ARRIVAL | A Specific Place
Micah 5:2 | December 21 - 2025
Dr. Mark S. Hartman, Lead Pastor – SCBC
Micah 5:2, 4 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for Me One who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.
4 He will stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the Name of theLord His God.”
1. WHY DID GOD CHOOSE BETHLEHEM FOR CHRIST’S BIRTH?
A. Matthew 2:5-6 In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet Micah: ‘but you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’
B. Luke 2:1-4 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. 2 And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be taxed, everyone into his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because He was of the house and lineage of David.
C. Proverbs 21:1 The heart of the king is in the Hand of God. He directs it wherever He desires.
D. Isaiah 9:7 The Messiah will reign on DAVID'S THRONE and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever...
E. When the Angel appeared to Mary to tell her she would bear the Christ, he declared: Luke 1:32 (Your child) will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him THE THRONE OF HIS FATHER DAVID.
F. When Jesus entered into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday the crowds shouted, Hosanna to the SON OF DAVID! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest! Matthew 21:9
G. Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His son…
2. JESUS CAME TO BE OUR SHEPHERD.
A. Micah 5:2, 4 …out of you will come for Me One who will be ruler over Israel. 4 He will stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the Name of theLord His God.
B. Philippians 2:6-8 Jesus was in very nature God, He did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
C. Micah 5:2 …He will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.
D. Colossians 1:15-17 Jesus is the Image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Jesus and for Jesus. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.
E. John 1:1, 3, 14 In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. 3 Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His Glory as of the Glory of the Father full of Grace and Truth.
F. Micah 5:4 He will stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the Name of the Lord His God.
G. 1 John 2:1 If anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
H. Hebrews 7:25 Jesus is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
3. JESUS CAME TO BE OUR KING FOREVER.
A. Isaiah 9:7 …The Messiah will reign on DAVID'S THRONE and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever...
B. Matthew 25:31 When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne.