An Honored Town

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Book of Micah
You remember that when the wise men came from lands east to Jerusalem to see the young Child horn to be the Great King, no one could tell them where to find Him. The ruler of the city did not know and sent for the men who had the Scriptures; they read from the writing of Micah the name of the town front which God had said the Great Ruler would come, These were the words they read, which God had told Micah to write as though to the town itself:
“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 of old, from everlasting.” Micah 5:22But 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. (Micah 5:2).
Bethlehem was a few miles south of Jerusalem and even then an old town; it was first called Ephratah, and both names were given to be sure the right place was known (Gen. 35:1919And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. (Genesis 35:19)).
The wise men went to Bethlehem, and God caused a special star to shine over the place where the Child Jesus was, so they knew He was the One to be the Great King, and they worshiped Him.
That was about 700 years after Micah wrote the words, which shows that the coming of that holy One to earth had been planned long before; other prophets also told of Him, but Micah was the only one to give the place of His birth.
Notice also the last part of the verse: the Great Ruler to come had been “from everlasting”. That Child the wise men saw was not like any other, but was from everlasting—, had always lived. He was the Son of God who left Heaven and took the form of a child. But the leaders of that land did not want Him to be King, they fulfilled other words told to Micah, “They shall smite the Judge (Ruler) of Israel with a rod upon His cheek.” Micah 5:11Now 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. (Micah 5:1). They did still greater evil, they had Him put to death. But God raised. Him, and He now waits until God will send Him to take the rule over Israel and all the earth, as promised in the prophets.
There are now great factories to make war weapons, and many men are taught their use every nation feels the terrors of war. How different the time of peace which Micah was told to write about, after “many peoples and strong nations are judged!”
Micah told of God’s great mercy to Israel, and His mercy is also for all who now believe on His Son: “Thou wilt cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:1919He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. (Micah 7:19).
Read the story of the wise men (Matthew 2:1-121Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2Saying, 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. 3When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born. 5And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea: for thus it is written by the prophet, 6And 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. 7Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. 8And 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. 9When 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. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11And 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. 12And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. (Matthew 2:1‑12)).
ML 09/13/1942