Daily Bible Verses for 12/10/2016
Daily Verse(s)
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.”
Reading Notes
All through the Old Testament we see prophecy regarding the first advent of Christ. And among those Micah is one of the most quoted because it tells exactly where the Messiah would be born of a virgin. Bethlehem was the birthplace of King David and later the birthplace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Bethlehem was a small town located south of Jerusalem which had become insignificant during the time of Mary. Though it was a small town, it’s great in our hearts for it was there our Savior was born. God in His word has forever immortalized the name of Bethlehem because of our Savior’s birth. The name Bethlehem means “house of bread.” It was given this name because the area was known as the grain producing region during Old Testament times. And the word Ephrathah mean “fruitful” and the two words together “fruitful house of bread.” This name was used to differentiate this location from another town in Galilee by the same name. However, Bethlehem Ephrathah “fruitful house of bread” became a fitting name because it was where the eternal God of the universe took on flesh and dwelt among men!
Through the incarnation, Jesus the eternal God of Heaven, stepped out of eternity and became the “Bread of Life” for those who place their faith in Him for salvation. Through our faith in Christ, we inherit eternal life and the kingdom of God. And here in these verses we are told that Jesus’ going forth is from old, from everlasting. This is the Bible’s way of telling us He is the eternal God of the universe, who has always existed. Moreover, the Bible tells us Jesus is the Author of creation and that through Him all things were created and are currently held together. In addition, He is the King who shall return and reign for evermore. The word “advent” means coming or arriving. And it’s used in reference to both Jesus’ first and second coming. The incarnation was the first coming and it means that Jesus the eternal God of heaven stepped out of eternity and took on humanity. And He did so without any loss of either His divinity, or His humanity. Jesus did this in order to be our perfect substitute at the Cross of Calvary. That through His sacrifice for us, we could receive the gift of God’s mercy and grace, which is given freely to us for the remission of sins. So that by faith we can inherit eternal life and the kingdom of God.