A Ruler from Bethlehem

(Isaiah 7:10-16; Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-7)

1Now gather yourself in troops, O daughter of troops: he has laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek.

2But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall he come forth to me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

3Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travails has brought forth: then the remnant of his brothers shall return to the children of Israel.

4And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great to the ends of the earth.

5And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.

6And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he comes into our land, and when he treads within our borders.

The Remnant of Jacob

7And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the middle of many people as a dew from the LORD, as the showers on the grass, that tarries not for man, nor waits for the sons of men.

8And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the middle of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treads down, and tears in pieces, and none can deliver.

9Your hand shall be lifted up on your adversaries, and all your enemies shall be cut off.

10And it shall come to pass in that day, said the LORD, that I will cut off your horses out of the middle of you, and I will destroy your chariots:

11And I will cut off the cities of your land, and throw down all your strong holds:

12And I will cut off witchcrafts out of your hand; and you shall have no more soothsayers:

13Your graven images also will I cut off, and your standing images out of the middle of you; and you shall no more worship the work of your hands.

14And I will pluck up your groves out of the middle of you: so will I destroy your cities.

15And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury on the heathen, such as they have not heard.