The Place of His Birth

Sermon Title: The Place of His Birth

Main Scripture: Micah 5:2

Heavenly Father,

We come before You today with hearts full of gratitude for Your Word, which reveals Your wisdom, faithfulness, and perfect plan. As we gather to study the prophecy of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem, we are reminded of Your sovereignty over all of history and Your incredible love for us, shown in sending Your Son to be our Savior.

Open our minds to understand the depth of Your truth and open our hearts to receive the message You have for us today. Help us to see how every detail in Scripture points to Your glory and Your redemptive purposes. May Your Spirit guide us into greater faith, trust, and obedience as we reflect on the significance of Christ’s birth and what it means for our lives.

We dedicate this time to You, Lord. Be glorified in our worship and in our study. In the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and King, we pray. Amen.

Introduction

God’s Word is precise and intentional, revealing His character, sovereignty, and faithfulness. The prophecy in Micah 5:2 is a powerful example of God’s control over history. Hundreds of years before Christ’s birth, the prophet Micah pinpointed Bethlehem as the Messiah's birthplace. This detail underscores that God is never random or reactive—He is always purposeful and proactive.

Today, we will examine Bethlehem's significance in the plan of redemption, tracing its role in biblical history and its fulfillment in Christ. As we reflect on this small town’s place in the grand narrative of Scripture, we’ll be reminded that God’s plans are perfect, His promises are sure, and His purposes often involve the humble and unexpected. Lets begin by reading Micah 5.2

Micah 5:2 NKJV

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

1. Bethlehem: The Chosen City

In the ancient texts, Bethlehem is identified as a humble town yet holds a significant place in biblical history. This small city was prophesied as the birthplace of the Messiah, highlighting God's choice of the lowly and overlooked to fulfill His grand purposes.

Bethlehem, which means "house of bread," was a small and seemingly insignificant town. Yet, it was chosen by God to be the birthplace of the Messiah. Why?

God chooses the humble and unlikely:

God’s choice of Bethlehem reflects His pattern of working through the small and unexpected to accomplish great things. Paul highlights this truth in 1 Corinthians 1:27-29

1 Corinthians 1:27–29 NKJV

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.

Consider the shepherds in Luke 2:8-12, the first to hear the angelic announcement of Christ’s birth. Like Bethlehem, they were ordinary and overlooked by society, yet they were given the privilege of witnessing God’s glory.

Bethlehem as a foreshadowing of Christ:

Bethlehem was known as a place of provision, a fitting symbol for Jesus, the Bread of Life

John 6:35 NKJV

And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

Just as bread sustains physical life, Christ came to sustain our spiritual lives, offering eternal satisfaction.

2. The Lineage of David

Bethlehem’s significance deepens when we consider its connection to King David.

Just as David once shepherded in Bethlehem before becoming a king, so too did Jesus descend from this lineage, reinforcing that greatness often emerges from the most unexpected places.

The Davidic Covenant:

God’s promise to David in 2 Samuel 7:12-16 established an eternal kingdom:

2 Samuel 7:16 NKJV

And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.” ’ ”

This covenant found its fulfillment in Jesus, born in David’s city, Bethlehem, as a descendant of his royal line. The genealogies in Matthew 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-38 trace Christ’s lineage, affirming His rightful place as the eternal King.

Jesus as the fulfillment of prophecy:

In Revelation 22:16,

Revelation 22:16 NKJV

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

Christ is both the source and the offspring of David, a profound truth that highlights His dual nature. As the root of David, He is the origin and sustainer of David's life and lineage, affirming His deity. As the offspring of David, He is born into David’s line, establishing His humanity. This duality powerfully declares Jesus as the God-Man, as affirmed in 2 Timothy 2:8: “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel.”

Jesus is also called the Bright and Morning Star, the radiant light that signals the dawn. Just as the morning star announces the coming of a new day, so Christ’s return will pierce through the darkness of humanity’s night, ushering in the glorious light of God’s eternal day. His arrival will be the culmination of God’s redemptive plan, bringing hope, restoration, and eternal joy.

A place of divine appointment:

Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem was orchestrated by God through a Roman census (Luke 2:1-7).

What seemed like a political mandate was divinely timed to fulfill prophecy. This demonstrates that God’s sovereignty extends even over earthly rulers and events.

3. The Fulfillment of Prophecy

Micah’s prophecy in Micah 5:2 was fulfilled with stunning precision, as recorded in the New Testament.

The Magi and the chief priests:

When the Magi arrived in Jerusalem, they asked,

Matthew 2:2 NKJV

saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

Herod consulted the chief priests and teachers of the law, who immediately referenced Micah 5:2 to identify Bethlehem as the prophesied birthplace of the Messiah:

Matthew 2:5–6 NKJV

So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, Are not the least among the rulers of Judah; For out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”

Herod’s actions and God’s sovereignty:

Even Herod’s attempt to kill the infant Jesus fulfilled prophecy. His order to kill all male children in Bethlehem led to the fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:15, which foretold Rachel weeping for her children:

Matthew 2:16–18 NKJV

Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: “A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted, Because they are no more.”

Herod’s schemes could not thwart God’s plan; instead, they highlighted His sovereign control.

A reminder of God’s faithfulness:

The fulfillment of this prophecy, along with countless others, underscores the reliability of God’s Word. Isaiah 46:10 declares:

Isaiah 46:10 NKJV

Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’

Deeper Application

The story of Bethlehem invites us to reflect on God’s work in our lives:

God’s plans often defy human expectations:

Just as He chose Bethlehem, God often works through the ordinary and overlooked. Are we willing to trust His plan, even when it seems contrary to worldly wisdom?

God is sovereign over every detail:

From Micah’s prophecy to the Roman census, every detail of Christ’s birth was meticulously planned. Similarly, God is orchestrating the details of our lives for His glory and our good

Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

God values humility:

Jesus, born in a manger in Bethlehem, demonstrated humility from His very first moments on earth Philippians 2:5–8 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”

As His followers, we are called to walk in humility, trusting God to use us for His purposes.

God’s promises are sure:

The fulfillment of Micah 5:2 reminds us that God always keeps His promises. We can rest in the assurance that He will fulfill every word He has spoken, from salvation to His return in glory.

Closing Prayer

Lord, we are humbled and amazed by Your perfect plan, revealed through the prophecy of Bethlehem and fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ. Thank You for showing us that You use the humble and unexpected to accomplish Your purposes. Help us to trust in Your sovereignty, rest in Your promises, and walk in humility, knowing that You are working all things for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.