This morning we turn to Matthew 2 to read together verses 1 through 8. Matthew 2, verses 1 through 8. And then secondly, turning back to Micah 5, reading together verses 1 through the beginning of verse 5. and Micah 5, verse 2 being the text for our consideration this morning. First of all, Matthew 2, beginning at verse 1, reading through verse 8, as we give our attention to the reading of the Word of God. After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him. When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. In Bethlehem in Judea, they replied, For this is what the prophet has written, But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah. For out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel. Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me so that I too may go and worship him. We turn back to Micah chapter 5. Micah 5, beginning at verse 1, through the beginning of verse 5. Marshal your troops, O city of troops, for a siege is laid against us. They will strike Israel's ruler on the cheek with a rod. But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth and he will be their peace. Once again, verse 2. But you, Bethlehem, Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. Beloved congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, as you know at this time of year, many hymns come out of hiding, as it were, that are not sung the rest of the year. Christmas hymns. And I think one of the most favorite and well-loved Christmas carols, especially among the boys and girls, is that one that speaks of the little town of Bethlehem. In fact, no doubt, if I were to ask the boys and girls this morning to sing the first stanza, they would be able to do so by heart. O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by, Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light. The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight. Now, of course, we all know why Mary and Joseph had to go to Bethlehem, don't we? Caesar Augustus issued a decree that all the world should register to pay taxes. A census had to be taken. Boys and girls, that means all the people had to be counted. And everyone, therefore, had to go to his hometown where his family came from to register, to be counted, in order then to pay taxes. And therefore, Joseph and Mary had to go to Bethlehem because as Luke 2 verse 4 says, he, that is Joseph, was of the house and lineage of David. He was from David's family line. Yet, of course, we know that it wasn't by chance that Mary was due to give birth to have the baby while they made that trip to Bethlehem. You see, this was the fullness of time. that Paul speaks of in Galatians 4, verse 4. This was a time that God had ordained from before the foundation of the world in which He would send His only begotten Son. All of this, the census, the trip to Bethlehem, as well as the time for the baby to be born in Bethlehem was planned and orchestrated by God. You see, and it also wasn't just a coincidence that Jesus was born in that little town of Bethlehem and therefore that Bethlehem became a town to be remembered throughout the history of the world. Even as we read from Matthew chapter 2, the chief priests and the scribes make clear in their report to Herod that Bethlehem, although small, was already on the map of history. They quote Micah's prophecy to Herod. And in the same way, in John chapter 7, verse 42, as the crowds were trying to figure out if indeed this Jesus was the Christ, we read, Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the seed of David and from the town of Bethlehem where David was? God chose Bethlehem for a reason. And through the prophet Micah, we see that the Lord foretells of the glory of the little town of Bethlehem. And as we consider this Word of God this morning, consider with me, first of all, the unlikely choice. Second, the promised lineage. And then finally, the providential identity. Now, as with so many of the Old Testament prophets, Micah prophesies both of judgment against God's people as well as the restoration of God's people. Of course, he speaks out against the sin of God's people, as he was called to do. And he speaks against the false prophets which were working to lead God's people astray. Also, in his book, he makes it clear that the near future of God's people at that time, that that near future included captivity. Those who had arrogantly stood against God and against His commandments, those who have abused their privileged position as the chosen people of God, would be brought low. Indeed, they would be humbled. In chapter 4, verse 10, Micah plainly says that they will go to Babylon. Yet he also brings God's word of restoration as in that very same verse in chapter 4. He says, there you will be rescued. There the Lord will redeem you out of the hand of your enemies. And now in the text before us, the Lord Himself through Micah announces the birth and the birthplace of the great ruler to come. But you, Bethlehem, Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah. Now, apparently Ephrathah was an earlier name or an earlier designation for Bethlehem. But it's good for us to understand that Bethlehem was far from unknown to the Israelites. They were