Little But Not Least
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
In December 1914, 5 months into the First World War there was as one day truce along certain parts of the western front on Christmas Day. The reports state that from one trench on the British side they were singing Christmas carols, and on the German side they were also singing Christmas carols. This led to a temporary cease fire among While this wasn’t true of the entire western front it is believed to have occurred in at least a few different areas. There are also reports of areas where the soldiers from the two sides joined in no man’s land played football (soccer), exchange “gifts” of trinkets and souvenirs. Though some believe to be myth there are photographs, newspaper articles from both German and British sides.
In the era of trench warfare, communication was pretty limited among the individual trenches. And yet there seems to be something about the day of Christmas that brought peace. The peace and Christmas are inextricable.
And yet that is a pretty important part to Christmas. Peace in the midst of war. And the text that we are looking at today involve a promise of peace in the midst of war. And even when you consider the origin of the word Gospel, or good news, which conveys the idea of a messenger bringing good news of victory from the battle field. The Gospel is the good news that Jesus has won the victory.
In last week’s text we read that a child would be born, and that his name would be wonderful counselor, mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace - with this text today we will learn of the prophesy concerning where he is to be born. But this text does not merely give us the birthplace of the Messiah, but it also communicates to us his characteristics.
However, much like last week’s text there is some context that we sometime gloss over that helps us to understand who Jesus is. And in the context of the book of Micah, we see a strong foreshadowing of how the birth of this ruler would bring peace in a time of war.
We’re going to look at this text in two different ways… Micah 5:2-4 and at Matthew’s quotation in Matthew 2:6.
And though we will be look at the birth place of Bethlehem we see how though it is a little city is it no means the least among the rulers of Judah.
Micah
Micah
Micah is a pre-exilic prophet. This means that he is prophesying BEFORE the Jews are exiled to Babylon.
prophesying to both Judah and Israel. A significant part of the book of Micah is warning both kingdoms of the coming judgment and calling them to repentance. Some of this language deals with predictions of a return from exile, but also with coming judgment… Assyrian takeover. There’s language of takeover, defeat and victory in Micah. The beginning of this text is
“Muster up your troops.”
Israel is surrounded by troops they are being told to prepare for war. This is a word of comfort in a time of war. But it is also a charge for them to look outside of their own generation.
And yet the encouragement that they are given is seemingly a small one. For them to be told that a ruler were coming from Bethlehem might be like telling someone in Phoenix that the next President is coming from Miami.
Where is Bethlehem?
Bethlehem is in Judah, about miles south of Jerusalem. 6 miles may not sound very far in our day and age of cars and fast travel - but this would have been a little less than a days journey from Jerusalem. So in case anyone was wondering why they didn’t just go 6 miles to find an inn in Jerusalem… also imagine Joseph asking his very pregnant wife to travel another 6 miles by foot or camel… But also the very reason that Joseph and Mary were in the city of Bethlehem was due to the census.
A small, seemingly insignificant city.
When looking at the book of Micah. This is a book that was written about 100+ years before the destruction of the first temple. So for the Ruler of Judah to be born outside of the city of Jerusalem would be odd. The next king would be the son of King in the Davidic line - thus likely born in the palace in Jerusalem. So the reader should then wonder… why isn’t he ruler being coming forth from Jerusalem?
This would suggest that the takeovers and captivity must happen before the Messiah would come. BUT at the same point remember that Bethlehem is the City of David. So this ruler still has a connection to the Davidic line, but not to the capital city in his birth place.
However, this text is not only about a location. But it also conveys to us characteristics of the King.
What’s remarkable here is how closely the characteristics that are given here are to those that Isaiah listed in the text that we looked at last week.
“From of old, from ancient days.”
Micah 5:2b (ESV)
whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.
This doesn’t just mean that he is an old soul, or that he is an old timey person but rather that he is eternal.
This is the same sort of language as the the child born to be called the everlasting ruler. And here again in Micah again the ruler is promised to be eternal.
And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.
The ruler is promised to be a shepherd. Much like David before him, the king is promised to be a shepherd.
In 1 Chr. 11:2 and 2 Sam. 5:2 we read that David was told that he was to be the shepherd this language of course goes back to him growing up as a shepherd - but it also shows us the connection between David and the promise son who will reign forever.
In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’ ”
Though going back to Micah 5:4
And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.
His strength is in the Lord - and majesty of the name of the Lord his God
And they shall dwell secure - which connects to the final aspect of Micah that we will look at today.
And he shall be their peace.
Micah 5:5 (ESV)
And he shall be their peace.
And again in similar language to Isaiah 9 last week, we are told that the Ruler would bring peace. And peace is an important part of the gospel message. As we will see next week, when the angels appear to the shepherds they come declaring a message of peace:
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
The end of Micah’s prophecy about the Messiah here is that he will be their peace. As we discussed last week one of the titles for the messiah is Prince of Peace. A ruler who brings peace and restoration and will rule in peace. Consider peace being spoken to a people who are anticipating war.
This is language of conquering. This is victorious language.
Now I mentioned that we were also going to look at Matthew’s treatment of this text. And what is interesting about Matthew’s quotation is that he changes the Biblical text.
Matthew did what?!
