This audio version of this blog is found on FAB’s Podcast, and the link is here.
When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified—and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”
They told him, “Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly:
It’s you, Bethlehem, in Judah’s land, no longer bringing up the rear. From you will come the leader
who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel.” (Matthew 2:3-6)
~~~~~
The angel Gabriel had brought startling news, to say the least. The band of star scholars traveled untold hundreds (thousands?) of miles to check out the undeniable astrological news of a royal star. Now, another witness to the Best-News-Ever-Story has something to say: the prophet Micah. What do we know about this next one up in the lineup to reveal the Messiah?
First, Micah was a prophet who spoke God’s message of warning to the people of his day, which was eight centuries before Jesus was born. He said that the northern kingdom of Israel would come under the attack of enemies. And that did happen! Assyria took them over in 722 B.C. He had also had a message of hope, as in Micah 2:12-13, where the king referred to will lead his people and “the Lord himself will guide you.” This warning and hope would also be mixed in with a message of judgement and restoration. There would be a Mighty One coming out of Bethlehem, the ancient place known as Ephrathah, who would make that restoration happen. Micah described his origins as being from the distant past (Micah 5:2), and he will be highly honored among the world (Micah 5:4), and he would be the source of peace (Micah 5:5). In the part which Matthew quotes, the one coming out of Bethlehem would be “the leader, who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel.”
There is no indication that Joseph and Mary knew that going to Bethlehem for the birth of the baby was in line with Micah’s prophecy from eight centuries earlier. No record of them saying, “Let’s get to Bethlehem and have the baby because the prophet Micah said…” No. It was their designated destination due to the census. Bethlehem was an out-of-the-way place, “bringing up the rear” of the great places in Judah, as the The Message says in this scripture passage.
Another point about this place of Jesus’ birth, is that it is referred to elsewhere as “the city of David.” It’s ironic to me that the ancient home city of David is also referred to as an unimportant place. I take it to mean that there’s nothing to commend it to the travelogues of 1st century Judah. We aren’t overwhelmed by its history, commercial importance, government activity or recognition as a military fortress, but we simply note the historical tie to David. And that is important, because in King David’s city, another king would be born who was the King greater than all Kings. The time for delivering her baby during this season of required census-taking happened in this non-metropolitan, “least place.” The King of Kings would come out of his mother’s womb, not in the capital city of Jerusalem, where the kings lived! But in Bethlehem, the place “bringing up the rear.”
We wonder if Joseph and Mary knew anyone there, or anything about this place? And though we have no record of it, did they look in the local Yellow Pages for the Bethlehem Midwives Society to see if they would make a stable visit? Did that group get any 5-star reviews for maternity performance? We aren’t told of any trained birthing helpers. You’re on, Joseph! Boil some water! And see if you can find a clean towel. Looks we are on our own. In this out-of-the-way place. Not even a pay phone to call the parents and tell them they are now grandparents. (But maybe we should hold off on the call? This whole pregnancy thing is a little complicated.)
What’s interesting to me is Herod’s question to “the high priests and religion scholars” was “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?” The band of star scholars mentioned “king” and Herod equated that king with the Jewish Messiah, the title which was synonymous with the King of ancient Jewish lore, the one who would be a mighty warrior. “Royal star” equals “king is born” which equals specifically, “the Messiah.” He feared that this Messiah king was going to take over the place.
Though Micah had few words recorded in history, unlike the big headliners Isaiah or Jeremiah, what he did have recorded was enough to point Herod to focus on Bethlehem and its surrounding region. Herod’s response was, “And I’ll tell you I want to join you in worshipping him. (What I’m really planning to do is exterminate him. I don’t do well with rivals to my throne. It’s apparently a serious problem that I have, but I can’t seem to find anyone to fix me.)”
Herod wouldn’t allow even a hint of a rival to his power! He needed to snuff him out right at the start. So, Jewish scholars, tell me where the Jewish king is supposed to be born!
He would take drastic, maniacal action to dispose of the baby boys. One of those in Bethlehem was going to be king. The religion scholars were sure that Bethlehem was the place. The star scholars were sure that one who would be king had been born. Whether famous prophet or not, they had pinpointed the words of Micah as enough for Herod to take action.
Despite the opposition of an earthly king, it is clear that the leader of Israel, the king of kings, was quietly entering the world in a non-descript place in the Judean countryside. The prophet Micah guaranteed it.
And the world would never be the same.
“Father, thank you for recording through Micah the prophet the place of the Messiah’s birth. Thank you for using a small place, an out-of-the way place, to present the One whose teachings and followers would go everywhere throughout the world. You are putting the pieces together in this Christmas story and we marvel at how this all fits. Please help today anyone struggling with belief in Jesus, and encourage them that you have had a marvelous and supernatural plan with them in mind. Maybe they can see just a few of the pieces, or they are suddenly overwhelmed by the way they are stacking up. Give them courage to trust in you.”
Freddy Boswell 