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. 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. 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. And he shall be their peace. (Micah 5:2–5a).
“O Little Town of Bethlehem” is more than the name of a Christmas carol. It’s where God chose to become man. Micah prophesies in Judah during a time of material prosperity but spiritual poverty. The rich oppress the poor. The religious sacrifice without repentance. Micah’s message alternates between warnings of impending judgment for the people’s idolatry and hope for their deliverance through a future king to be born in Bethlehem. The king Micah prophesied about is Jesus, but he isn’t born in the palace to a royal family as kings usually are. He’s born to weary travelers and placed in a feeding trough for animals. His humble birth isn’t announced to dignitaries but shepherds. As Micah predicts, Jesus shepherds his people— but only those who are humble and willing to be led.
Micah reiterates that God isn’t interested in external actions without internal change. God’s desire is for his people “to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). Humility is the first step, which Jesus himself modeled when, “Though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:6–8).
Lord, forgive us for making faith so complicated. Make us aware of your presence and the strength and peace your Holy Spirit is ready and willing to work in us. Have your will, in your way, and in your time.
