Mic 5:2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.
Mic 5:3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel.
Mic 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.
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Literal - Beth-lehem Ephratah — (Gen_48:7), or, Beth-lehem Judah; so called to distinguish it from Beth-lehem in Zebulun. It is a few miles southwest of Jerusalem. Beth-lehem means “the house of bread”; Ephratah means “fruitful”: both names referring to the fertility of the region. It was from this insignificant town that the most significant of all the Kings of Israel was born. Here was the town of David. God delights to take what appears to be insignificant and exalt it to greatness. This demonstrates that it is God's power and not anything found in the creation that has the power to save.
This town was so small that in Jos_15:21, it is not enumerated among the cities of Judah; nor in the list in Neh_11:25. Yet from this town of less than a thousand people the great king David was born and the Messiah would come. From this town the ruler or "Shiloh" will come (Genesis 49:10). This great son of David who will born who will become the ultimate ruler of Israel who will bring in ultimate peace.
This ruler who will come out of Bethlehem is described as coming forth from of old and from ancient of days. As Jamieson, Fausset and Brown explain in their commentary:
"goings forth ... from everlasting — The plain antithesis of this clause, to “come forth out of thee” (from Beth-lehem), shows that the eternal generation of the Son is meant. The terms convey the strongest assertion of infinite duration of which the Hebrew language is capable (compare Psa_90:2; Pro_8:22, Pro_8:23; Joh_1:1). Messiah’s generation as man coming forth unto God to do His will on earth is from Beth-lehem; but as Son of God, His goings forth are from everlasting. "
The women in labor is most likely Israel as a people and not only Mary. It is a picture of the nation that is pregnant with God's promise and is in labor to give birth to the Messiah (see Revelation 12). Once this Messiah has been born then their will be a gathering of all the people and they will be regathered into one nation. He will bring the perfect Kingdom of God to the people of God and give to them complete security and peace. One day all Israel will be saved.
This passage like many of the prophecies of Messiah can seem to be saying that his appearing will be sudden and that the Kingdom will be coming in the immediate context. If one reads this passage in the context it seems like the Messiah will come to deliver the people of God from the Assyrians. This did not happen. In fact it is clear from the context of Micah that this is not going to happen for the judgement from Assyria is set.
Some future retribution upon the enemies of God will come with Messiah comes and then they will be safe from all their enemies. Assyria will fall. Its houses, chariots, and idols will perish. Under the preaching of the gospel over the first 400 years of the Christian Church the soceries, carved images, and pillars to idols will all perish. Jesus the Messiah by the preaching of the Word defeated the spiritual forces that fueled the spirit of pagan Assyria.
Because God revealed to the prophets only in a mirror darkly their reflection of what is happening has in a degree of mystery as well as revelation. The long wait between the first and second advent was not clearly seen in the Hebrew Bible. The exact means by which the Messiah would rule was not clearly seen.
As we remember God's keeping of his promise this Christmas by sending Jesus to be the ruler whose coming forth is from old, form ancient of days, let us remember that the Lord of heaven and earth will keep all of the promises that have been given. The end of the story is when the Messiah Jesus will bring to His people security and peace. Messiah Jesus rule over all the earth will be seen and acknowledged. All nations will be discipled and the Kingdom will be seen in all its glory. This should be our joy at Christmas time.
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Christological - Mat 2:1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem,
Mat 2:2 saying, "Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."
Mat 2:3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;
Mat 2:4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.
Mat 2:5 They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
Mat 2:6 "'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.'"
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Moral: We must not doubt God's promises even in the darkest of times.
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Eternal: We are going to experience the perfect kingdom of God manifested in a new heaven and a new earth!
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Prayer: Lord, let me submit my heart to your rule. Rule over me Messiah this day!
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Contemplation: Lord, help me see more clearly your promises and trust in your triumph over all evil.
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Action: What could I do to live more consistently under the rulership of Messiah Jesus today?
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