The Wise Men come looking for the new King of the Jews. They didn’t know where He was born, so they went to the place that seemed appropriate, the palace. When they got there, they found out from the religious scholars that the prophet Micah, centuries ago told us that Bethlehem is where the messiah was to be born. O Little Town of Bethlehem. It would be easy to miss if you weren’t paying attention. So, let’s do just that, friends. Let’s read the Bible; let’s pay attention. Let’s see where the Messiah is. And let’s be faithful to follow Him, always.

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Well, good morning! It’s a pleasure to be with you as we continue our exploration of messianic prophecies in the Old Testament. I hope you enjoyed yesterday’s discussion of Isaiah 53—one of my absolute favorite passages.

Before we delve into today’s prophecy, let’s briefly discuss what prophecies are in the Bible. In the New Testament, especially in Matthew’s Gospel, there’s a frequent reference to Old Testament prophecies being fulfilled in the life of Jesus. This is a distinctive way that Christians read the New Testament, searching for connections to Jesus in the Old Testament.

Prophecies in the Bible have a dual nature. While many are future-oriented, foretelling events that would come to pass, not all prophecies in the Old Testament are exclusively future-focused. Some also serve as messages from God delivered by prophets to address the immediate concerns of the people. As Christians, we approach the New Testament with an expectation of finding Jesus in the Old Testament.

Now, let’s turn our attention to today’s prophecy, starting with Micah 5:2:

“But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from old, from ancient days.”

This prophecy foretells the birthplace of a ruler who will emerge from Bethlehem, a small town in Judea.

Now, let’s move to the New Testament and see the fulfillment of this prophecy. We’ll read from Matthew 2:1-6:

“In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men came from the east to Jerusalem, asking, ‘Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising and have come to pay him homage.’ When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, ‘In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet: “And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.”‘

The wise men, guided by a star, arrived in Jerusalem seeking the newborn king of the Jews. King Herod, disturbed by this news, consulted with the religious leaders who pointed him to the prophecy in Micah. They quoted the passage, affirming that Bethlehem would be the birthplace of the promised ruler.

This story unfolds the importance of paying attention to both the Word of God and the signs in the world. The wise men, unfamiliar with the Scriptures, followed the star and sought the Messiah in Jerusalem. On the other hand, the religious leaders, versed in the Scriptures, correctly identified Bethlehem as the birthplace but failed to recognize the signs and nearly missed the Messiah.

The challenge for us is to be both rooted in the Word and attentive to the signs around us. Just as Bethlehem could have been easily missed, Jesus, too, might be overlooked if we aren’t paying attention.

So, let’s read the Bible and be attentive to God’s leading in our lives. By doing so, we might encounter the Messiah where He is. Thank you for joining me on this journey through messianic prophecies, and I look forward to exploring more with you tomorrow. Have a wonderful day!