Christmas Songs - Come Jesus - Micah 5:1-5a and 7:18-20 - December 6, 2009

Bible Study – Christmas Songs – Come Jesus – December 6, 2009

This begins a new series of study entitled “God’s Christmas Songs.”

We will study scripture in Micah, Luke and Philippians during the next four (4) weeks. These scriptures form the foundation for the songs we sing at Christmas:

December 6 – Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus – Micah 5:1-5a; 7:18-20.
December 13 – Joy to the World – Luke 1:46-55.
December 20 – Go, Tell it on the Mountain – Luke 1:67-79.
December 27 – Hark! The Herald Angels Sing – Philippians 2:5-11.

The message that is presented though these scriptures is what is important. This is especially true and relevant today as our nation faces its spiritual identity. Will we, as a nation, continue to serve the true GOD or will we compromise our Christian foundation.

This is not to single out other religions but we are living in a time when we as Christians must take a stand and not compromise. Freedom to worship as you choose is a right but when the minority religions dictate what the majority can and cannot do, something is wrong. If we, as Christians, went to another country that worships Buda or Mohammad and we told them they could not do such and such in their country to worship, what do you think they would do? They would not compromise and change. I would not expect them to change because that is the way the majority choose to worship. I expect the same in America. People of other religions have the freedom to worship in America but our rights are violated when they try to restrict our worship of GOD through CHRIST.

The Prophet Micah’s ministry was from about 735 to 700 B.C. He pointed out the sins of the people and the consequences for their sins. He also preached mercy and forgiveness through the promised Messiah.

The message of Micah inspired Charles Wesley, the brother of John Wesley, to pen the words to the song “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus.” The words to the song are:

Come, Thou long-expected Jesus,
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us;
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of ev’ry nation,
Joy of ev’ry longing heart. (1)

(1) “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus,” Charles Wesley, The Baptist Hymnal [Nashville: Convention Press, 1991], No. 77.

Let’s read Micah 5:1-3:

From Defeated Ruler to Conquering King

1 [1] Mc 4:14 in Hb Now daughter [who is]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. under attack, you slash yourself [in grief]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. ; a siege is set against us! They are striking the judge of Israel on the cheek with a rod. 2 [2] Mc 5:1 in Hb Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; One will come from you to be ruler over Israel for Me.[3] 2 Ch 7:18; Isa 11:1; Mt 2:6 His origin[4] Lit His going out is from antiquity, from eternity.[5] Or from ancient times 3 Therefore, He will abandon them until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of His brothers will return to the people of Israel.[6] Mc 4:6–7

Bible scholars believe that the reference to daughter is a reference to Jerusalem. The enemies surrounding Jerusalem will defeat the ruling earthly kings. Their defeat will be a testimony against GOD, because those who defeat Israel will consider their gods more powerful.

However, there is Good News. GOD will raise-up a new ruler from Bethlehem Ephrathah. Bethlehem Ephrathah was a small village and means “House of Bread.” The small insignificant in GOD’S hands becomes mighty to accomplish HIS plan and purpose. The promised Messiah would be born in Bethlehem Ephrathah. Verse 2, tells us that HIS origin was from antiquity, from eternity.

Genesis 1:26:

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth,[11] Syr reads sky, and over every animal of the land and the creatures that crawl[12] Lit scurry on the earth.”

“US” in Genesis 1:26 is GOD, THE FATHER, GOD, THE SON (JESUS) and GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT or the Trinity. JESUS has been present since the beginning. Therefore, when the Prophet Micah recorded that the Promised ONE or the Messiah would come from antiquity or from eternity, he was speaking of JESUS. JESUS already existed but had not been incarnate in a human body. Why did JESUS have to come to earth in a human body? To fulfill GOD’S plan for the redemption of mankind from the original sin and the penalty from that sin, which is death. Genesis 3:15 gives us more insight into GOD’S plan:

15 I will put hostility between you (Satan) and the woman (flesh), and between your • seed and her seed. He (JESUS) will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.[11] Heb 2:14; 1 Jn 3:8

Genesis 3:15 speaks of the seed of woman or the offspring of woman striking the head of the serpent or Satan. Striking the head is a fatal blow. The seed of woman is JESUS. The seed of woman (the egg) needs to be completed through conception. GOD is the FATHER of JESUS through the miracle of the virgin birth through the HOLY SPIRIT (or Divine Sperm). Woman had sinned and salvation had to come through the seed of woman. GOD energized the egg of Mary and produced HIS SON, JESUS, WHO would defeat Satan and conquer sin and death. The ordinary, the seed of woman, combined with the extraordinary, the HOLY SPIRIT, produced JESUS, the SAVIOR of the world.

