The Coming King

THE COMING KING

(Micah 5:1-5a)

5:1 "Now muster yourselves in troops, daughter of troops;
          They have laid siege against us;
          With a rod they will smite the judge of Israel on the cheek.

2 "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
          Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
          From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.
          His goings forth are from long ago,
          From the days of eternity."

3 Therefore He will give them up until the time
          When she who is in labor has borne a child.
          Then the remainder of His brethren
          Will return to the sons of Israel.

4 And He will arise and shepherd His flock
          In the strength of the LORD,
          In the majesty of the name of the LORD His God.
          And they will remain,
          Because at that time He will be great
          To the ends of the earth.

5 This One will be our peace.

PURPOSE:

A Christmas lesson discussing one of the OT prophecies about the coming of the Messiah

AUDIENCE:

Audience: Youth/young adult

INTRODUCTION:

Today, I want us to look at a passage that is usually quoted only around Christmas. Most of you know the story of the Magi. We commonly call them wise men. These men, “mentioned in Daniel 2:12 included three classes,

1. astrologers,
2. Chaldeans, and
3. soothsayers.

The word in the original (hakamim) probably means "medicine men. In Chaldea medicine was only a branch of magic.” The "wise men" who sought out Christ were magi who traveled from the East, Persia or Arabia, specifically, to Jerusalem (Easton’s). “Among the ancients, the appearance of a star or comet was regarded as an omen of some remarkable event. Many such appearances are recorded by the Roman historians at the birth or death of distinguished men. Thus, they say, that at the death of Julius Caesar a comet appeared in the heavens, and shone seven days. These wise men also considered this as an evidence that the long-expected Prince was born. It is possible that they had been led to this belief by the prophecy of Balaam, #Nu 24:17, "There shall come a star out of Jacob, (Barnes)”

These Magi inquired of Herod where the Messiah would be born.

Then Herod summoned the chief priests and asked them where the Messiah would be born. To answer this question, they quoted Micah 5:2 “But as for you Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel, His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.”

Then the Magi found Jesus is a stable in Bethlehem, worshipped him, and because of a vision from God, bypassed Jerusalem on their way home. Herod became furious and killed all male two-year-olds and under in Bethlehem.

We are going to start our study of Micah 5 at verse 2. The first verse of chapter 5 in our English Bibles is actually the last verse of chapter 4 in the Hebrew Bible. Feinberg prefers the chapter the Hebrew division since 5:1 seems to go hand in hand with 4:9 in referring to the absence of a king in Israel which would shortly come to pass (172). Also 5:2 introduces a contrast between the horrible fate of Israel’s king and the glorious emerging to the Ruler that would come from the very little city of Bethlehem. The main thrust of this chapter seems to be a contrast between the king that is and soon will not be and the king who is not yet but soon would be. Our purpose today is not to contrast the two (although some contrast will be given), but rather to examine the information this passage gives us about this future deliverer.

I. The Place of his coming (5:2)

    The place where the Messiah would be born would not be the capital city of Israel. Nor would it be a social or economic center. Bethlehem was a relatively small town about five miles south of Jerusalem. It was located in the region of Ephrathah known for its fertile hills and valleys. “Bethlehem was the burial place of Rachel, the wife of Jacob…the original home of Naomi…the setting for much of the book of Ruth…the ancestral home of David…and was rebuilt and fortified by King Rehoboam. The most important Old Testament figure associated with Bethlehem was David, Israel’s greatest king. At Bethlehem Samuel anointed David as Saul’s successor. Although David made Jerusalem his capital city, he never lost his love for Bethlehem…IT is significant that the King of kings who, was of the house of David was born in David’s ancestral home.”

II. The Time of his coming (5:3)

    Israel would in part be abandoned until the coming of the Messiah. Though not clear from the passage, historically the fulfillment has been split into two parts, the former occurring at his first coming and the latter at his second. Christ was born in Bethlehem of a woman during his first coming. But not until his second coming will all of the members of Israel again be united as one. At the time of his first coming, the northern coming was still in captivity. Only the southern has ever thus far been back in the land.

III. The Effects of his coming (5:4-5a)

    There are several key circumstances which will take place at the coming of the Messiah. These will clearly be fulfilled during his second rather than his first coming. They are as follows:
        • Israel will be granted a leader.
            o He will lead in God’s strength.
            o He will lead in God’s name.
        • Israel will remain in the land, i.e., they will never again be removed by force.
            o The cause: The leader will be known throughout the world and will have great

power.
o The consequence: The leader will be a source of peace for Israel.

CONCLUSION:

The Messiah has come. Part of this prophecy has been fulfilled. He was born in Bethlehem. But most of has yet to come to pass. One day the Messiah will come again and restore the nation of Israel to its former glory. He will provide peace and effective leadership. He will rule the earth with an iron fist.

APPLICATION:

We must realize that God is not done with Israel. He made a covenant with them which he will not ignore. At the end of the church age he will again work among the children of Israel. If he were to break his promise to Israel, how could we be sure he’d keep his promises to us?

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lockyer, Herbert, Sr. (Ed.) Illustrated Dictionary of the Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1986, p. 52

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