Micah 5

Micah 5:1

VI. THE PROMISE OF THE MESSIAH’S COMING (Chap. 5)5:1 Verse 1 seems to describe the status of the nation at the time that Micah was writing. Israel, here meaning Judah, is told to prepare for a siege by the Babylonians, who will treat the king insolently and rudely. This may refer to Sennacherib’s taunting Hezekiah or Nebuchadnezzar’s humiliating Zedekiah. 5:2 Verse 2 looks forward to the birth of the One who was to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting. These words point to the Messiah’s eternity, and therefore His deity. Since there were two Bethlehems in the Holy Land, Micah specifies Bethlehem Ephrathah, six miles south of Jerusalem. This verse is intended as a contrast to verse 1. Although Israel’s contemporary situation might be discouraging, yet all would be changed when the Messiah came. 5:3 Three stages in the history of Israel are described here: (1) Because of its rejection of the Lord Jesus, it is given up. That describes its present condition in the Age of Grace. (2) Next, a time of travail awaits the nation, that is, the Tribulation Period. (3) After these pangs, Israel gives birth. This refers to the “believing remnant out of the still unbelieving nation” (Scofield). This remnant of Israel will be regathered to the land, and Christ will rule over His people. 5:4-6 Christ’s shepherd care for Israel and His worldwide dominion are set forth in verse 4. When the future Assyrian army strikes Jerusalem, the Messiah will raise up enough capable leaders to drive them back. The expression “seven shepherds and eight princely men” should not be taken to mean there would literally be only fifteen leaders raised up to withstand “the Assyrian.” When one number is followed by the next highest number in a poetic framework, the meaning is that there is an adequate or complete number of whatever occurs in the context. 5:7-9 Then Israel will be a channel of blessing to all. The nation will be as invincible as a lionwell able to crush God’s adversaries. 5:10-15 In that day, Israel will have been purified. It will no longer trust in horses and chariots or fortified cities. Sorcerers and soothsayers will be abolished. Carved images and sacred pillarspagan shrineswill be destroyed. Enemy nations will be punished with God’s vengeance.