familiar with Bethlehem. Rachel, you recall, was buried near there. In Genesis 35, verse 19, we read, So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath, that is, Bethlehem. And you might also recall that Elimelech and Naomi, along with their sons Malan and Kilian, are called Ephrathites of Bethlehem in Ruth chapter 1 verse 2. And then a little later, when Boaz redeems Ruth at the city gate, the people and the elders said, We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman who is coming to your house, like Rachel and Leah, the two who built the house of Israel, and may you prosper in Ephrathah and be famous in Bethlehem. We also know that Bethlehem was located five or six miles from Jerusalem and in some sense served as a good small fortress on the road to Jerusalem, kind of like a guard at the city gate. Yet in spite of these and many more scriptural references to Bethlehem, this town was an unlikely choice to serve as the supplier of a ruler. Certainly in the minds of the people in their low estate of existence in captivity, the help they would need would need to be powerful. A powerful ruler from a powerful city would be what they need to rescue them. And of course, everybody knows that power and authority comes with size and the ability to hold one's own and from the fact that others depend upon you. But you see, beloved, none of that fit Bethlehem. This little town was the opposite. The song does give an accurate description. It didn't have the action of a big city. It was still and quiet. The nights were dark and silent. For the most part, Bethlehem was literally insignificant in Israel. It was a town that needed to be cared for. It was a town that depended upon those who were around it. You see, no one was really dependent upon Bethlehem and what it could provide for them. In the text, again, it is described as small among the clans of Judah. And another translation says, though you are little among the thousands of Judah. Literally, a reference to its small size, but also, I believe we must understand, a reference to its military capability. In the book of Numbers, we read about the divisions in Israel, and we read that each tribe was divided into divisions of 1,000 men each. And according to Numbers 1, verse 6, each division had its own division head. And these divisions continued to exist after they entered Canaan. Now you may recall that Gideon spoke of his clan or division as being the weakest in Manasseh. But places or towns which were too small to form a thousand, the appropriate number by themselves, were then joined with others to make up the right number. And Bethlehem was in that situation. This was a humble little town, void of any ruling power. Bethlehem Ephrathah represented the humility of God's people in her lowest state. Yet the truth is, this humble little town would be exalted. And from her would then come the one upon whom all others must depend. Bethlehem's smallest, beloved, was no obstacle to the Lord. In fact, His plan included that His glory would come from this little town. Yes, in the culture of that day, Bethlehem was an unlikely candidate to produce a king. But with the promise of restoration, the Lord is also reminding His people of the past. As they look forward, they must also look back. And they must be reminded of the promised lineage. Now, boys and girls, when we speak of lineage, we're talking about a family line. Ancestors. You, your parents, your grandparents, your great-grandparents, and the Lord willing the children that the Lord may give to you are all part of your family line, your ancestry. But had these people forgotten what God had raised up from Bethlehem before? Had they forgotten the greatest of their kings, the one whom God called the man after God's own heart? Had they forgotten the promise God made to him? That he would have a son to sit on his throne forever? We mentioned Boaz and Ruth from Bethlehem. And Boaz was the great-grandfather of whom? David. And we know that David was the son of a shepherd. And being the youngest, he himself was considered to be the least in his father's family. David had no reputation. He had no influence. And he wasn't even respected enough to stand with his brothers, Jesse's other sons, in the lineup before Samuel. But God took David. God blessed him with the Spirit of God. God made him great and made him a great ruler and king. In David, God had drawn light out of darkness. In Psalm 89, we read about God's covenant with David. Which points back to 2 Samuel 7, verse 13, where we read, He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of His kingdom forever. But interestingly, Psalm 89 also reminds us that David's sons violated the covenant. They were unfaithful. And that's why God's people would be handed over to the enemy. Yet with the announcement of this ruler to come from Bethlehem, Ephrathah, With this reminder, with this announcement, Israel's eyes were then to be brought back to David. They were to focus once again on God's promise to David. And they were to be comforted that even though His kingship, the kingship of the one to come, even though that kingship would be different than they expected, they were to be comforted that God had not