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Bethlehem Ephrathah: Jesus Lord at Thy Birth!
Over the past few years there has been increasing interest about our ancestry, heritage and genealogy. People are keen to discover where they were born, who they are related to and where their origins lie. Internet sites enable individuals to trace their family tree and this may strengthen their sense of identity. Television documentaries reveal the results of DNA tests to determine whether one is from Anglo-Saxon or Celtic stock.
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Scripture is extensive concerning genealogies and particularly the ones that really matter. Genesis 5 mentions the patriarchs from Adam to Noah. Almost half of 1 Chronicles accounts for the tribes of Israel and Abraham's other offspring via Hagar and Keturah. Matthew 1 provides the family line of Joseph's descendants back to Abraham and Luke 3 lists Mary's lineage all the way back to Adam.
For now though, let us take a survey of what Matthew Henry considered the most important single prophecy in the Old Testament.
‘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.' (Micah 5:2)
Henry writes, ‘It distinguishes his human birth from his existing from eternity; it foretells the rejection of the Israelites and Jews for a season, their final restoration, and the universal peace to prevail through the whole earth in the latter days. In the mean time let us trust our Shepherd's care and power. If he permits the assault of our enemies, he will supply helpers and assistance for us'
Why Bethlehem?
There are two Bethlehem's, one is five miles south of Jerusalem and the other is located in the Zebulun region. Today Bethlehem Ephrathah is surrounded by hills and valleys and at the time no one tried to raise its status despite the fact that it was the birthplace of the Lord Jesus Christ! Numerous other important events have occurred there despite its otherwise lowly reputation.
The name ‘Bethlehem' means house of bread and ‘Eprathah', fruitfulness. Jesus is the bread of life (John 6:35, 48) and is also the true vine. (John 15:1) Rachel was buried there, (Gen 35:19) though in Joshua 15 when the list of over one hundred cities of Judah were conquered it doesn't even get a mention!
And what of King David? A seemingly insignificant young shepherd and sandwich delivery boy for his brothers, the youngest of Jesse's sons was raised there also. David of course was a type of Christ, the Shepherd and later King, born in Bethlehem. For the believer then, there is the encouragement that God uses the seemingly insignificant in miraculous ways.
Whose goings forth are from of old from everlasting
The credentials of the Messiah are listed here and the plan of redemption goes way back and commences where the first prophecy, the prototype in Genesis 3:15 left off. As detailed in other parts of Scripture (Gen 49:10, 2 Samuel 7:12-17) the Saviour of Israel would arise from the tribe of Judah and rule forever.
In Herod's era, when Jesus was born, Matthew 2:5-6 cites Micah 5:2 and misquotes it deliberately. Herod gathered the chief priests and the scribes enquiring where the Messiah was to be born. Herod was an Edomite, an enemy of the descendants of Jacob, the Israelites. Those appointed were professional scholars who knew their Old Testament, yet in recalling the prophecy they carried out some editing. Concerning ‘the Ruler' they omitted ‘Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.'
In the Hebrew ‘old' refers to the forepart, aforetime, ancient, eternal and everlasting. Similarly ‘everlasting means‘ always, outlived, perpetual, everlasting and eternal. Any cult denying the deity of Christ will experience difficulty in explaining that one!
The scholars and scribes should have been overjoyed! Prophecy was being fulfilled before their eyes, the awaited expectation of the Messiah had become a reality, yet it was too much to ask to journey five miles south to worship the King! These same scholars hated the Roman authorities yet they were men pleasers, more concerned with pleasing Herod than God!
The One to be Ruler
Just like Pharaoh and Haman, Herod planned to kill all the Hebrew boys, though on this occasion under the guise of pretending to worship the Messiah. Effectively he was attempting to either delay or annul prophecy. Inadvertently though he played a unique part in fulfilling another three, since the One destined to be Ruler would rule.
Firstly, Joseph was warned in a dream not to return to Herod, so Joseph, Mary and Jesus fled to Egypt until the death of Herod, fulfilling the prophecy, ‘Out of Egypt I have called My Son.' (Numbers 24:8, Hosea 11:1)
Secondly, when Herod butchered the young innocents, Matthew recalled, ‘Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet saying: A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more' (Matthew 2:17-18, c.f. Jeremiah 31:15)
Thirdly, ‘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" (Matthew 2:23)
On reflection then, like David or other residents of Bethlehem, believers may feel insignificant, but in fact that is certainly not the case as they are the apple of His eye (Zechariah 2:8) Furthermore the heritage and origin of the Messiah was demonstrated conclusively as Herod's plans were foiled and prophecy was fulfilled. Finally God frequently uses the seemingly insignificant for His greater purposes and for His glory! |
