Micah 5:2, commentary and pictures

The verse promises that from Bethlehem Ephratah in Judah, David's city, would come forth the ruler in Israel, the Messiah, Christ the Son of David and Son of God, to shepherd His people. Though Bethlehem is little among the thousands of Judah, it is honored and not least because this infant King is born there. His goings forth are from of old, from everlasting, meaning He lived before His birth in Bethlehem and before creation as a distinct person one with the eternal Father, the self-existent eternal Son. The promise was fulfilled at heaven's fixed hour when God used Caesar's enrollment to bring Mary of David's line from Nazareth to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born in poverty in a stable and laid in a manger, divinity veiled in humanity. The chief priests knew from this prophecy to tell Herod that Christ would be born in Bethlehem, yet Israel's leaders neglected the sign, and many expecting a temporal conqueror stumbled over His lowly birth in supposed Galilee and rejected Him, while humble shepherds and the wise men worshiped Him.

Bethlehem Birthplace Promised

The prophecy minutely specifies Bethlehem Ephratah in Judah, in the land of Judah, David's city, as the place from which the promised ruler would come forth and be born. It identifies Bethlehem in Judah as the birthplace of the Messiah, confirming Bethlehem rather than Galilee as where Christ was to be born. The decree of Caesar Augustus brought Joseph and Mary, who were of David's lineage, from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem, and Jesus descended from David through Mary was born there. The prophecy thus enabled the chief priests and scribes to tell Herod where Christ was to be born.

Though Bethlehem is little among the thousands, clans, towns and princes of Judah, it is honored and not least because the ruler comes from it. Though small and humble, it would be honored as the birthplace of Christ. Though Bethlehem is little, it is not least among the princes of Judah because this ruler comes forth from it to shepherd God's people Israel.

The one to come forth is the ruler, governor and expected King in Israel, the Messiah, Christ, the Son of God and Son of David, the infant King who will shepherd and rule God's people Israel. Out of Bethlehem comes forth the ruler in Israel, the Governor who would rule God's people Israel. The prophecy gave Israel's leaders a clear sign by which they could recognize that the Messiah's coming was near.

He is also the Deliverer from sin, promised as the Desire of all nations. When the weary travelers found no place at the inn and took refuge in a rough building for beasts, the promised ruler was born there as Saviour of the world, the divine Son of God veiled in humanity as a frail, helpless babe cradled in a manger. He is the Prince of life, whose glory will fill the whole earth and whose dominion will endure through all generations, bringing mercy, uplifting the fallen, and bringing joy to desolate places.

Eternal Divine Origin

The declaration that his goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting, from the days of eternity, means he existed before his birth in Bethlehem. His origin is from eternity, before creation, before the earth was made, and before all created things. The ruler promised to come forth from Bethlehem Ephratah is therefore one whose existence reaches back to everlasting.

From eternity he existed as a distinct person yet one with the eternal Father in nature, character and purpose. He was in fellowship with God before the earth was made and before the foundation of the world was laid. He was with God from all eternity as the eternal Son, the surpassing glory of heaven.

The phrase from of old, from the days of eternity describes the self-existent One, the eternal God. Jesus, though an infant when presented at the temple, is this eternal Messiah and the Ancient of Days. This is whom he claimed to be when he said, Before Abraham was, I AM.

His origin is therefore not merely his known human birthplace. Those who thought they knew where Jesus came from were ignorant of his divine origin as the Son of God.

Here the pre-existence of Christ and the purpose of his manifestation to the world are presented as living beams of light from the eternal throne. It is light shining in a dark place to those sitting in darkness and in the region and shadow of death. This truth is in itself infinitely mysterious, enshrined in light unapproachable and incomprehensible, yet it explains other mysterious and otherwise unexplainable truths.

Fulfilment and Human Response

The prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus, descended from David through Mary who was of David's lineage, was born in Bethlehem, David's city, the place in Judah from which Israel's ruler and Governor was to come. By providence God made Caesar Augustus His agent for this, as He had called Cyrus to the throne of the world's empire to set free His captives, so that the tax and enrollment decree brought Joseph and Mary from Nazareth in Galilee to Bethlehem at the time of the birth. The wise men therefore sought the infant King in Bethlehem to worship Him, and His birth there answered Herod's question about where Christ would be born.

His birth took place at an hour fixed in heaven's council and at its determined time despite the long wait. God's purposes know no haste and no delay, like stars keeping their appointed path, and when the great clock of time pointed to that hour Jesus was born, just as Israel left Egypt on the selfsame day appointed for deliverance. Though of the royal line, Joseph and Mary were unrecognized and unhonored in Bethlehem. Weary, homeless and poor, finding no room in the crowded inn, they took refuge in a rude, rough building for beasts, where the Redeemer was born in lowly circumstances as the divine Son veiled in humanity, a frail, helpless babe cradled in a manger, combining divinity with humanity and majesty with lowliness.

The prophecy enabled the chief priests and scribes, who knew their books and prophetic history, to tell Herod where Christ was to be born when he commanded them after strangers from the east asked about the newborn king. Herod knew the prophecy and sent the wise men to Bethlehem to search diligently, and the prophecy used to answer where Christ was to be born identifies Bethlehem in Judah as the place where the ruler in Israel would come forth. Entrusted to Israel's leaders, the prophecy gave a clear sign by which they could recognize that the Messiah's coming and first advent were near and whom the nation was called to welcome. Their failure to discern, know and proclaim it resulted from sinful neglect of the Scriptures.

His coming as a babe fulfilled the prophets' predictions and heaven's counsels and confirmed His word. He came as an offering for sin and pledged to accomplish full salvation for every son and daughter of Adam, though each must accept the gift, and His sacrifice was sufficient and consistent with the justice and honor of God's law, the innocent suffering for the guilty. His eternal divine nature was revealed in the humility of His human life as a servant from an ordinary family and in foretold lowly origins and humiliation, without pomp and power. This fulfilled Scripture, confirmed His character and mission, made Him accessible to all, showed He knew the hardship of poverty, and should have helped people recognize His divine character as the divine Messiah, the Anointed One and Prince of Life.

Many expected a triumphant temporal conqueror and temporal kingdom rather than recognizing Him as the promised Messiah. They overlooked prophecies of humiliation and suffering, misapplied Scripture, and in pride and unbelief took offense and rejected Him. They reasoned from hearsay and false pretenses that He was born in Galilee and asked whether Christ comes out of Galilee, though Jesus was born in Bethlehem, not in Galilee, confirming Bethlehem rather than Galilee as His birthplace. Humble shepherds received and worshiped Him as the newborn King, while those expecting a temporal prince misunderstood the prophecy that He came in humble circumstances combining divinity with humanity.