The salvation of mankind could not be the result of a completely human solution by Joseph and Mary producing a child. It was a divine solution outside of human effort but within the power and majesty of GOD of which Mary was vital. The Spirit of GOD made alive the seed of woman to produce JESUS WHO was both 100% human and yet 100% divine.

Guess what? When a believer experiences the miracle of rebirth, he/she experiences a similar process as Mary conceiving JESUS. Think of your human spirit as the egg. Just as Mary made her egg available to GOD, in essence, each believer by faith makes his/her human spirit (spiritual egg) available to GOD. The passion of CHRIST broke the barrier of sin that separated GOD and mankind. CHRIST opened the path from GOD to each person and whoever seeks salvation is free to approach GOD through CHRIST. Through faith, you ask CHRIST to forgive you of your sins and to come into your life. Quicker than the twinkling of the eye HE comes into your life. In that instant you are forgiven, born-again in your spirit into the family of GOD and receive the gift of eternal life. Nothing you can do after that instant will ever change the fact that you are GOD’S child. In essence, you are 100% human and 100% divine. GOD leaves you upon earth to serve HIM. GOD is your heavenly FATHER and the instant your body (earth suit) dies, you are in heaven with GOD and CHRIST for all eternity. When CHRIST returns for the second time you will return with HIM to receive your new Glorified Body, which will be like JESUS’ Glorified Body following HIS resurrection. WOW!!! Now ponder that.

This process of salvation is repeated thousands of times every day through the miracle of rebirth. It all began with the seed of woman, Mary and a loving GOD WHO so loved us that HE sent HIS ONLY SON into the world to die for us and to save all who believe in HIM from sin and death.

Before the prophesy, given by the Prophet Micah could be fulfilled, the right time had to come. There was a falling away of the Jews from GOD. The Jews were conquered by rulers surrounding the Jewish territory. They were taken into captivity. The Jews came back to GOD, Jerusalem and the temple was rebuilt in 516 B.C. The last book in the Old Testament was written by the prophet Malachi about 430 B.C. still no Messiah. Four-hundred and thirty (430) years had to pass before GOD sent the promised Messiah. How blessed we are to have the entire Bible to be able to see GOD’S plan and handiwork unfold through HIS Word.

Mary, the mother of JESUS, who was of the exact lineage that GOD had revealed through prophesies had to be born. She had to be willing to become the mother of the Messiah.

By the time of the birth of JESUS the Romans were in charge and had built a wonderful network of roads for JESUS to travel to the areas GOD led HIM. The roads and travel system had to be in place for the spread of the gospel. With GOD, timing is everything. HE waited about 700 years from the time HE gave Micah the prophesy to the birth of JESUS.

Let’s read Micah 5:4-5a:

4 He will stand and shepherd [them]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. [7] Isa 40:11 in the strength of • Yahweh, in the majestic name of Yahweh His God. They will live securely, for then His greatness will extend to the ends of the earth. 5 There[8] Or He will be peace.[9] Isa 9:6

“HE” in verse 4 refers to the promised Messiah, JESUS. HE will stand and shepherd, not in HIS strength, but in the strength of the covenant name of GOD. JESUS will stand firm on the foundation of HIS authority given by GOD, HIS FATHER, in HIS earthly ministry and in the lives of all who accept HIM as their SAVIOR. Stand means ruler. As ruler appointed by GOD, HE will shepherd all who believe in HIM. Shepherd means to feed, care for and protect. All believers’ security will be in HIM because of the assurance and security given to each believer through the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT.

As the Good Shepherd, HE will feed those longing for Spiritual food and lead and protect all who believe in HIM and seek to obediently follow HIM. Those who believe in HIM will live in the security of the assurance of the indwelling HOLY SPIRIT. All believers will live in the peace of knowing that they are secure in the truth of GOD’S presence in their lives. Living in peace is the peace that can only come from GOD as a result of believers being made spiritually whole through their relationship with HIM through CHRIST.

The Bible provides the complete facts of prophesies, birth, life, ministry, death, resurrection and ascension of JESUS. Today, we can connect all the dots of Old Testament prophesy to its fulfillment.

