Friday, January 24, 2014

Sermon: The Place of His Coming (Mic 5:2)

The Place of His Coming (Mic 5:2)
Dr. Paul Manuel—2013

If someone were to ask: How do you know the Bible is reliable, how do you justify the prominent role it plays in your life? You could respond in a number of ways.
  • You could appeal to the historicity of the Bible, that the evidence of archaeology (e.g., Mesha Stone) and the testimony of other ancient documents (e.g., Lachish Letters) support what the Bible records.
  • You could appeal to the stability of the Bible, that the biblical manuscripts have been transmitted for thousands of years with surprisingly few alterations (e.g., in the Dead Sea scrolls).
  • You could also appeal to the prophecy of the Bible, that several predictions the authors made have come to pass (e.g., Judah's 70-year exile, the ascension of Cyrus).
One particular aspect of prophecy concerns Old Testament predictions of the messiah, like those we will be examining in our next sermon series, passages that describe his advent before he actually arrives on the scene. These texts all refer to an event that did not occur in the lifetime of the biblical author who first told about it. Some of these events have even yet to occur; they are in our future as well. They all depict an individual whom God will send to deliver His people Israel and, by reason of our being "grafted in" to Israel (Rom 11:17), to deliver us as well.

Unfortunately, passages that refer to events in our future are not very helpful in attesting the Bible's reliability to others...at least, not yet. There are some predictions, however, that have come to pass and to which we can appeal in support of the Bible and of our conviction that Jesus is the messiah. We will consider both kinds in this series of messages, predictions that look back from where we are now and predictions that look forward from where we are now.

These prophecies do not identify the messiah by name, so we must make that determination by comparing what they say about him with what we see in someone's life. We are Christians (or Messianists) because we believe that Jesus is the messiah. There is, indeed, strong evidence for this identification, strong enough for you to base your life on it, but the connection is not without difficulties, which is why most Jews have not made the same identification. Consequently, we must face these difficulties, not ignore them.

In this series, we will examine eight Major Old Testament Prophecies of the Coming Messiah, considering what they tell us about the one God has chosen to redeem His people, in particular addressing the main question each prophecy answers.

(Note: This sermon is the first in the series. As other become available I intend to link them below.)

I. "The Place of His Coming" (Mic 5:2) answers the question...
  • Where will the messiah first appear?
II. "The Ministry of His Coming" (Isa 52:13-53:12) answers the question...
  • Why would God send the messiah on a fatal mission?
III. "The Offices of His Coming" (Ps 110) answers the question...
  • What role does the messiah play in God's plan?
IV. "The Prominence of His Coming" (Dan 7:9-14) answers the question...
  • What are the unusual events that surround and culminate in his advent?
V. "The Opposition of His Coming" (Ps 2) answers the question...
  • How will those in power respond to one who commands greater power?
VI. "The Effect of His Coming" (Isa 11:1-10) answers the question...
  • What will the messiah accomplish when he begins to reign?
VII. "The Mourning of His Coming" (Zech 12-14) answers the question...
  • Why is his arrival the cause of great sadness among God's people?
VIII. "The Joy of His Coming" (Isa 9:1-7) answers the question...
  • Why is his arrival the cause of great rejoicing among God's people?
Because these eight texts describe the same person, they often overlap, reiterating similar themes. This is not because there is little to say about him; rather, the repetition highlights what God considers most important for you to know about the messiah.

This time of year can be very stressful, especially given the extra activities that often attend the holiday—cooking, hosting, and, of course, shopping.
As Christmas approaches, and the hunt begins for the perfect present to give one's spouse, it is important to pay attention to clues. Jeff wanted to find something appropriate for his wife Karen, a busy mother of five boys, who frequently did her own maintenance jobs in their home. One day, after hours on a ladder painting the ceiling of the living room, she mentioned to him that she had felt dizzy. Perhaps this was the clue he needed. So, for Christmas...he got her some scaffolding.
It is important to pay attention to clues, such as the one God gave about the messiah and The Place of His Coming.

