Micah And The Prophesy Of Jesus’s Birth

The birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord, was prophesied of old by many different prophets. One specific prophet even foretold of where He would be born, even the exact town of Bethlehem. This man was Micah, who lived around 700BC. Even the chief priests and scribes of king Herod, who was king when Christ was born, new of this prophesy. And how does this prophesy read? Well, you will find out very soon as you read from Micah, chapter 5, starting with verse 2. It reads, ¹“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. Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.” (Micah 5:2-4) This prophecy is so amazing and surely describes Jesus in great detail. He was born in Bethlehem and is the King of kings, even Israel, and all the earth. It speaks of how He has been around from the beginning of time and will forever reign on earth and heaven above. He acts in the name of His Father, of which the Father abides in Him. Therefore, He is great and mighty to save.

The prophecy of Jesus and His coming into the world is amazing in every detail of it. However, it is that much better, since it was fulfilled with His birth. And as mentioned above, King Herod had scribes and priests that new of this prophesy as well. Even when the wise men came to ask Herod where Jesus would be born, it is recorded that ²“he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.” (Matthew 2:3-6) And so it was that the scribes and chief priests knew very well who would come forth. It was their Messiah, whom they had been waiting for, for centuries now. Now, just because the wise men were searching for the king of the Jews, in order to worship Him, they knew he would be coming but not this soon. However, the wise men were right. And because they found out His birthplace, while following the star in the sky, they found the baby Jesus at last. It was then that they presented their gifts to Him and fell down to worship Him also. This prophesy was fulfilled in Christ the Lord. It is a testament that He is real and has come to save us.

Let us pray:
Oh Lord, I am so grateful that You did come, as prophesied of. You fulfilled the promises to Your people and to all the earth, because You came to save us from our sins. I am so blessed and honored to be a part of Your kingdom and to have You as my King. You are my counselor and ruler of all, of which I love and adore You. There is nothing I’d rather want more than to have you in my life always. Nothing can take Your place, for You are my guide and my Shepherd. You have given me eyes to see, that I may no longer be blinded to the evils of this world, but see them for what they are. I no longer wish to be defiled by such things that will only distance me from You. It is not worth it at all to find please in worldly lusts, while my conscience is seared. Your joy is not worth trading for. I’d rather be filled with Your love, then to have all the riches in this world. Surely, money cannot buy happiness, but only what You can do for our lives. Then are we truly happy. Your peace is what comforts me and helps me cope with deaths in the family, illness and other trials. And especially Lord, since You died for our sins on the cross, I am regenerated through Your blood. You have taken a wretch like me and given me a new life. Now I am forgiven and can live a life of righteousness with the Holy Spirit as my guide. Thank You for Your mercy and grace. I am alive because You are with me. I love You, Lord. Amen.

Let us read the Bible:
Note: Any Numbered References, found above, are listed below.

Micah 5

¹Micah 5 (KJV)
1 Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.
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.
3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.
4 And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.
5 And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.
6 And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders.
7 And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men.
8 And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver.
9 Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.
10 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots:
11 And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strong holds:
12 And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers:
13 Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands.
14 And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so will I destroy thy cities.
15 And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.

Matthew 2

²Matthew 2 (KJV)
1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:
15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men.
17 Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying,
18 In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.
19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
20 Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child’s life.
21 And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.
22 But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:
23 And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.