DAY 182 Read Micah 5 through 7.
Today's reading: Tucked away in the grim judgments God predicted for rebellious Israel is one of the specific prophecies that would identify the Messiah.
Memory gem: "Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11).
Thought for today:
In Micah 5:2 we read the prophecy of the exact place where Jesus would be born. Remember, this was written about 700 years before Christ. The Messiah (Hebrew)--Christ (Greek)--Anointed (English)--must have a birthplace. Three continents--Europe, Asis, and Africa--were known to the ancient world. Asia is chosen. But Asia had many countries and regions. One of them--little Palestine--is pointed out. In Palestine were three divisions--Galilee, Samaria, and Judea. Judea is named. But in Judea are many villages, and "of the thousands of Judea," Bethlehem is the chosen place for His birth.
But Bethlehem means "the house of bread," and more than one village in a fertile place was so named. The prophet puts his finger on one spot: "Bethlehem Ephratah," in the land of Judah, What wonderful fulfillment!
Now, Christ's virgin mother did not live in Bethlehem of Judea, but at Nazareth in Galilee. And it was not very likely that she would be traveling at that time, by the difficult means of transportation of that day from one place to another. But a decree of imperial Rome compelled all to go to the place from which the family originally came, to be enrolled. So God brought the Blessed Virgin from Nazareth to Bethlehem at the precise time that would fulfill the prophecy of Micah.
Today's reading: Tucked away in the grim judgments God predicted for rebellious Israel is one of the specific prophecies that would identify the Messiah.
Memory gem: "Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:11).
Thought for today:
In Micah 5:2 we read the prophecy of the exact place where Jesus would be born. Remember, this was written about 700 years before Christ. The Messiah (Hebrew)--Christ (Greek)--Anointed (English)--must have a birthplace. Three continents--Europe, Asis, and Africa--were known to the ancient world. Asia is chosen. But Asia had many countries and regions. One of them--little Palestine--is pointed out. In Palestine were three divisions--Galilee, Samaria, and Judea. Judea is named. But in Judea are many villages, and "of the thousands of Judea," Bethlehem is the chosen place for His birth.
But Bethlehem means "the house of bread," and more than one village in a fertile place was so named. The prophet puts his finger on one spot: "Bethlehem Ephratah," in the land of Judah, What wonderful fulfillment!
Now, Christ's virgin mother did not live in Bethlehem of Judea, but at Nazareth in Galilee. And it was not very likely that she would be traveling at that time, by the difficult means of transportation of that day from one place to another. But a decree of imperial Rome compelled all to go to the place from which the family originally came, to be enrolled. So God brought the Blessed Virgin from Nazareth to Bethlehem at the precise time that would fulfill the prophecy of Micah.
RSS Feed
