(the author at the entrance to the cave in Bethlehem - the traditional site of Jesus' birth - now made ornate by the church)
Micah 5:1-4
1Marshal your troops now, city of troops, for a siege is laid against us. They will strike Israel's ruler on the cheek with a rod. 2 "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." 3 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. 4 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.
Calvin abridged: The Prophet was trying to encourage the people to have patience despite the upcoming siege. It is important to see that when the Prophets threaten us with wrath or denounce the punishment we deserve we either become apathetic or grow angry with God and complain. But when the Prophets comfort us, we indulge ourselves and become too secure. It is important that we have both an awareness of God’s wrath and his promises so that we may be ready to endure temporary problems and rely on Him. He calls Jerusalem a “city of troops” meaning that they choose the way of violence; they assemble (troop) together as a gang of thieves gather together for violence, so now troops will besiege them. The Lord was saying that they had been oppressive to others so now they would be oppressed in return (c.f Isa. 33:1). They governors and judges of Israel will be humbled by their enemies- suffering the greatest indignity of being struck on the cheek. But having said all this, the prophet gives them hope (vs. 2). But you, Bethlehem Ephratha, though you are small among the clans of Judah. While God was humbling the proud city and its rulers, he was also lifting up this simple, humble town of Bethlehem. Bethlehem Ephratha is distinguished from another Bethlehem of Zebulon. The word Ephrathah designates an abundance of fruit or provisions, and there David was born. “of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel”- this means that it was not God’s purpose to completely destroy his people- but he would restore them again after a time. The people would not have expected that King David would have come from such a small and simple town. David’s father was a shepherd, his family lived very simply, and David was the humblest in his family. God had surprised them before by bringing a king from humble beginnings, and he would do so again. “Whose origins are from of old, from ancient times”- means from eternity. The rise of a new ruler had long ago been determined by God and was not a sudden event. Some say this refers to the eternal existence of Christ, and I agree with them; but as some will not accept this, I prefer the simpler, immediate meaning: that Christ will not come unexpectedly from Bethlehem, but God had previously determined his coming.
Thought: God is not surprised. It was in God’s plan that the proud would be humbled and the humble would be lifted up. As God took David from the shepherd’s stalls and made him king, so God takes Jesus from the manger in the same town and makes him King of kings. Psalm 78:1 says, “from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people Jacob, of Israel his inheritance.” David himself said, “Who am I, O sovereign Lord, and what is my family, that you have brought me thus far? …and you have spoken to me about the future of my house” 2 Sam. 7:19,20). Micah speaks of this small humble town being lifted up too. Bethlehem meant “house of bread.” It is most appropriate that the bread of life be born there. It is a great reminder for us that God is sovereign. He is the King of kings- and we do not need to panic, nor place our ultimate trust in what the rulers of our world are currently doing. There was so much that had to happen in order for Jesus to be born in Bethlehem. Thousands of miles away, Caesar Augustus, perhaps the greatest emperor of Rome, made a decree. Luke expresses an amazement at God’s leading Jesus’ family in this way so that he would be born in the place that would fulfill the prophecy. Even today you can go to Bethlehem and see what is very probably the place. It was marked by an early church. The place is a cave that was used for keeping animals (they didn’t have many wooden stables in that land - lots of rock and not many trees). Bethlehem is a real city- not a fable. The one whose origins are from of old, intersected life in the most humble way, lived a most humble life, and was lifted up to the highest place. His greatness has indeed reached to the ends of the earth. It is only in the last twenty years that we can say that the gospel has spread to every nation- and there are Christians in each nation of the world today.
Prayer: You are worthy of our praise, O Lord. You lift up the humble. So we humble ourselves before you, that you might lift us up.
12/10-
12/10- Hosea 11:1 - Christ in Egypt
Hosea 11:1-9
1 "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. 2 But the more they were called, the more they went away from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. 3 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. 4 I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them. 5 "Will they not return to Egypt and will not Assyria rule over them because they refuse to repent? 6 Swords will flash in their cities, will destroy the bars of their gates and put an end to their plans. 7 My people are determined to turn from me. Even though they call me God Most High, I will by no means exalt them. 8 "How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboyim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused. 9 I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I devastate Ephraim again. For I am God, and not a human being — the Holy One among you. I will not come against their cities.
[Matthew 2:15 - And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”]
Calvin abridged: God here rebukes the people of Israel for their ingratitude. God had embraced them from the very beginning even when there was no merit or worthiness in them. The birth of the people was their coming out of Egypt. Egypt was like a grave- without a spark of life; and their condition worst than a thousand deaths. His calling them out of this grave of death shows his love before they were even born. Matthew says that this prophecy [“out of Egypt I have called my son”] was fulfilled when Jesus escaped Herod going into and coming back from Egypt. In a way, Matthew has more deeply considered the purpose of God in that Christ’s body (the Church) is mutilated without the Head. It is a proper thing for the Head to experience what the body experienced. God in His wonderful providence intended that his on should come out of Egypt, that he might be a redeemer to the faithful; so he shows that a true, real, and completed deliverance was finally effected when the promised redeemer appeared. As it was the nativity of the people of God in the Old Testament when Egypt was delivered, so it was the full nativity of the Church when Jesus was delivered. Christ is a different kind of Son of God than the people of Israel- for Abraham’s seed was adopted, but Christ is by nature the only- begotten Son of God. The difference in the sonship is also found in that the ingratitude of the posterity of David did not apply to the Christ. They were but types and shadows, but Christ is the real Son of God.
Thoughts: When you read Calvin’s commentaries, something really clear stands out- he did not doubt the scripture as so many commentators do today. Even the good commentaries of today are busy handling the severe doubts by others (like- did Jesus really go into Egypt?). So Calvin focuses clearly on the text itself, and how we can get meaning out of it and apply it to our lives. There was a sense in which all the Church- all those who believe were there with Christ. Paul said this “as in Adam all die, so in Christ have all been made alive.” Theologians called this the “federal headship” of Christ. I just finished watching the movie “Kingdom of Heaven” in which the king of Jerusalem (Baldwin IV) said, “I am Jerusalem.” When the king went out with his army the muslim general sent a message that “Jerusalem has come.” This is an older concept that has been watered down into representation. In certain things the president speaks for or represents America. In some ways the congress votes for all America. In other ways the federal Supreme Court makes the final decision “for” America. So there is a sense in which the Head of the Church represented all of us- going down into Egypt and coming back out. It was another sign that Jesus would be our deliverer- the Passover lamb who takes away the sins of the world.
Prayer: Thank you Lord that you suffered at the hands of kings to show us how to suffer. Thank you that you that you also show us your deliverance and hope.
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