forgotten His people. But instead, he remembered his people in David and he would rescue them from greater captivity through David's greater son. And just as David had been called it by God out of nowhere from humble surroundings and raised to the throne, another was to come forth out of humble surroundings and poverty and rise to even greater heights. Boys and girls, we sing about that in one of the carols too, don't we? Away in a manger, no crib for a bed. Beloved, the Messiah was to come from the least likely place in the least likely way. All to picture His humiliation of Himself. He left His throne in glory to come and live among a sinful world for a time. Yet this same ruler that the Lord speaks of through Micah would be exalted by God to the highest place. He would be given the name which is above every name. Every knee shall bow before Him, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. And congregation, this ruler himself would be the glory of the little town of Bethlehem. And through Him, God would bring light to a sin-darkened world. And this then is further described in His providential identity. Notice the second part of our text again. Now once again, Micah contrasts the exaltedness of this coming ruler with the devastation that would first take place, that would first come upon Israel. In the second part of verse 1 we read, They will strike Israel's ruler on the cheek with a rod. And this is a way of saying that God's people would be completely overtaken with no one to rule them, no one to lead them, no one to fight for them. Even their leadership would fail. But the ruler of the Lord would come from God to speak in His name. His coming would serve the plan of God and His coming would be intimately connected with the promotion of God's kingdom. Beloved, what comfort for God's chosen people. That the one to be ruler in Israel wouldn't be just anyone, but he would be the one appointed and sent by God. The one, as Isaiah 61 verse 1 says, upon whom the Spirit of the Lord rested. From the little town of Bethlehem would come the ruler from David's line who would rule justly, who would rule in all truth and righteousness, who would truly bring peace. And we need to understand that there is a bit of a paradox here. Boys and girls, that means kind of a contradiction when two things are included, but they don't seem to fit together. This ruler, as the text says, is to go forth from Bethlehem, Ephrathah, yet the text says, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. He is to go forth from Bethlehem, Yet the truth is, He is before Bethlehem. You see, Micah is referring here to the ruler's divine nature, as does Isaiah in chapter 9. Isaiah chapter 9, when he describes Him as wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. And it's not that the Lord through Micah gives a clear revelation of the God-man, one person, two natures, divine and human. That would be more clearly revealed later. But he does point to the mystery of Christmas. That more than a child is born. And by God's grace, we know the very Son of God. God Himself. In our day, in the history of redemption, we know that this ruler, as John 1 verse 1 says, was in the beginning with God and was God. And this ruler would be different than God's people expected. In John 18, verse 36, Jesus told Pilate, My kingdom is not of this world. Yet even on earth He demonstrated that He is the Almighty ruler as the winds and the seas obeyed Him, as legions of demons were forced to submit to Him, as sickness and death followed His command. But you see, beloved, his rule would also be providential and that he would provide for his people. Verse 4 says, He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord. Now we know that in Scripture, God's people are described as sheep. And as I mentioned earlier in the earlier service, that's really not a compliment to you and I, is it? Sheep aren't very bright. In fact, we would say they're stupid. They get caught in places where they're not supposed to be. They get lost easily. They can't find their way home. They need to be fed. They need to be cared for. They need to be protected from danger. And we know that a shepherd cares for his sheep. He makes sure indeed that they are well fed and protected from danger. And by sending forth a Messiah from Bethlehem Ephrathah, God was telling His people that this is what this ruler would do for them. You see, it's interesting that the word Bethlehem comes from the Hebrew meaning house of bread. And Ephrathah comes from the Hebrew meaning the fertile ones or the fruitful. Bethlehem was located on a small ridge with slopes surrounding it going down into the valleys. And the area surrounding Bethlehem has been described as abounding in fields, vineyards, hills, valleys, olive yards, fig trees, and especially supported by wines and corn. But it's interesting. It's providential that from Bethlehem, the house of bread, the very bread of life would come forth. You recall that we celebrated that last week as we joined together around the communion table to celebrate the Lord's Supper. And Jesus Himself says in John 6, I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. Jesus Christ gave Himself, He gave His