The Christmas Conquest

126 The Christmas Conquest

Micah 5:1-5

December 25, 2025

As you know, we have been studying Mark’s gospel

And have been amazed at Jesus as He has gone on conquest.

·        He looked the enemy in the eye.

·        He promised an absolute victory.

·        He recruited His followers.

·        He stormed the land.

·        And He has been winning battle after battle.

Nothing can stop the advance of His kingdom.

Since our minds have been engrossed in that event,

I wanted to stick to theme this morning

As we celebrate His birth at Christmas.

I WANT US TO CONSIDER

How Christmas plays a part in the conquest of Christ.

Certainly there are many prophecies in the Old Testament

That we look to in order to verify that Jesus is in fact the Christ.

Under the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit

We see them literally all throughout the Old Testament.

Not all of the prophecies were so easily spotted in Jesus’ day,

But there were a few that everyone knew.

One of those was the prophetic birthplace.

Matthew 2:1-6 “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For out of you shall come forth a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel.’”

The birthplace of Jesus was one of those prophecies that everyone was aware of.

·        They knew that the Christ would be born in Bethlehem.

That is the prophecy I want us to examine briefly this morning

As we consider the Christmas conquest of Jesus.

We don’t have time for much background this morning, but you do need to know something of Micah and the purpose for his message.

Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah.

And his message carried a similar point.

Namely Micah sought to awaken the people of Israel to the fact that

They were under God’s judgment, even if they failed to realize it.

For example:

Micah 1:3-5 “For behold, the Lord is coming forth from His place. He will come down and tread on the high places of the earth. The mountains will melt under Him And the valleys will be split, Like wax before the fire, Like water poured down a steep place. All this is for the rebellion of Jacob And for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the rebellion of Jacob? Is it not Samaria? What is the high place of Judah? Is it not Jerusalem?”

Micah’s declaration was obvious.

·        God is angry and His judgment is on the way.

·        God’s anger was directed at their faulty worship. 

Both Samaria and Jerusalem were premiere worship sites

God disdained the worship that occurred in both locations.

Instead of viewing them as sacred places of worship,

God compared them to detestable high places.

He even spells out this disdain further later in the book.

Micah 6:6-8 “With what shall I come to the Lord And bow myself before the God on high? Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings, With yearling calves? Does the Lord take delight in thousands of rams, In ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?”

God doesn’t want their futile religious ceremonies,

God wants a genuinely humble and contrite heart.

So God is angry at the sinfulness of His people.

Micah the prophet is certainly distraught at the thought.

He is grieved by the sinfulness of his contemporaries.

Micah 7:1-6 “Woe is me! For I am Like the fruit pickers, like the grape gatherers. There is not a cluster of grapes to eat, Or a first-ripe fig which I crave. The godly person has perished from the land, And there is no upright person among men. All of them lie in wait for bloodshed; Each of them hunts the other with a net. Concerning evil, both hands do it well. The prince asks, also the judge, for a bribe, And a great man speaks the desire of his soul; So they weave it together. The best of them is like a briar, The most upright like a thorn hedge. The day when you post your watchmen, Your punishment will come. Then their confusion will occur. Do not trust in a neighbor; Do not have confidence in a friend. From her who lies in your bosom Guard your lips. For son treats father contemptuously, Daughter rises up against her mother, Daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; A man’s enemies are the men of his own household.”

It was a terrible time to be alive.

·        Wickedness abounded.

·        You couldn’t trust anyone.

·        And Micah was grieved.

He was also grieved at the expected coming judgment of God on this sinful culture.

Micah 1:8-9 “Because of this I must lament and wail, I must go barefoot and naked; I must make a lament like the jackals And a mourning like the ostriches. For her wound is incurable, For it has come to Judah; It has reached the gate of my people, Even to Jerusalem.”

MICAH GRIEVED THE COMING JUDGMENT.

He even called the wound of Israel “incurable”.

This certainly does not mean that God is not able to redeem,

But reveals the hardness and total depravity

Of the people among whom Micah lives.

