And assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he (Herod) inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” Matthew 2:4-6
Decades after Jesus walked the earth, the Apostle Matthew writes about some pilgrims from the East who showed up at King Herod’s door seeking a new king of the Jews who had recently been born. They had been following “HIS” star into this region and now wish to worship this newborn king.
Herod, obviously confused and maybe angry, assembles the priests and scribes and inquires where exactly the long-awaited Messiah would be born. The answer must have shocked him, for they cited Micah, a prophet who lived who lived six centuries before them.
Micah spoke of a Shepherd King from Bethlehem who was to come. The people of his time were once again messing up, and Micah talked to them about God’s coming judgment, but also of his forgiveness. He would scatter his people because of their sins if they couldn’t get their act together. But that’s not all; he would provide a Shepherd-King who faithfully leads them back into his covenant protection, mercy, and love.
Like many prophets, Micah was speaking truth into his own present day and likely had no idea that he was speaking of events that would happen several hundred years later. And I guarantee it would have shocked him to find out that Gentile pilgrims from the East would deliver the birth announcement of the Shepherd King!
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