December
18
“But you, Bethlehem Ephratah,
though you are
little
among the thousands of Judah,
yet
out of you shall come forth to me
the
one to be ruler in Israel,
whose
goings forth are from of old,
from
everlasting.”
Micah 5:2
Let’s
break this down a bit. Someone will proceed from Bethlehem and he
will be the ruler of Israel. At first glance, this could be King
David. But no, this is someone greater than David. This One has
existed “from of old, from everlasting,” he is eternal, this is
the Messiah. He was born in Bethlehem, and will return to Israel to
be the King, the ruler of the nation of Israel, and of the whole
world.
“He will be great, and will be called
the
Son of the Highest;
and the Lord
God will give him
the Throne of his father David.
And
he will reign over the house of Jacob
forever, and of his
kingdom there will be no end.”
Luke
1:32-33
When this promise was given to Mary, there was no
Throne of David, Israel was under Roman occupation and rule. So this
prophecy is yet future and foresees a time of restoration of the
Kingdom of Israel, with the Messiah, son of Mary, ruling upon this
Throne.
And of HIS Kingdom, truly there will be no end.