Matthew did what?!
The way he handles prophecy in chapter 2 is quite odd. He quotes things as prophecy that were narrative, he cites something as prophesy that isn’t found in the Old Testament the way he wrote it - and in a shocking choice he seemingly changes words from the Old Testament quotation.
If you want some homework go spend some time looking at Matthew 2 and compare the Old Testament references to how Matthew uses them.
Matthew likely would have been familiar with the LXX, the greek translation of the Old Testament. However, he likely was also familiar with the Hebrew Scriptures as it seems he’s making an odd combination between these two versions of Scripture.
“ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”
Now don’t hear me saying that Matthew is doing anything wrong here - he’s not… You probably shouldn’t do this with the biblical text - but he was guided by the Holy Spirit in his interpretation of these prophecies. Matthew is showing how Jesus fulfills Scripture, but also placing an emphasis that was not there previously.
What does Matthew change?
Well first he cuts off the extended name for Bethlehem. Ephrathah refers to the previous name for the city as used in Genesis referring to Rachel’s burial place. (Genesis 35:19, 48:7)
He instead writes “in the Land of Judah” this might be to clarify that it is Bethlehem in Judah and not in Galilee. I compared Bethlehem to Miami before - and much like Miami there is more than one… However, that’s not the biggest change here…
The major change that happens here in this text is that Matthew adds the words “by no means the least.” which is different than Micah stating that Bethlehem is too little to be among the clans of Judah… now before you grab the hymnal and rip out the music for O Little Town of Bethlehem. Matthew use of this text changes the focus from size to significance. Though it may be a small town, it is by no means insignificant. It is the City of David.
Matthew shows us that Micah is clearly saying where the Messiah would be born. And what sort of messiah he will be. But he also demonstrates that this city is not so small that it is incapable of being the birthplace a savior. And yet a similar attitude is shown toward Nazareth in John 1:46 where Nathanael asks Philip “what good can come from Nazareth?”
Matthew also seems to merge 5:4 into his quotation of 5:2. Focusing on the idea that the Messiah will shepherd his people
The Humility of Jesus
The Humility of Jesus
Bethlehem may be a small city but it is not an insignificant city. We could force some silly application about how sometimes significant things come from unsuspecting places - but that’s not the meaning of the text here. But rather take note of how the Messiah, the Eternal King whose kingdom will have no end humbled himself to be born in an unsuspecting city.
In Philippians 2, Paul explains to us of Jesus’ humility.
Philippians 2:5–11 “Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Remember the humility of Christ - and find yourself humbled as well. Us seeing and reflecting upon the humility of Jesus should also drive us to humility. If Jesus - God incarnate - King from everlasting - can humble himself - be born in a small city, in a manger then we certainly have no reason to boast in our stature.
But this text does not merely show us the humility of Jesus, but also that Jesus is our shepherd and Jesus is our king.
Jesus is our Shepherd King
Jesus is our Shepherd King
John 10 teaches us that Jesus is the good shepherd of the sheep.
Even in our most well known
Jesus is not a dictator. But he is a caring king.
And it’s why the bible calls pastors shepherds, and instructs pastors to be under-shepherds until the Shepherd King returns.
While we often think of Jesus as being Shepherd and we often think of Jesus as being king. These two roles are here to be connected.
He is a king like David one. One who shepherds the sheep. And the good shepherd does not lose his sheep.
War is Over
War is Over
Part of the context of this text in Micah, as I mentioned is that God has promised his people that he would send an everlasting ruler who would shepherd his people. A ruler would be be victorious, and bring peace. And yet in the same book they are warned of times of trial, they are warned of war, hardship, persecution that will all occur before this Messiah comes. This is to be a comfort for them. While the coming of the Messiah would happen hundreds of years after this letter - they had a hope to look forward to when the Assyrians began to take over a few months later.
And yet similarly on this side of the advent of Jesus, we might find ourselves in similar situations. The Holidays can be hard. Some of you have lost loved ones this year and it will be the first Christmas without them - and others just in recent or not so recent years - and every little tradition hurts. Things that you used to do with them, or they used to do for you or the family. Movies you would watch, songs that they would sing. And suddenly the most wonderful time of year doesn’t feel like that - and instead of decking the halls with boughs of holly, you find yourself singing Elvis’ Blue Christmas instead.
Yet the Christmas message is one that brings great joy even in the midst of sorrow. Even as the recipients of Micah would soon begin to be brought into exile, and within 150 years see the temple destroyed - they had a message that they could take comfort in- God has promised his king is coming. And God always keeps his promises. They were able to take comfort in a victory that they were promised even if they did not see that victory in their life time. And Matthew shows us that King did come humbly in a manger in Bethlehem. Matthew writing to a people who were inhabited by another nation - they were under Roman rule - still looking for the Messiah to come and conquer Rome and yet the victory that Jesus brings is much greater. He brings a victory over sin and death.
And that King will come again - in his second coming he will come wrath and with vengeance - he will end sin. And he will wipe away every tear.
The War is Over… and I’m not referring to that John Lennon protest song… Jesus has won, to him belongs the victory. Jesus wins.
Though the town of Bethlehem was little - the birth that happens in that little town makes the town to be of great significance.