Micah 5:2

The message now goes on from one period to another period. The word ‘but’ connects the two periods. When Micah referred to the first period (verse 1), he mainly described the situation in Jerusalem. The enemy’s army would surround Jerusalem then. It would be a time when those enemies would defeat the city’s people.

The message now goes on to mention the town called Bethlehem. *Israel’s people can have hope for future success. And the reason for their hope will come from Bethlehem. Bethlehem has the name ‘Ephrathah’, which means ‘fruitful’. ‘Ephrathah’ was the name of a district in Judah. Bethlehem was in that district. (Look at Psalms 132:6.) The names ‘Bethlehem’, ‘Ephrathah’ and ‘Judah’ remind us about Jesse, David’s father. Jesse was from Ephrathah. He was from Bethlehem in Judah (1 Samuel 17:12). King David’s *descendants have not obeyed God’s laws. They are like a tree that someone has cut down. But from that tree’s roots (from David’s family), a branch (a new King) will grow up. And on that branch, fruit will grow (Isaiah 11:1). In other words, that new King will be successful.

In ancient times, Bethlehem was small. It was the smallest among the families (*Hebrew ‘thousands’) in Judah. (Compare this with 1 Samuel 9:21.) It was not even in the long list that contained Judah’s 115 towns (Joshua 15:20-63). It was very small. It was not important. But the most important person would come from it.

Centuries before, God had told Samuel to go to this small town called Bethlehem. God told him to look for a certain man. Even when that man was born, God had chosen him as the future king. But Samuel did not choose anyone from among Jesse’s older sons. He chose David, the youngest son (1 Samuel 16:1-13). God usually works this way. He chooses the weak things in this world. Often he chooses not to honour wise and strong people (1 Corinthians 1:18-31). The *Messiah that God had promised would come from this little town called Bethlehem. From the least important town would come the most important person.

Today people all over the world know the name Bethlehem. That is because Jesus, the *Messiah, was born there. But earlier, people did not know Bethlehem very well, even at the time when Jesus was born. When King Herod heard about Jesus’ birth, he was worried. All the people in Jerusalem were worried too. The king therefore asked the leaders where Christ (the *Messiah) should be born. They replied that it would be in Bethlehem, in the area called Judea. That was what the *prophet had written. The leaders then repeated part of this verse, Micah 5:2. (Look at Matthew 2:3-6.)

*Israel’s leaders ruled to get their own advantage (Micah 3:1-4). But the *Messiah would come ‘for me’. That means ‘for God’s advantage’. The *Messiah’s origin was in an ancient time. That means a very long time ago. The last words in this verse are ‘in an ancient time’. These words connect the *Messiah with Jesse and with David. They lived a long time before Micah lived.

The words ‘ancient time’ may also refer to a time even before Jesse. Writers in the *Old Testament often use the word ‘old’ to refer to God. We see this idea especially in the Book of Habakkuk. ‘*LORD, you are the God who lives for always’ (Habakkuk 1:12). Jesus Christ existed before all time began (John 1:1-2; John 8:58). The words ‘in an ancient time’ may therefore refer to this truth. Jesus Christ is the God who also was there in the beginning. He is the God who is here now. He is the God who always will be there. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and for always (Hebrews 13:8).

v3 Therefore he (God) will leave his people alone. That will last until the pains because of birth are over. Then the *remnant of the *Israelites will return to *Israel’s people.