QT 22/12/2024 Sun. Christmas Message 04. Bethlehem Baby, For The LORD. 为耶和华而生的伯利恒婴孩
QT 22/12/2024 Sun. Christmas Message 04. Bethelehem Baby, For The LORD.
READ http://www.esvbible.org/micah5:2
Micah 5:2
[2] But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
from ancient days. (ESV)
The Old Testament prophet Micah quoted the Lord and pronounced the message to the readers of his days and future generations: While the weak judge of Israel was struck "on the cheek" (Micah 5:1), the future ruler in Israel that would come out of "Bethlehem Ephrathah" would be of significant heritage, and impliedly, strength and power. He is no newbie.
While a "siege is laid against us" (Micah 5:1) and with it the consequential shortage of food, the destiny of this future ruler of Israel would be different. Indeed, instead of famine, this future leader is associated with "Bethlehem"—the house of bread. Indeed, instead of scarcity and want, this future leader is associated with "Ephrathah"—literally "fruitfulness"!
"Significance is frequently found in the insignificant" --author undisclosed.
Jerusalem had great-looking buildings, while Bethlehem (only 7km away) was small in terms of both size and significance. During Christmas, the song "O Little Town of Bethlehem" is frequently sung. Yet this little town counted king David as one of its most significant residents in history (1Sam 16:1, 18 & 1Sam 17:12). For the future, it would also count the great ruler who would now rule in all of Israel (the fragmented northern and southern kingdoms) as having originated from it.
1 Corinthians 1:27–29 [27] But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; [28] God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, [29] so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. (ESV)
Paul pointed to this principal that "out of seemingly littleness and weakness God has perfected strength". This Christmas, remember the Bethlehem baby Jesus Christ, and other prior residents of Bethlehem, e.g., Ruth who declared unwavering commitment (Ruth 1:16–17) and Boaz who went beyond the legal requirements and extended generosity and blessing onto others (Ruth 2:1, 14).
REFLECTION: Are you looking at the correct place for significance this Christmas?
Micah 5:2 also contained the phrase "from you shall come forth for me". This reminds us to review the purposes of what we do day in day out in 2024. Who was it "for"? Micah declared that the coming ruler ("Messiah" the anointed one in the Jewish thought-world), would point others to the LORD—the Messiah's mission was for the LORD's glory and purposes.
REFLECTION: Are your struggles and diligence exerted today for the LORD, ultimately?
QT 22/12/2024 星期日. 圣诞信息 04: 为耶和华而生的伯利恒婴孩
http://m.bbintl.org/bible/ncv/mic/5
弥迦书 5:2 伯利恒，以法他阿，你在犹大诸城中为小。将来必有一位从你那里出来，在以色列中为我作掌权的。他的根源从亘古，从太初就有。
《旧约》中的先知弥迦引用耶和华的话，向他那个时代和后来的读者宣告了这一信息： 虽然以色列目前软弱的法官被打了--“用杖击打以色列审判者的脸”（弥迦书 5：1），但未来从 “伯利恒，以法他 ”出来的以色列统治者将拥有重要的遗产及地位，也意味着力量和权力。他不是新手。
虽然 “仇敌围攻我们”（弥迦书 5：1），随之而来的是粮食短缺，但这位以色列未来的统治者的命运却与众不同。事实上，这位未来的领袖与 “伯利恒”--面包之家--联系在一起，而不是饥荒。事实上，这位未来的领袖与 “以法他”（Ephrathah）--字面意思是 “富饶”--联系在一起，而不是匮乏！
“资深的意义常常存在于不起眼的地方"--作者未详。
耶路撒冷有宏伟的建筑，而伯利恒（距离耶路撒冷仅 7 公里）无论从规模还是重要性来说几乎都很小。圣诞节期间，人们经常唱起 “伯利恒小城啊 ”这首歌。然而，这座小城在历史上最重要的居民之一就是大卫王（参撒上 16：1、18 和撒上 17：12）。在未来，它也会统治整个以色列（四分五裂的南北王国）的伟大统治者算作来自这里。
哥林多前书 1:27–29 神却拣选了世上愚拙的，叫有智慧的羞愧。又拣选了世上软弱的，叫那强壮的羞愧。28 神也拣选了世上卑贱的，被人厌恶的，以及那无有的，为要废掉那有的。29 使一切有血气的，在神面前一个也不能自夸。
保罗指出了这一原则，即神因我们看似软弱，就成全了力量。这个圣诞节，请记住伯利恒的婴儿耶稣基督，以及伯利恒的其他居民，例如，路得，她宣告了坚定不移的委身（路得记 1：16-17）；波阿斯，他超越了法律的要求，将慷慨和祝福带给他人（路得记 2：1，14）。
反思：这个圣诞节，你是否在正确的地方寻找意义？
弥迦书 5：2 也包含 “为我 ”这句话。这提醒我们在 2024 年回顾我们日复一日所做事情的目的， “为” 谁？弥迦宣称，即将到来的统治者（“弥赛亚”，犹太人思想世界中的受膏者）将把他人引向耶和华--弥赛亚的使命是为了耶和华的荣耀和目的。
反思：你今天的奋斗和努力最终是为了耶和华吗？
