by Jeanette Leisk
Micah 5:2-5a
2 But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah,
who are one of the little clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to rule in Israel,
whose origin is from of old,
from ancient days.
3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time
when she who is in labor has brought forth;
then the rest of his kindred shall return
to the people of Israel.
4 And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.
And they shall live secure, for now he shall be great
to the ends of the earth;
5 and he shall be the one of peace.
“O Little Town of Bethlehem…”
Bethlehem is an ancient town. The first biblical mention of the town occurs in the book of Genesis. Rachel dies in Ephrathah (Bethlehem) giving birth to her son Benjamin. (Genesis 35:16-19)
It is a sad story and the tomb of Rachel is a pilgrimage spot for Christians, Jews and Muslims alike yet today.
Micah proclaims the word from God that a ruler, the messiah will come from this small town which up until now has been notable only for being a historic place of grief.
“From you (O little town of Bethlehem) shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel…”
Micah promises that God will raise up a great ruler from Bethlehem. This ruler will be great “to the ends of the earth.”
What will make this ruler great? According to Micah this ruler, this messiah, this “anointed one” will be great because he will be like a shepherd.
That must have set Micah’s hearers back on their heels a bit. This messiah, this great ruler, will be like a shepherd?
“Yes,” Micah says. This messiah will be less like a warrior than a shepherd. He will feed his flock. He will provide security and seek peace.
Feed people. Seek peace. That’s what shepherds do. That’s what we who wait for Jesus do as we seek to follow him.