But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. (Micah 5:2)
Micah prophesied that the “everlasting” God would be born in the little town of Bethlehem, five hundred years before it happened. Even before Micah’s prophecy, we find three Old Testament stories that took place in Bethlehem and all with prophetic implications. In Bethlehem we find, a son with two names, a kinsman redeemer, and an anointed king.
In the Little Town of Bethlehem: There Is A Son With Two Names
And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin. And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. (Genesis 35:18-19)
Rachel, whose name means “lamb”, gave her life delivering a child in Bethlehem. She named him Benoni, meaning “son of my sorrow.” Jacob renamed the baby Benjamin, meaning, “son of my right hand.”
Christ, also born in Bethlehem, was forecasted by the prophets to be both a Suffering Savior (“a Man of Sorrow”, Isaiah 53) and a Ruling Sovereign (“The Son of the Father’s right hand”, Psalms 2; Colossians 3:1). Jesus was a Son with two names.
In the Little Town of Bethlehem: There Is A Kinsman Redeemer.
And Naomi had a kinsman of her husband’s, a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech; and his name was Boaz.” (Ruth 2:1) And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman. (Ruth 3:9)
In the fields of Bethlehem, where “shepherds watched their flocks by night,” a love story took place. A “mighty man of wealth,” Boaz met a Moabite convert to Jehovah named Ruth. She was a stranger from the blessings and promises of God’s chosen people. Boaz, however, being a near kin to her dead husband could redeem her lot and portion in the promise land. Boaz, the mighty man of wealth, was a qualified “kinsman.” Boaz was able and willing to redeem Ruth to be his gentile Bride and restore her back into the kingdom of Israel.
You and I, like Ruth, have been redeemed by our Boaz. The Lord Jesus Christ is our “mighty man of wealth.” Jesus is also our “kinsman.” Jesus born in Bethlehem was born of a virgin (Is. 7:14), born in the flesh, (Heb. 2:17), and born under the law (Gal. 4:4-5). Jesus was qualified, willing, and able to redeem Himself a bride, His Church. Dying for us on the cross he purchased our redemption! Fallen mankind has an opportunity to be restored back into fellowship with God and to enter into all the promises of God.
But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Galatians 4:4-5)
That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. (Eph. 2:12-13)
In The Town Of Bethlehem: There is an Anointed King
And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons. (I Samuel 16:1)
In Bethlehem Samuel anointed David, “a man after God’s own heart,” to be king of Israel. When Samuel poured the anointing oil on David, the Holy Ghost came upon him and empowered him to be king. Prophets, priests, and kings were anointed for their position in Scripture. Anointing was symbolic of God’s appointment to the position and empowerment for the task. The word “Christ” means “Anointed One.” The Heavenly Father anointed His Son with the Holy Spirit at Christ’s baptism by John the Baptist. Jesus is our Prophet, Priest, and King!
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. (Acts 10:38)
God anointed David and He also promised David that he would establish his kingdom for ever. This is called the Davidic covenant (II Samuel 7:8-16) The Messiah would come from the line of David assuming David’s thrown. His rule will be from “everlasting to everlasting.” King Jesus came the first time as a sacrificial lamb, but His next appearance will be as a ruling Lion! (Rev. 5)
“Many babies have become king, but only one King became a baby.” – unknown
Someday very soon, Lord Jesus Christ will come and once and for all bring, “peace on earth and good will toward men.” As we look back this Christmas to Christ’s first coming to the little town Bethlehem. We must look forward to His glorious appearing in the sky and His rule and reign from David’s thrown in Jerusalem.
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)