Text: Micah 4:8
Title: “The Tower of the Flock”
Subj:  Sacrificial lambs

Intro:  We are all know Micah’s O.T. prophecy that the Christ would be born in Bethlehem (5:2).  But the Bible also says in Micah 4:8

“And thou, O tower of the flock (Migdal Edar (Ayder)), the strong hold of the daughter (Nation of Israel) of Zion (Jerusalem), unto thee (the tower) shall it (Christ as representing the future millennial kingdom) come, even the first dominion [of David/Solomon]; the [millennial] kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem (Nation of Israel).”

     I want to draw your attention to the phrase, “tower of the flock.”  Some believe that this was a tower that was part of the walled city of Jerusalem, while others hold it to be a tower for guarding sheep, about 1 mile N. of Bethlehem and 4 miles from Jerusalem, by the road that connected the two.  This tower is first mentioned in Gen. 35:21 as a military tower, which, in later years became a flock watching tower.  This tower goes back to 1700 B.C., or at least its location goes back that far.
     There is an interesting twist to this tower’s purpose that is held by some and dismissed by others.  It is thought that this tower was the central location of the flock of sacrificial lambs that were raised here until they made their journey of death to the Temple altar at Jerusalem. Remember that thousands of lambs were required to fulfill the needs of the sacrificial system.
     It was also the place of safety where ewes were brought to give birth to their lambs. In this sheltered building the shepherds would bring in the ewes which were about to lamb for protection.
     This whole process was watched over by shepherds who were specifically trained for this royal task. They were educated in what constituted an animal that was fit to become a sacrifice on the altar of God.
It was their job to make sure that none of the animals were hurt, damaged, or blemished. Being themselves under special Rabbinical care, the shepherds would strictly maintain a ceremonially clean stable as a birthing place.
     It is also said that these lambs were wrapped in "swaddling cloths" to protect them from injury.

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And, lo, the Angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the Angel said unto them, ‘Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.”  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Lk. 2:8-14)

     Notice that the shepherds were only told 3 things about the Christ’s location: 1) the birth of the Christ shall be a sign unto you, 2) you will find the Christ wrapped in swaddling clothes, 3) you will find the Christ lying in a manger (“stall”).  The Bible says that they went straight to Christ’s location, because they already knew where it was, “the tower of the flock.”
     If this interpretation is correct, and I believe it is, then the Lord Jesus Christ was born in the very place set aside to raise sacrificial lambs.  This certainly fulfills O.T. prophecy, and the words of John the Baptist when he identified Jesus as the Lamb of God which taketh away the sins of the world.
     And just as those thousands of lambs were born in the “tower of the flock” to die, so the Lamb of God was born to die a sacrificial death for the sins of mankind.  Thirty years later when Jesus said, on the cross of Calvary, “It is finished” that ended the necessity for the shedding of blood for the remission of sins.

 Now what is the application for us living 2000 yrs. after the cross?

1. In 70 A.D. Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed, and so we think that the temple sacrifices are completed, but,

2. Christ’s death, 37 yrs. earlier, did not end the need for sacrifice.

     Listen to these verses out of the church age epistles:

1. We think there is no more temple:  

1Cor. 6:19.  “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?        “

2. We think that there are no more sheep to sacrifice, but:

Rom. 8:36  “As it is written, For thy (Christ’s) sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

3. We think that there is no more sacrifice to offer, but:

Rom. 12:1-2  “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

 Concl:  During his season of Christ’s Birth, I trust we will pause and think of that lonely tower on a Judean hillside that provided the sacrifice for our sins, and not for our sins only, but for the sins of the whole world?  And that His birth fulfilled every O.T. promise and prophecy of His coming, perhaps, including His birth in the “tower of the flock.”  
     As Christ became our sacrifice, let us remember that we are called to become a sacrifice for Him. A life of sacrifice is never easy nor appreciated, except by Him who ruleth in the Heavens.

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