The prophet Micah ministers to the Southern Kingdom of Judah when Assyria is the dominant superpower. The Babylonian exile is over one hundred years away, but the sin that leads to it is already evident in Judean society, especially among the leaders:1 Micah depicts them as shepherds who are devouring their own flock.2 God is not pleased with these leaders, and He pronounces their judgment in...
Mic 3:12 ...because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill [will turn into] a mound overgrown with thickets.
This is not good news for Judah. God will use a foreign invader to devastate the country and send His people into exile. Even Jerusalem—the nation's most important city and the place where God Himself dwells—will be destroyed. It seems that God is finished with His people. Then, in chapter 4, Micah jumps ahead and speaks about the future.
Mic 4:1 In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it.
How is this possible, Micah? You just finished saying there will be no government, the temple will be destroyed, and the people will be taken into exile? Will God start over with someone else,3 or will He simply rule alone?

Please turn to Mic 5:2, a prophecy in which God explains something about His plan. It comes at a low point in the nation's history, when the survival of God's people is in doubt. Assyria had already defeated and exiled the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and Babylon is threatening the same to the Southern Kingdom of Judah. At this low point, God offers encouragement to His people, including us. He will yet rule through a messianic representative different from all God's representatives, the kings of Judah, who have come before and, in the process...
  • God will restore the dynasty of David.
The prophecy begins by describing the messiah's place of origin...
Mic 5:2a But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah,
Notice that...

A. God does not value something by its stature.

The hymn, "O Little Town of Bethlehem," describes it well. Bethlehem was a small village that, despite its association with David's family, does not figure prominently in the biblical text, appearing only 52 times. No great events occurred there, the ark of the covenant never resided there, and the town had no strategic or economic importance.

Jerusalem (cf. 4:8), in contrast, is the most prominent city in scripture, appearing more than 800 times. It is considerably larger and with a tradition dating back to the time of Abraham.4 David chose it as the seat of his government. More importantly, God chose it as the permanent site of His sanctuary, where He would manifest His presence. Surely, that is the best place for the messiah to be born.., but bigger is not necessarily better with God.5
1. He is not as concerned as we are with size and significance.
a. He did not choose Israel because it was a great nation;6
b. He did not choose us because we are great people;7 likewise,
c. He did not choose Bethlehem because it was a great city.
That is because...
2. He can use modest resources to accomplish tremendous good.
a. He gave the scriptures through the small nation of Israel;8
b. He gives the gospel through us today; and, in between,
c. He gave the messiah through the little town of Bethlehem.
Here, we see that an insignificant village can acquire a prominence in God's plan far beyond its size.9 Micah wants his audience, including us, to recognize that God does not value something by its stature.

Sometimes you evaluate yourself differently than God does. While there are tasks for which you are not suited, and it is important to know your limitations, you should not assume that God cannot or will not use you simply because others may be better qualified. Paul says that God often prefers weakness in His people to great strength, because your weakness allows Him to display His power more clearly.10 God may present you with an opportunity to serve Him for which you do not feel particularly qualified. It could be teaching a Sabbath School class or giving a children's message. Before you say no, consider the possibility that He may want to use your weakness to display His strength and to accomplish something good. Remember that God does not value something by its stature.

The prophecy continues by describing the messiah's priorities...
Mic 5:2b out of you will come for me
Here we see that...

B. God chooses those who will promote His program.

The leaders of God's people represent Him, so they must rule as He would rule—with justice and righteousness (= the dual characteristics of His kingdom).
  1. God will remove Judah's leaders because they disregard His instructions, as if they were not responsible to Him at all, and...11
  2. God will replace Judah's leaders with a ruler who is obedient, who has God's priorities at heart.
Isaiah, a contemporary of Micah, says the messiah will have characteristics the current leaders lack.12
Isa 11:4 ...with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor...
This is how the messiah will promote God's program, by acting as God would act.

The job of the messiah is already filled, but God is still looking for a few good men and women, leaders who will promote His program, and He offers the attitude of the messiah as a model for such leaders. Jesus said, "I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me" (John 6:38).13 If you have a position of responsibility among God's people, then you should keep this issue ever before you: Does your leadership reflect God's character? That is what He requires. As you represent Him, He expects you to act as He would act, because God chooses those who will promote His program.

The prophecy continues by describing the messiah's position as...
Mic 5:2b one who will be ruler over Israel,
Notice that...