They are totally depraved and incapable of doing good.

On their own they cannot change, nor repent,

And thus judgment is inevitable.

It is like Jeremiah said:

Jeremiah 13:23 “Can the Ethiopian change his skin Or the leopard his spots? Then you also can do good Who are accustomed to doing evil.”

THEY COULDN’T

Certainly Micah has more to say about their sin and coming judgment which we don’t have time to get in to,

BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT

Most of their problem is laid at the feet of their wicked rulers.

Micah 3:1-5 “And I said, “Hear now, heads of Jacob And rulers of the house of Israel. Is it not for you to know justice? “You who hate good and love evil, Who tear off their skin from them And their flesh from their bones, Who eat the flesh of my people, Strip off their skin from them, Break their bones And chop them up as for the pot And as meat in a kettle.” Then they will cry out to the Lord, But He will not answer them. Instead, He will hide His face from them at that time Because they have practiced evil deeds. Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who lead my people astray; When they have something to bite with their teeth, They cry, “Peace,” But against him who puts nothing in their mouths They declare holy war.”

·        There we see that the princes and elders and prophets are corrupt.

Micah 3:11 “Her leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe, Her priests instruct for a price And her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the Lord saying, “Is not the Lord in our midst? Calamity will not come upon us.”

·        There we see that the priests are in on the corruption too.

It’s no wonder the land is in such a detestable state.

It is filled with hypocritical sinners led by worthless leaders.

AND THE RESULT IS THAT GOD IS GOING TO JUDGE THIS NATION.

The judgment that would come would be Babylon.

BUT…

As we often see in the prophets,

Even in the darkest hour of judgment,

There is a light of hope that is offered.

IT WON’T ALWAYS BE THIS WAY.

And that is when we come to Micah 5.

Certainly the BACKDROP OF JUDGMENT remains.

(5:1) “Now muster yourselves in troops, daughter of troops; They have laid siege against us; With a rod they will smite the judge of Israel on the cheek.”

The reference there is to

·        The day when Babylon will destroy Jerusalem and persecute her last reigning king who was Zedekiah.

·        King Nebuchadnezzar actually slaughtered Zedekiah’s sons and then put out Zedekiah’s eyes and hauled him to Babylon.

·        It was the exclamation mark on God’s terrible judgment poured out on His people.

Things could not get much darker.

And it is at that moment that Micah shines the light of hope.

(5:2-5a) “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.” Therefore He will give them up until the time When she who is in labor has borne a child. Then the remainder of His brethren Will return to the sons of Israel. And He will arise and shepherd His flock In the strength of the Lord, In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God. And they will remain, Because at that time He will be great To the ends of the earth. This One will be our peace.”

In short, there is a new King coming!

There is a new ruler on the way!

(You have been plagued by wicked ones, now get a good one)

He will come as God’s king,

In the strength of the LORD

And will bring us back to peace.

It’s no wonder it was one of the most popular

And well-known prophecies in the nation.

Let’s look at this King!

VERSE 2

“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.”

“Bethlehem”

·        Was a small city outside of Jerusalem,

·        Where David was actually born.

·        It was so insignificant that it isn’t even listed in the book of Joshua.

But it’s significance is that it would be the birthplace of two great kings.

First David, and then Jesus.

“Bethlehem…From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.”

We are talking about God’s eternal King.

·        King long before He ever came to earth.

·        King from all eternity.

And He is God’s King, “One will go forth for Me”

·        Unlike the current wicked kings, this One will do the will of God.

God’s promise, even in the midst of judgment,

Is that Israel will one day get a new and better King.

AND WE SAW THAT KING BORN IN BETHLEHEM.

You know the story of Joseph being required to return to his city for the census, and how he took his pregnant wife Mary with him.

Luke 2:1-6 “Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth.”

YOU KNOW

·        How there was no room in the inn, and how they stayed in the barn.

·        How Jesus was born in the stable and laid in a manger.

