Micah's Christmas Text

-I suspect that most of you know little about the prophet Micah.

-But you are familiar with the Christmas text of Micah 5:2 where the prophet pinpoints 700 years before Jesus birth the location where the promised Messiah is to be born, namely lowly Bethlehem. We are familiar of its placement in the Christmas narratives. In Matthew two the Jewish religious leaders quoted from Micah 5:2 and 4 in drawing a road map for Herod the Great.

NIV Matthew 2:4 When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. 5 "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: 6 "'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.'"

-The great tragedy was that those religious leaders could draw the map for Herod, but unlike the Magi they had no desire to travel to Bethlehem to worship the new born king. It would be equally tragic if any of you should hear the Word of God and specifically a message from the Christmas text of Micah 5 and not meet it with faith. I take up a Christmas text this morning hopeful of better things for each of you.

-Route

1st-Our Christmas text proclaims that the Bible is the Word of God.

2nd-Our Christmas text proclaims hope for sinners under judgment.

3rd-Our Christmas text proclaims that a great Savior has come