This post is “Christmas – Day 15”, if you haven’t already read Day 1, please click here.
Please comment below with your own thoughts about each verse and how you will be acting on each thought. Also, if you haven’t yet signed up to receive the notifications of new studies, please do that today (the form is at the bottom of the page).

Christmas – Day 15

Micah 5:2

You, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
are too small to be included among Judah’s cities.
Yet, from you Israel’s future ruler will come for me.
His origins go back to the distant past, to days long ago.

The Thought

Micah 5:2 You, Bethlehem Ephrathah, are too small to be included among Judah’s cities. Yet, from you Israel’s future ruler will come for me. His origins go back to the distant past, to days long ago. Jesus was born in the birthplace of His ancestor King David.

Jesus was born in the birthplace of His ancestor King David, in fulfilment of this Old Testament prophecy. The name Bethlehem means House of Bread which is an interesting link with Jesus referring to Himself as “The Bread of Life” (John 6:35).

Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah and Hosea, and was becoming increasingly aware of the sins of the heathen nations were creeping into the lives of God’s people (Baal worship, child sacrifice, idolatry). At that time, there was an increasing gap between rich and poor and he wrote to make his readers aware of all of this. His words about what God is planning if they don’t return to Him make hard reading as he forewarns of the disaster God is going to send.

The seven short chapters in this book are a passionate description of the miserable state of God’s people, a description of their sin, but also there is much encouragement that change is coming.

Micah’s Prayer

Micah’s short book ends with prayer and praise and affirmation that God will do all the good things He has promised. I quote Micah 7:18-20 here for us to use.

Who is a God like you?
You forgive sin
and overlook the rebellion of your faithful people.
You will not be angry forever,
because you would rather show mercy.
You will again have compassion on us.
You will overcome our wrongdoing.
You will throw all our sins into the deep sea.
You will be faithful to Jacob.
You will have mercy on Abraham
as you swore by an oath to our ancestors long ago.

Action

Can you pray for your nation as Micah did?