Read these verses again and think of the ministry of JESUS. Did HE bring attention to Himself or did HE always refer to HIS FATHER? HE ministered in the name and power of YAHWEH, the covenant name of GOD, HIS FATHER. As we consider the message of CHRIST or the Good News of the Gospel, has it and is it being spread to the ends of the earth? Once we accept CHRIST as our SAVIOR do we have peace?

Let’s read Micah 7:18-20:

18 Who is a God like You,[19] Ex 15:11; Ps 71:19; Isa 40:18 removing iniquity and passing over rebellion[20] Rm 3:25 for the remnant of His inheritance? He does not hold on to His anger forever, because He delights in faithful love. 19 He will again have compassion on us; He will vanquish our iniquities. You will cast all our[21] Some Hb mss, LXX, Syr, Vg; other Hb mss read their sins into the depths of the sea.[22] Ps 103:9–12; Isa 43:25 20 You will show loyalty to Jacob and faithful love to Abraham, as You swore to our fathers from days long ago.

Micah asked the question, “Who is a GOD like YOU?” The answer is no one. Micah had already used the covenant name for GOD, “YAHWEH.”

What is GOD referring to in the next statement in verse 18, “removing iniquity and passing over rebellion for the remnant of HIS inheritance?” Only the true GOD has the power to remove sin and pass over rebellion because HE knows the hearts of those who will become faithful followers. This statement could extend beyond the life of one of our ancestors.

Let’s consider Ephesians 1:3-4 - 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens,[2] Eph 1:20; 2:6; 3:10; 6:12 in Christ; 4 for He chose[3] Rm 11:5–7; 1 Co 1:26–31; 1 Th 1:4; 2 Th 2:13; 1 Pt 1:1–2 us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight.[4] Vv. 3–14 are 1 sentence in Gk. In love[5] Or In His sight in love

GOD knew each one of us before HE created the world. Does that mean HE gave special protection to our ancestors along our ancestral line that we came from to ensure that we would be born? GOD has a plan for each of us and each of us has the opportunity to receive salvation but it is our choice. The Good News is that GOD knows how we will choose.

Forgiveness of sins will come from the promised Messiah because HE looks upon the heart. GOD could withhold HIS protection from those who rebel against HIM but HE sees their hearts and knows their potential. Once we ask GOD to forgive us of our sins, HE forgives, casts them into the sea and forgets. I heard, Ms Corrie ten Boon say, “and when HE casts our sins into the sea HE also places a no fishing sign there.”
GOD wanted HIS people to know that HE was different than the gods that others worshipped. There was the notion that Israel’s GOD was weak because HE did not protect them from their enemies. They did not know that GOD used their enemies to get the attention of the Israelites and draw them back to HIM. In other words, defeat had a purpose. Just because they were defeated did not mean that GOD had abandoned them. They had abandoned GOD but HE was always ready to accept them back once they realize their sin. GOD works with believers the same today. Believers may move away from GOD but HE is always ready with open arms to welcome them back, once they have realized what they have done. Never forget that!!! GOD never moves you do.

Micah cycles back to the covenant relationship of Jacob and Abraham with GOD. GOD is faithful and can be trusted. Look at biblical history. When GOD agrees to a covenant, it is forever. HE will send the Messiah and what HE says the Messiah will do is covered under the covenant promise of GOD.

This is a fitting study to follow our study in James. GOD is eager to forgive us when we ask HIM. GOD is concerned with the spiritual wholeness or completeness of all believers. GOD is more interested in our spiritual growth and maturity than punishing us. This does not mean that HE condones or overlooks our sin but HIS desire is for us to see the error of our way, ask for forgiveness and repent. HE will forgive, restore and forget. Satan will make certain that we remember our sins and feel unworthy to serve GOD after HE has forgiven us. But the victory has already been won by JESUS. Enjoy it!!!

The heart of GOD’S message through Micah is the peace that HE promises is not based upon our earthly surroundings but upon our heart being in harmony with HIM through CHRIST, the Messiah. It is the quiet peace and assurance that regardless of the earthly outcome of our circumstances, we are at peace because our trust is in GOD. There is no war between our flesh and our spirit but there is harmony because we have been made spiritually whole, fully mature in HIM. That is perfect peace!!! Live the abundant life in HIM!