SERMON 142: MICAH PROPHESIED BETHLEHEM
Germaine Charles Lockwood

In the Bible we can read the book of Micah. Micah was a prophet of God during the days of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. That was between 739 and 686 B.C.E. God spoke through Micah. Listen to what Micah wrote about himself in:

Micah 3:8: But truly I am full of power by the Spirit of the LORD. And of justice and might, To declare to Jacob his transgression And to Israel his sin. Micah 3:8.

Yes, Micah spoke and wrote by the power of the Spirit of the LORD.

I walked by a synagogue and saw engraved on the building:

Micah 6:8: . . . And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8.
 
God foretold through Micah about the One to be ruler in Israel.

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 have been from of Old, From everlasting.” Micah 5:2.

Yes, God foretold about 700 B.C.E. that a ruler in Israel would come forth to God from Bethlehem in Judah. Who is this king that would come forth to God from Bethlehem in Judah? 

Jacob buried his beloved wife Rachel on the way to Bethlehem. Genesis 35:19. Naomi, Ruth, and Boaz lived in Bethlehem. We know Bethlehem as the village of David and his father Jesse. 1 Samuel 17. 

David was king in Israel about 3OO years before Micah prophesied. Bethlehem is about 8 kilometers south of Jerusalem. God foretold through His prophet Micah that another king would come forth to God from Bethlehem of Judah, the One to be ruler in Israel.  Who is this ruler in Israel that was prophesied in Micah 5:2? 

We read that “His goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” Micah 5:2. His goings forth are from everlasting. Therefore His existence is from everlasting. 

We read about the work of this king in:

Micah 5:4: 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; Micah 5:4.

This ruler in Israel would have a flock. This king would feed His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD His God. His flock, His people would abide. This king in Israel would be great to the ends of the earth. Who is this ruler, this king in Israel who would be great to the ends of the earth? Has this been fulfilled in history? Which ruler in Israel has fulfilled this prophecy? Which king in Israel has been great to the ends of the earth? Which king’s goings forth have been from everlasting? It was not Solomon. Also, Solomon did not come out of Bethlehem. And Solomon lived long before Micah prophesied. 
 
One time wise men from the east, called magi, came to Jerusalem. They asked:

saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”  When Herod the king heard these things, he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ, (the Messiah) was to be born. So 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.’” Matthew 2:2-6.

Did you notice the chief priests and scribes of Jerusalem quoted Micah 5:2, the prophecy that we have been looking at together? Yes, the chief priests and scribes of Jerusalem knew and believed that Micah 5:2 was about Messiah, Mashiach, the Lord’s anointed ruler, the king of the Jews. It is interesting that King Herod asked the chief priests and scribes where the Christ, the Messiah, was to be born. Herod knew that the wise men from the east, the magi, were asking about Messiah. The magi had asked, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?” Yes, King Herod knew that Messiah was to be born. Messiah was expected by Israel. They were waiting for Messiah. It was time for Messiah to be born. They knew that God had foretold by Micah the prophet that Messiah would be born in Bethlehem of Judah. The ruler in Israel of Micah 5:2 is Messiah. His goings forth are from everlasting. He is great to the ends of the earth. He feeds His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD His God; and they shall abide. Is Messiah your king? Do you know Him? Are you in His flock? Are you in His eternal kingdom?

The descendant of King David who was born in Bethlehem is Jesus the Messiah, Yeshua HaMashiakh. He fulfilled the prophecy of Micah 5:2-4. His kingdom is to the ends of the earth. His kingdom shall abide forever, in the heavenly New Jerusalem.

Let us also look at Micah 4: l, 2, which is a prophecy about the kingdom of Messiah:

Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the LORD’S house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And peoples shall flow to it. Many nations shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways,  And we shall walk in His paths.” For out of Zion the law shall go forth, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” Micah 4:1, 2.

Yes, peoples of many nations have become citizens of Messiah’s Kingdom. They learn His ways and walk in His paths. The New Covenant, the law of Messiah has gone forth out of Zion. The word of the LORD has gone forth from Jerusalem to all the world. The Day of Judgment is coming. Jesus Messiah the king will be your judge. Will you be in His eternal kingdom in the heavenly New Jerusalem? You can be. Believe in Messiah Jesus now. Put your faith, your trust in Him. Turn away from sin. Repent now while you can. Confess your faith in Jesus Messiah the Son of God. And be immersed in water, baptized; buried with Messiah in baptism into death, that just as Messiah was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so you can be raised up to walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4. Listen to:

Acts 2:36 and 38: “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:36 and 38.

God loves you. God sent His Son to this earth to pay the price for our redemption. He died for our sins according to the scriptures. He was buried. Jesus Messiah rose on the third day according to the scriptures. He is the only sacrifice for your sins. Only His blood can take away your sins. Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. John 1:29. Jesus Messiah invites you to come to Him now. Jesus said in:

Matthew 11:28-30: Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30.

 ‘And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ Acts 22:16. Amen!