“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. Micah 5:2
Micah’s prophecy spanned the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. Two of them were good, the wickedness of Ahaz was epic. Micah witnessed a corrupt society where the powerful oppressed the marginalized. It was a time of conflict and hostility. God expects kindness, justice and humility. The sins of the people would ultimately lead to destruction, but God would provide a plan of restoration.
One of Micah’s strongest messages was that exile, a consequence of sin, was actually very important to the salvation of the Jewish nation. These people had become incredibly evil, but God would wipe out all their vices, greed, exploitation, dishonesty and sham religious rituals and leave them with nothing but hope. Micah encouraged his hearers to accept their punishment without giving up hope of God’s eventual Glory.
Matthew, the Gospel writer who recorded the nativity story, recognized the birth of Jesus, in a Bethlehem stable, as the fulfillment of Micah’s prophecy. Where the world leaves a path of dysfunction, confusion, and destruction, a tiny baby, the Son of God, would be our peace.
Merry Saturday!
Gretchen