In telling us how they replied to King Herod’s question about where Jesus would be born, Matthew quotes the chief priests and teachers of the law (Matt 2:5-6). The chief priests and teachers themselves are quoting Micah, who is himself quoting the Lord, “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’”
What Micah actually said is a bit more comprehensive in it’s entirety; “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.”
Knowing the fuller context of what Micah said is key to understanding the full impact of what is happening in Matthew’s account. The King of the Jews to be born will not be a regular king. Micah is announcing that this king will appear after a time of apparent abandonment (and at the time of Matthew’s day, there had not been a prophet in Israel with God’s words for some four hundred years) – a king who will gather the rest of Israel (that is, the dispersion) back, and will then rule not only Israel, but the whole world.
Of course, that’s all a revelation to Herod, and quite likely to most who read Matthew’s account. It was always there, but anyone who didn’t know all that God had said would’ve thought that Bethlehem was a small town with no real significance. Anyone who did know what God had said would’ve understood that this small place would become the birthplace of the King of Kings. That’s a widely different viewpoint – a viewpoint that can only seen with God’s words in mind.
People sometimes think their lives are meaningless and small. But we are made in His image, and He did not design us for an eternity of small things. What we do is significant, because who we are is significant. The very fact that we are made in His image is testimony to that.
We might not think we are significant at the present moment, because we have not yet understood all that God has spoken over us or about us. But such things will be revealed in His good time. Just as God once said to a young man named Jeremiah, “I chose you before I formed you in the womb; I set you apart before you were born.” If we know Him, we can know that He likewise chose us, for “from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
“There is no one who is insignificant in the purpose of God.”
Alistar Begg
APPLICATION: Worship
Spend some time in quiet worship of Him.