C. God does not forsake His people.

Although God is patient with His people, He does not allow them to reject His will or ignore His warnings with impunity.
  1. He will punish those in Judah for their sin by sending them into exile, but...
  2. God remains committed to the welfare of His people, and He will restore them.14
Some Christians claim that God has given up on the Jews, that they are no longer His chosen people, having been replaced by the Church, so-called "Spiritual Israel." Not only is this notion contrary to scripture,15 it undermines the Christian faith, because if God could discard Israel in favor of the Church, He could one day discard the Church in favor of some other group (e.g., Muslims). Fortunately, that is not the case, which is why this is one of the most encouraging aspects of prophetic literature. If God will not forsake Israel, despite the nation's sin, it gives hope that He will not forsake you when you sin. He may discipline and even punish, but because you are also one of His people, He will remain committed to your welfare. When you turn to Him in repentance, you can be confident that He will accept you,16 because God does not forsake His people.

The prophecy concludes by describing the messiah's past...
Mic 5:2b whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.
Here is evidence that...

D. God plans for the future well in advance.

We all plan. It may be to watch a TV program this evening or to eat with a friend next week. It may be for vacation, education, or retirement—something that is years ahead; but we can never be certain of our plans. They depend on circumstances remaining the same or at least remaining predictable, and an unexpected change in circumstances may force us to change our plans. Furthermore, we can plan what to do for the next few hours with more certainty than we can plan for the next few years, because the more time passes the more chance there is for things to turn out differently from what we expect. God, however, has none of our limitations. It does not matter how much things change or how much time passes. His plans remain unaltered, because He exists outside the realm of time and, therefore, knows "the end from the beginning" (Isa 46:10a).17 So, how long has He been planning the messiah's advent? How long ago is "from of old, from ancient times"?18
  1. God may mean that He planned for the messiah to come from Bethlehem when He first established the Davidic dynasty, 300 years before Micah's day or, more likely...
  2. God may mean that He planned for the messiah's coming in eternity past (Henderson 1980:249b; McComiskey 1985:427; Keil n.d.: 1158), even as He planned the messiah's ultimate sacrifice: the lamb...slain from the creation of the world" (Rev 13:8b).
Whatever God intended, He views all events—all of time—at once, so He can see and prepare for what we cannot. God plans for the future well in advance.

One way this difference between God and man manifests itself is how each party views the consequences of sin and righteousness. God is aware of all the ramifications—the effects on your future, as well as the effects on your relationships with others. You do not always see the results, a lack of perspective the enemy tries to exploit. Ignorance of the consequences of sin is one of his most effective ways of tempting you to gratify your desires instead of God's (a strategy the devil has used on man since the garden). Ignorance of the consequences of righteousness is also one of the devil's ploys, often in getting you to do nothing. He takes advantage of the fact that you may not realize something you say or do now might accomplish good later in life, for you or for someone else. Because you do not foresee the results, either of sin or of righteousness, you must maintain a close relationship with God, to heed both the warning of your conscience and the prompting of His Spirit. This helps you to stay on the right path, His path, so that when God plans for the future well in advance, it is your future too.

This prophecy in Micah about the little town of Bethlehem finds its fulfillment in the event we call Christmas.
  • When the messiah came to Bethlehem, he brought spiritual deliverance to His people.
But the prophecy as a whole is not about spiritual deliverance. (There is no mention here, for example, of Jesus' atoning work.) Rather, it is about restoring the nation of Israel and the dynasty of David. In other words, God completed an important step when He brought the messiah to Bethlehem, but He is not finished.
  • When the messiah comes to Jerusalem to reign, he will bring physical deliverance as well.
He will bring physical deliverance for Israel ("from the Assyrian when he invades our land" Mic 5:6b), and he will bring physical deliverance for us. We, too, will have a prominent position in the kingdom. As Paul says,19
2 Tim 2:12a If we endure, we will also reign with him.
Yet, there is even more to physical deliverance, for Paul also says...20
Phil 3:20b ...we eagerly await a savior...the Lord Jesus Christ, who...will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
You see, there is still more to fulfill in this prophecy about The Place of His Coming to a little town called Bethlehem.

For the Bibliography and Endnotes, see the pdf here.

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Relevant and civil comments are welcome. Whether there will be any response depends on whether Dr. Manuel notices them and has the time and inclination to respond or, if not, whether I feel competent to do so.
Jim Skaggs