life in order that those who partake of His broken body and shed blood by grace through faith would be nourished and strengthened unto eternal life with reconciliation and peace with God. He is the bread of life who restores life to His people in fellowship with Almighty God. He has paid the penalty for the sins of His people. He has rescued His people from eternal captivity and He cleanses His people unto spotlessness as He will one day present His bride perfect to His Father. In Spurgeon's morning and evening devotions this past week on December 5, he commented on the words, ask and it will be given unto you. And he talked about the fact that in his day, at least in England, there existed a hospital that was called St. Cross Hospital. And he said, whoever went to that hospital and knocked on the door would be offered bread without even asking. They would be offered bread, absolutely anyone. And of course, then he made the comparison then that Jesus Christ has established his own Holy Cross Hospital. Whoever comes to him is fed with the bread of life. But there's more. As Spurgeon said, there's also a bath there. Those who come, each one stained through and through with sin, receive a bath, cleansed, spotless, white as snow. But there's more. Not only is there bread and a bath, but clothing. And not just any kind of garment of clothing, but for God's people, soldiers in the army of Christ, the army of God. Jesus Christ, the bread of life, provides that for His people. And therefore, He also feeds His people unto fruitfulness. Just as in Ephrathah much fruit was brought forth, in the same way God brings forth the fruit of His people in Jesus Christ. And He transforms broken, fruitless lives in the spiritually fruitful fields. Beloved, does that describe you? You see, we need to understand that these two necessarily go hand in hand. They cannot be separated. One cannot be fruitful unless they have first feasted on the bread of life. And one who has feasted on the bread of life, For Him, it's impossible not to bring forth fruit. When Jesus Christ was born, and even as He lived and died on this earth, He, like Bethlehem, looked humble and ordinary and insignificant. And just like this little town that was dependent upon others, our Lord was despised and rejected by men. But from this little town called the House of Bread came forth the Savior of the world. indeed, beloved, in Bethlehem's dark streets shone the everlasting light. From this little town which had no ruling power and no authority would come one with all power and all authority given in heaven and on earth, this very one called the King of kings and the Lord of lords. And his rule would be to do the will of God to the praise and glory of God, to reconcile the world to God, and to rule and behead over true Israel. The church, our Lord, has accomplished His work. And He lives and reigns today over His people. Beloved, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ rules faithfully and feeds and nourishes His church unto faithfulness and fruitfulness. Bethlehem Ephrathah pointed to God's faithfulness to His covenant promise through His Christ. And it represents His care of His people unto eternal life. But for those who reject the Savior and the call to repentance and faith, to them, Bethlehem, Ephrathah, is a reminder of something else. It's a reminder that apart from the bread of life, apart from the glory of Bethlehem, there is no glory. There will be no glory. But only eternal gloom and destruction. Eternal life, beloved, is only through the bread of life. And Bethlehem's glory is the church's eternal bridegroom. And congregation, as we meditate on this eternal ruler, born in the little town of Bethlehem, as we do that every day of our lives, and every Lord's Day, but specifically and more directly during this season of the year, As we do that, may we be filled with awe at God's grace. And indeed, may we come and adore Him, Christ the Lord. Amen. Shall we pray? Dear Heavenly Father, with grateful hearts, we are brought to our knees again in humility, being reminded of our greatest need. The fact that we could not nourish ourselves unto salvation, we could do nothing. But You have provided completely and fully in Jesus Christ, our Lord. And Father, as we consider the birth of Jesus Christ, may we also consider with that His death, resurrection, His ascension, His rule at the right hand of God, even at this time. Our Father, we recognize that apart from His crucifixion and death, His birth means nothing. As well, His death and resurrection would not have taken place apart from His coming to this earth. Father, we praise You for sending Your only begotten Son to give us life and to give it abundantly. If there should be even one here this morning who has not feasted on the Lord Jesus Christ, Father, humble that one. Humble that one in a knowledge of their sin and misery and their need for salvation, their need for the bread of life. Bring them, Father, to Your throne. Bring them to that feast and nourish them unto eternity with the promise that indeed they will enjoy everlasting life. We thank You for Your promise. We thank You for Your Word. In Jesus' name we pray these things. Amen. Thank you.