Bethlehem

“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying,   “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the East, and have come to worship him.”  When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him;  and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.  They told him,  “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet:  ‘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 govern my people Israel.’” Matt. 2:1-6

This prophecy comes from the book of Micah.  Micah is a book of typology.

“But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.  Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in travail has brought forth; then the rest of his brethren shall return to the people of Israel. And he shall stand and feed 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.” Mic. 5:2 -4

Interesting Side Note: The whole of Micah and this prophecy is about Israel and Judah as well as the Church.  Just as God judged the two nations, Israel and Judah [type]; so He will judge the church [anti-type]; [note: we have two main denominations, Catholic and Protestant].  In the prophecy one was/ is to be utterly wiped out from the knowledge of men because they have completely left their God and have worshiped pagan deities and the other is to be disciplined for her lack of faithfulness.  But Judah was to have faith because, out of Judah would come the Messiah; Judah’s hope and salvation.  Historically Israel, who had fallen into full fledged pagan worship of Ashtaroth and Baal, has disappeared off the face of the earth while Judah, who also disobeyed but still had some faith was sent into captivity in Babylon and her kings where no more.  Eventually Judah did return to The Land and Messiah did come.

Challenge: This brings us to today or the anti-type of this prophecy, the Catholic and the Protestant Churches.  Read all of Micah and apply it to The Church today.

“And the Lord said,  “Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time?  Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing.  Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.  But if that servant says to himself,  ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk,  the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will punish him, and put him with the unfaithful.  And that servant who knew his master’s will, but did not make ready or act according to his will, shall receive a severe beating.    But he who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, shall receive a light beating. Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required; and of him to whom men commit much they will demand the more.” Luke 12:42:48