Book of Micah: Chapter 5
Micah leaves the scene of the “last days” and looks again to the Babylonian siege of Jerusalem in 586 BC. So many soldiers were encamped around Jerusalem that Micah calls her “the city [daughter] of troops” (v.1). When King Zedekiah and his officers see that their situation is hopeless, they try to escape; but, the Babylonians race after them and capture them (2 Kings 25:1-7). The Babylonians kill his sons, put out his eyes, bind him and then take him to Babylon. Micah quickly turns his focus from King Zedekiah, an ungodly king to the Messiah, the faithful Shepherd-King. ” Out of you (Bethlehem) will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times” (v.2). Micah is, of course, referring to Jesus Christ, the Messiah, who was born in Bethlehem (Matt 26:67). It was this prophecy that the priests share with the magi who came to Jerusalem looking for the King foretold by the heavenly star (Matt 2: 1-12). In this prophecy, Micah reveals a number of important facts about the Messiah. He is eternal God, for His “goings out are from old…from ancient days”. Jesus stepped out of eternity into human history, sent by the Father to die for the sins of the world (I John 4:14, John 3:16). Scripture tells us that “In the beginning was the Word [Jesus Christ], and the Word was with God and the Word was God” (John 1:1,2). Jesus Christ was with God in the beginning and through Him all things were made by Him. The Messiah would not be born in Jerusalem. Jesus would be born in a humble stable (cave) in Bethlehem. Despite this humble birth, the Messiah will one day return to rule the whole earth. We don’t know when this will happen; but, it will happen! Micah says that someday this Shepherd-King will care for His flock and they will “live securely, for then His greatness will reach to the ends of the earth, and He will be their peace” (vv. 4,5). Today, Jesus Christ gives peace to any person who will come to Him by faith (Matt 11:28-30; Rom 5:1).
As Micah continued, he announced that Israel’s future enemies would be defeated (vv. 5b-6), the remnant would be delivered (vv. 7-9); and the people would be free from the power of sin and death in their lives (vv. 10-15). The “Assyrian invader” named in verse 5 isn’t the Assyrian army of Micah’s day, for Israel never defeated Assyria. The Assyrians defeated Israel and were later defeated by the Babylonians. Micah used the term, “Assyrian” to refer to the “enemy” in the last days when all the nations will gather against Israel (Zech 10:10-12, 12:9; 14:1-3). The phrase “seven shepherds, even eight leaders of men” is similar to the repeated statement of Amos “for three transgressions…and for four” (Amos 1:3, 6, 9). In the “last days”, God will raise up leaders to face the enemy, just as He raised up the judges and shepherd-kings, like David. God is the Deliver who will enable Israel to defeat her enemies and again return to the Land. Though small in number, the Jewish remnant of the “last days” will receive help from the Lord as they face their enemies. Micah used two similes to illustrate this blessing: the refreshing dew from heaven (v.7) and the strength of a lion (v.8). His people will overcome like lions and then bring blessing to the world like the dew that watered Israel’s crops (Ps. 133:3). In his first message, Micah declared that Israel and Judah were guilty of the sins of idolatry and covetousness, which led to hatred, violence, and oppression. Despite numerous warnings of impending judgment, the people wouldn’t listen (2 Chron. 36:14-21). Micah foretells that Israel will return to her land in unbelief and practice these same sins. God would destroy all their military defenses, the very things they trusted instead of trusting the Lord (vv. 10,11). He will also destroy their “carved images and your sacred stones from among you; you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands” (vv. 12-14). Israel will finally seek God and obey His law.
Key Verse:
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrata, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” ~ Micah 5:2
Questions to ponder:
- Today, Christians look for Jesus to return for His people (I Thess 4:13-18). The day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief, and then the heavens will pass away and everything around will be destroyed (2 Peter 3:10,11). In light of this fact, what kind of lives should we live?
