Bethlehem
Scripture Reading: Micah 3-7; Revelation 15
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from old, from ancient days…
- Micah 5:2 -
First of all, I’m grateful that this part of our Bible reading falls on December 23rd. In the past, I have focused the devotional writing around the theme of Advent during December. This year, since I am following the daily Bible reading plan, I am writing from verses that fall within the scope of the assigned texts. So, I was a little unhappy not to be able to say much about Advent. But here we are!
When the Magi showed up in Jerusalem asking about where the King of the Jews was to be born, Herod asked the priests and scribes. They answered him from Micah and pointed to Bethlehem. That is important because it demonstrates that those alive during the time of Jesus’ birth interpreted this prophetically. They saw it as pointing to the place of the Messiah’s birth and as a statement about a Messiah King that was to come.
These prophecies were and are important. They give us evidence that verifies Jesus’ Messianic claims. He didn’t just appear out of nowhere and claim to be the Messiah without anything other than His word to back it up. He had all of the Old Testament pointing toward Him. It showed who the Messiah would be, what he would do, and even where He was to be born.
The religious leaders of Jesus’ day understood this. This is what Jesus told them later when he said they searched the Scriptures and the Scriptures spoke of Him. It is what he explained to the disciples on the road to Emmaus and later when he appeared to the 11. In both cases, He didn’t merely make a claim, He opened to Scriptures – the Old Testament – and showed them how all that was written therein pointed to Him.
Worship Him who came from Bethlehem. Though it was small, He is great. It had a beginning. He is from old, from ancient days. Jesus Christ, our Savior and God.