·        How He was heralded by angels

·        How He was visited by shepherds

·        How eventually even wise men made their way to worship Him.

You know that story.

UNFORTUNATELY YOU ALSO KNOW:

·        How Herod tried to kill that King.

·        And How the Pharisees eventually succeeded.

·        How the coming Kingdom was delayed.

·        And How Israel was broken off as a result.

Christ did come on conquest at Christmas.

Mark’s gospel is all about it.

But it is a conquest to save sinners,

And that conquest required His death on a cross.

Hebrews 2:14-17 “Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives. For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham. Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”

Christ accomplished that conquest.

Micah is looking past that conquest,

To the second conquest of Christmas.

VERSE 3

“Therefore He will give them up until the time When she who is in labor has borne a child. Then the remainder of His brethren Will return to the sons of Israel.”

DO NOT read “she who is in labor” as Mary. IT IS NOT.

·        The one in labor here is Israel.

And, as we see played out in the New Testament,

She will remain in labor until she learns to accept

And believe in the child who was sent to her.

EVEN TO THIS DAY Israel remains in a state of rebellion, under God’s judgment because she refuses to receive the child God has given.

But when she does…

“Then the remainder of His brethren Will return to the sons of Israel.”

We read about this often:

Acts 3:19-20 “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you,”

That was Peter’s sermon to the unbelieving Jews of his day.

And until Israel does repent and return they will remain perpetually in labor.

But the King has promises yet fulfilled.

He is a redeeming King

Who will regather all of Israel back to Himself.

HE MUST SUCCEED

VERSE 4

“And He will arise and shepherd His flock In the strength of the Lord, In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God. And they will remain, Because at that time He will be great To the ends of the earth.”

When they return, He will return for them.

·        He will shepherd them as He promised.

·        He will keep them as He promised.

·        He will reign over all the earth, as He promised.

·        He will be glorious, as He promised.

It is nothing short of the coming millennial kingdom of Christ.

(5a) “This One will be our peace.”

Not just peace on earth,

But peace with God, resulting in peace on earth.

THIS IS THE PROMISE OF MICAH.

That there is a coming Christmas Conquest.

There is coming a day when God’s King will come.

·        He will subdue the hearts of His people.

·        He will destroy His enemies.

·        He will reign over all the earth.

·        And the result will be peace on earth.

And let me show you Micah’s response to such a promise.

Micah 7:7-9 “But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord Because I have sinned against Him, Until He pleads my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me out to the light, And I will see His righteousness.”

Even as Micah would now turn to the impending judgment,

He would not lose sight of such a hope.

Michah 7:18-20 “Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in unchanging love. He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the sea. You will give truth to Jacob And unchanging love to Abraham, Which You swore to our forefathers From the days of old.”

NOW…

I realize that

·        We are talking about promises made to the nation of Israel.

·        This prophecy actually has more to do with the second coming than the first.

But this morning, as you remember the first coming of Christ,

Let that fill your hearts with anticipation of the second coming.

HIS CONQUEST IS NOT FINISHED.

HE FINISHED REDEMPTION, WE AWAIT HIS REIGN

And we, like Micah, are eager for it.

WE ALSO LIVE IN AN EVIL DAY.

·        We also anticipate that things may get worse before they get better.

·        We also struggle under godless and wicked rulers.

·        We can lament with Micah when he tells us not to trust anyone because the days are evil.

·        We can lament with Micah when he talks about how a man’s enemies may even be the members of his own household.

IT IS A SAD AND DARK TIME TO BE ALIVE.

BUT LIGHT IS COMING!!!

The promise remains that the One born in Bethlehem

Will come on conquest again.

TODAY He is subduing the hearts of men

Through the preaching of the gospel.

SOON He will subdue the world through His powerful word.

SO THIS MORNING, JOIN WITH MICAH AND DECLARE:

“But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me. Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the Lord is a light for me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord Because I have sinned against Him, Until He pleads my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me out to the light, And I will see His righteousness.”

Our King is coming for us!