimate way as well whenever and however he chooses. Consider, for instance, the many accounts being reported today from Muslim-speaking nations where it is dangerous and illegal to spread the gospel. In so many accounts, people are sharing instances of what they believe to be Christ himself appearing to them in a dream. In 2018, Pastor Darren Carlson shared this instance:

A friend of mine tells of a Persian migrant who arrived at a refugee center at 6 a.m., visibly upset. He told his story to a Persian pastor: During the night he saw someone dressed in white raise his hand and say, “Stand up and follow me.” The Persian man said, “Who are you?” The man in white replied, “I am the Alpha and the Omega. I’m the way to heaven. No one can go to the Father, except through me.”

He began to ask the Persian pastor: “Who is he? What am I going to do? Why did he ask me to follow him? How shall I go? Tell me.”

In response, the pastor held out his Bible and asked, “Have you seen this before?”

“No,” he replied.

“Do you know what it is?”

“No.”

The pastor then opened to the Book of Revelation: “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.” The man started crying and said, “How can I accept him? How can I follow him?” So, the pastor led him in prayer and peace came over him. The pastor then gave the man a Bible and told him to hide it, since the Muslims in the camps could cause him trouble.

But the man replied, “The Jesus that I met today, he’s more powerful than the Muslims in the camp.” He left and an hour later returned with 10 more Persians and told the pastor, “These people want a Bible.” No one had to teach him an evangelistic strategy.

Stories like this are plentiful. To be sure, not all dreams are legitimate, and examples like this remind us of the importance of being gospel witnesses ourselves who are prepared to point people to Jesus Christ rather than rely upon appearances of Christ. And most importantly, this example if helpful because it aligns with and points to the clear truth of Scripture, not offering additional or new revelation but pointing to biblical revelation from God. Even so, of such things, what should we say? I am reminded of what Christ said to his disciples (Matt 12:22-36): “Would Satan cast out Satan?” In other words, if people are turning to Scripture and turning to Christ alone as God and Savior, then shouldn’t we attribute such instances to the personal, sovereign work of God?

Yes, Jesus Christ from the beginning of time until today is personally guiding the affairs of human history to bring about his intended end and to bring people into a relationship with him. In this we should rejoice and do whatever we can to participate with him!

He does great things through small things.

Who hasn’t learned the value of small things by realizing that large Christmas presents are not always the best or most valuable Christmas presents? As people living in America, we’re conditioned to appreciate things that are big and great. Perhaps because we live in such a vast, spacious country. But for whatever reason, we have a “bigger is better” mentality.

Who has despised the day of small things? (Zech 4:10)

Learn to see not only value but God’s divine fingerprint and grand purpose in the small things of life. Small towns. Lesser-known places. Small acts of kindness. Brief, well-chosen words of purposeful, heartfelt encouragement or advice. Do not underestimate the power of small things.
Perhaps you recall the fascinating story of Gideon’s incredible shrinking army, in the Old Testament book of Judges. As he faced the enemy’s large army, he recruited a force of 32,000 fighting men. But God required him to reduce this army down to 10,000, and then again down to only 300 men.

Our God delights in using small things to accomplish big things, and to use weak things to accomplish strong things. He delights to bring kings into the world through small Bethlehems rather than large Jerusalems.

Consider the power of a small word spoken! This poem, but Helen T. Allison, will help.

One little, unshed raindrop
May think itself too small;
Yet, somewhere, a thirsty flower
Awaits its fall.
One little word, unspoken,
May seem too small to say;
But, somewhere, for that one word,
A heart may pray.

As you get gifts and find ways to bless others this holiday season, let me encourage you to do not only big things but small things. Small, meaningful gifts, small, meaningful words to people who need to hear them. It is not the size or impressiveness of the gift or word, but the divine purpose and involvement that makes the difference.

He is providing the world with a perfect king.

In the New Testament, we find the wise men from the Far East speaking to King Herod in Jerusalem, explaining where Christ would be born. In their explanation, they quote directly from the prophecy we’ve looked at today, Mic 5:2:

They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”

These men recognized that Christ, who had been born in Bethlehem, had come as a King of Israel. He would be a king – the king – who would shepherd God’s people perfectly for God. And now that he has come, we look for him to come again to finish what he started. Just as certainly as he came through his birth in Bethlehem, as the prophet Micah foretold, so he will return to judge all people and to rule and reign forever (Rev 11:15):

“The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

One person has observed:

The mighty Amazon begins as a mere, icy trickle from an Andes glacier.

As the Amazon surges across the torrid wilderness, hundreds of tributaries pour their waters into it. Torrential rains swell the flood. Now the Amazon is no longer a river; it is, instead, a moving inland sea that drains nearly half of South America.

So great is the river’s power that even when it reaches the Atlantic the Amazon refuses to die. It floods the ocean with fresh, muddy water for up to 100 miles offshore.

The miracle God promised and eventually did in the little town of Bethlehem will eventually overwhelm all of the evil in the world and will rule the entire world for God’s glory. Do not look down on the little things that God is doing in the world today!