Bible Pathways - Sept. 25, 2008
September 25
Highlights In Today's Reading:
Micah has three main themes: their sins, their destruction, their restoration, but not all in sequence. His greatest prophecy is in Chapter 5 about the Deliverer from Bethlehem, the Messianic King (5:2-5).
The birthplace of our Lord is foretold by Micah 700 years before the event (5:2). Micah was a prophet of God who was led to forecast the day when Christ Himself shall reign and peace shall cover the earth. God led this little known prophet to forecast the birthplace of the Lord who would come into our world as a baby in Bethlehem Ephratah, about six miles southwest of Jerusalem, the exact location of the birth of Jesus Christ. This prophecy was the answer given by the scribes to Herod when he demanded to know where Christ was to be born (Matthew 2:3-6). The Shiloh prophecy designates the Messiah coming through the tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10). Then the Prophet Nathan identified Him as coming from the family of David (II Samuel 7:16-26).
Thou, Bethlehem Ephratah (Micah 5:2) — Bethlehem in Hebrew means "House of Bread" and it is, literally, since Christ, who is the Bread of Life, was born there (John 6:35).
Christ is the Bread of Life that sustains the believer. Jesus, after His 40-day fast, said: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). This means you cannot separate Christ and the words He spoke from the Word of God, from the Bible, all of which is His written Word. Ephratah signifies fruitfulness or abundance, so our Lord not only sustains the believer but He always satisfies.
A significant statement of Micah's prophecy is: Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting (Micah 5:2). This proclaims the deity and eternal existence of the Redeemer King Jesus who said: Before Abraham was, I am (John 8:58). He could not have been the Savior of mankind and suffer for the sins of the world if He had had a sinful nature like everyone else. Because of this, Jesus the Son of God was born without a human father of the Virgin Mary. Therefore, the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary: Thou shalt . . . bring forth a Son, and shalt call His Name JESUS (God is Salvation). . . . and of His Kingdom there shall be no end. . . . (He) shall be called the Son of God (Luke 1:31-35).
Notice the position of Bethlehem is little among the thousands of Judah (Micah 5:2). Bethlehem was an insignificant place. Your life may seem insignificant; but, when you receive Christ as your Savior, your body becomes a Temple of the Living God — and that makes you very important to God. Know ye not that your body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost (Spirit) which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's (I Corinthians 6:19-20).
Thought for Today:
One of my favorite quotes is: “There are no big shots or little shots in God's Word.” No one person is more important than another to God.
Christ Revealed:
As the Ruler in Israel (Micah 5:2). Jesus will not only rule in Israel but the world. She brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations (Revelation 12:5).
Word Studies:
1:16 Make thee bald, and poll thee =b> Shave your head as a sign of sorrow; 2:5 none that shall cast a cord by lot =b> no one is to determine boundaries by lot; 2:7 straitened =b> limited; 2:13 The Breaker refers here to Messiah; 6:9 hear ye the rod =b> obey the rod, the instrument of God's coming judgment.
Prayer Needs:
Pray for International Shortwave Broadcasts in honor of Joshua Belisle's birthday • International Shortwave Broadcasts in honor of Pamie Decker and sponsored by the Name of the Lord Jesus • Staff: Clarence Rathbone • Government Officials: Rep. Jerry Costello (IL), Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (FL), Sec. Robert Gates (Dept. of Defense), Rep. Doris Matsui (CA), and Rep. Gregory Meeks (NY) • Country: Greenland (60,000) northeast of Canada • Major languages: Eskimo dialects and Danish • Religious freedom • 98% Protestant; .1% Roman Catholic • Prayer Suggestion: Ask the Lord to reveal His perfect will for you (Psa. 25:4).
Memory Verse for the Week: 2 Timothy 2:12
