The spiritual state of Herod was brought to light by the mere presence of the Christ Child in the world. It is obvious that the satanically driven Herod, blinded by his paranoia and insane lust for power, had no appreciation for the majesty of the One who was born in the obscure town of Bethlehem. He was as dark as he was ignorant of the great stoop of Him who came from the heights of glory to live in such humble circumstances. Clearly, the magi however, were divinely taught, for they said that they had “come to worship Him” (Mt. 2:2). From this we see that the focus of their adoration was not on Mary at all, but the Babe. How often in the subsequent life and ministry of the Lord Jesus did He receive worship from men, which He never once refused!

The marvelous accuracy of this prophecy is seen in the specificity of its details. There were actually two towns named “Bethlehem” in the days when the Lord Jesus was born: one in the north of Israel and the other in the south. It is the southern town that the prophet specifies, Ephrathah of Judah, to distinguish it from the northern town of Bethlehem in the area of the ancient tribe of Zebulon (Josh. 19:15). Bethlehem is described in Micah’s prophecy as “little.” How humbling to man’s pride that He whose existence was from the “days of eternity” (Mic. 5:2 jnd), would deign to be born in a place of little significance and in such lowly circumstances.