Dr. Grant C. Richison
Micah 5:2
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.
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.
This is a prophecy of the place where the Messiah was to be born. Eight centuries before Christ was born, the prophet Micah prophecies the place of his birth.
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah
Note the specificity of the place of Christ’s birth–Bethlehem. Bethlehem is five miles southwest of Jerusalem. It was the birthplace of David (Ruth 1:1,2; 4:11). Though it was an insignificant hamlet, the Messiah will be born there. The scribes and chief priests informed Herod that Bethlehem was the birthplace of the child when he was searching for the Messiah (Matthew 2:3-8).
The One to be Ruler in Israel
The Magi from the east came looking for the one who was to be “king of the Jews” (Matthew 2:1,2).
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.
From everlasting.
The Messiah came from eternity. He is eternal. This is a strong statement about his eternal existence before his birth.
This verse is quoted in Matthew 2:6 as a fulfillment of prophecy.
PRINCIPLE:
We can place confidence in God because he accurately predicts the future.
APPLICATION:
Do you have confidence in the eternal word of God as accurate and true?
