The ruler of Israel was going to come from Bethlehem, but his coming forth "is from of old, from ancient days." Jesus was not created. He is the creator. Jesus does not have a beginning. He was from the beginning with God and was God. He is the true shepherd of the people of God, the people of faith. I love these Old Testament prophesies and their fulfillment in Christ. Everything Jesus did was to fulfill what the Scriptures declared. So, this prophecy of the true King being born in Bethlehem was fulfilled by Jesus. We think of baby Jesus lying in the feeding trough of animals. We think of Mary and Joseph and shepherds and animals. We think of the star in the sky and the angels proclaiming the glory of God. But we don't give much thought to the timing of Ceasar Augustus' registration that brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem at the perfect moment to fulfill all Scripture. Everything fell into place for Mary to be at the time of birth that night. She could not have gone into labor early. God had orchestrated this moment.