Book of Micah Chapter Five Commentary by
Ron Beckham
Audio Bible Study - Micah 5:1-5
Verse 1. "Now muster yourselves in troops, daughter of
troops; they have laid siege against us; with a rod they will smite the judge of
Israel on the cheek."
In the Hebrew language, this verse is tied to Micah 4:9,
and it is a conclusion of a section begun in and around that verse. Both this verse and
Micah 4:9 begin with the English word “now," and in the midst
of a section promising the restoration of the Hebrew nation, Micah again prophesies that
first Israel must
fall. Those who would “muster (themselves)
in troops” would be the tribes of
Israel, who would soon fight for their lives.
The Assyrians were to lay “siege” against Israel and
subsequently it would be the Babylonians against Judah. Those nations would
“smite the judge of Israel on the cheek,” which means the foreign invaders were
to win and the Hebrew peoples would lose the battles that were to come. The
“judge of Israel” in this verse refers to the kings, the leaders of the Jewish
people, which included the judiciary, but also every other leader and notable person who
had tended to “judge for a bribe” (Micah 3:11).
Verse 2. "But as for you, Bethlehem
Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth
for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days
of eternity."
“Bethlehem” was the birthplace of David,
who was the second
king of Israel, but he was the first truly great king of that land (1 Samuel 17:12).
Unlike his predecessor, David REALLY trusted in the Lord. Bethlehem
always was a small community, as reflected in the words of this verse. It was
“too little to be among the clans of Judah.” “Ephrethah” was its older name,
which meant “fertile ones” or “fruit fields.” “Bethlehem” or “Beth-lechem” meant
“the house of bread,” a name that was already in use at the time of the
patriarchs (see Genesis 35:19).
This verse leaps ahead to the time of the Messiah and we
learn two key facts about Him in this place. Unlike the rest of us, “His goings
forth” would be “from the days of eternity.” And somehow, He would also be from
“Bethlehem.” Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I Am,” which reminds us of this
verse, in which we see that the Messiah, the Christ, would be from “eternity.”
And the other part of this verse is also of great significance, for we can look in
Matthew 2:1 & forward, and find with interest that “Jesus was born in Bethlehem.”
Verse 3. "Therefore He will give them up
until the time when she who is in labor has borne a child. Then the remainder of
His brethren will return to the sons of Israel."
“Therefore,” Micah shouted to the leaders of the people,
you can see that deliverance will not come from you. It will not come from the
kings of Samaria (Israel) or the kings at Jerusalem. It would come at a time
when the royal line had fallen into poverty, into obscurity, and it would once
again emerge from little Bethlehem, the place where David was born. From this,
the people at the time of Micah could see that the kingly line would lose the
throne when the Hebrew nations were given over to the hands of their enemies.
“She who is in labor has borne a child” is not the
nation Israel as some have supposed, but instead it is the earthly mother who
would give birth to the Messiah in Bethlehem, a continuation of the preceding
verse. Micah’s contemporary, Isaiah the prophet (Isaiah 7:14), called out to the people,
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name
Immanuel.” Isaiah’s statement is quoted in Matthew 1:23, where the verse is
applied to the Lord Jesus Christ, and “Immanuel” is translated “God with us.”
The Messiah would be more than a man – He also is our God.
Verse 4. "And He will arise and shepherd
His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord
His God and they will remain, because at that time He will be great to the ends
of the earth."
The “ruler” of Verse 2, was identified as a
Person who
would be not only from “Bethlehem,” but somehow He would
also be from
“eternity.” The shepherding in this verse is a deliberate reminder of David, who
was called from tending the flock to be the shepherd of his people. It is said
about him, “You shall shepherd My people Israel and be ruler over Israel” (2
Samuel 5:2). David became a “type” of the Messiah, who would arise from
obscurity and shepherd the people “in the strength of the Lord.”
To be the great "Shepherd" was
the assignment given to Jesus, when He came to
and walked on this earth: “They brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted
with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed,
epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them” (Matthew 4:24). And then He died
for your sins and mine. As He said to the religious leaders of the time, “I am the good
shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:11). He will
return to this earth and “He will (deservedly)
be great to the ends of the
earth.”
Verse 5. "This One will be our peace.
When the Assyrian invades our land, when he tramples on our citadels, then we
will raise against him seven shepherds and eight leaders of men."
“This One” who would both be from “Bethlehem” and from “eternity”
(Verse 2), and would “shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord” (Verse 4)
– “This One will be our peace.” Isaiah 9:6 reveals Him as the “Prince of Peace.”
Paul the Apostle said of Him – “He Himself IS our peace” (Ephesians 2:14). This
the One who came peacefully to us, for when Zechariah said of Him, “Your King is
coming to you,” he also said, “He is just and having salvation; lowly and riding
on a donkey” (Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 21:5-9). He IS “our peace.”
The “Assyrian” in this verse is called “Asshur” in some
translations. At the time of these verses in Micah, the Assyrians essentially
surrounded Israel and put fear into the heart of the Hebrew people. And although
they did ultimately conquer Israel, the sheer power of the Lord is seen in
relation to them. At one point when the Assyrians threatened Jerusalem, God sent
“the angel of the Lord” who “killed in the camp of the Assyrians 185,000…” (2
Kings 19:35). Jesus, when He was about to go to the cross, stopped those who
would have fought for Him, revealing that He could “pray” to His “Father” for
“twelve legions” of these powerful angelic beings to help Him.
Had it not been for our need, Jesus could have been off that cross in an
instant. And note that our Prince of
Peace is utterly effective in war, utilizing “shepherds” and “leaders” as
He wills.
Lord, even those who go by Your Name, often do not
recognize who You really are. Probably none of us do recognize You fully.
Let the walls that divide us as people come down. "This One (who is) our
peace" - is You, Lord. We look to You and trust in You now. Come
Lord Jesus and fill our thirsty souls. In Your name we pray. Amen.
Audio Bible Study - Micah 5:6-10
Verse 6. "They will shepherd the land of
Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod at its entrances; and He will deliver
us from the Assyrian when he attacks our land and when he tramples our
territory."
“The land of Nimrod” could be construed as the area of
Babylonia because “Nimrod” the man is associated with Babylon
the place. In Genesis 10:8-10, he is listed as a great grandson of Ham and is called “a mighty
one on earth.” One of the places under his control was "Babel" (Babylon). At the time these verses in Micah were written, the area of
Babylon was under the control of the Empire of Assyria. The Assyrians would soon
take Israel, but as stated in the commentary on Verse 5, when the Assyrians
turned and tried to take Jerusalem in Judah, the Lord intervened. 185,000
Assyrians were killed by the “angel of the Lord” (2 Kings 19:35 & context).
The nations that surround Israel today in the 21st
Century, include the successors of the Assyrian and Babylonian Empires.
The “seven shepherds and eight leaders of men” in Verse 5, represent the
effective leaders given to Israel, consisting of both human and angelic
leadership. The fact that tiny Israel continues to prevail against the Arab
nations should cause the world to give praise to the Lord, for He has brought it
to pass. And note that mighty "Assyria" no
longer exists - it was destroyed by "the sword."
Verse 7. "Then the remnant of Jacob will
be among many peoples like dew from the Lord, like showers on vegetation which
do not wait for man or delay for the sons of men."
At the time of these verses, the great farmlands and
pastures of Israel and Judah were mostly watered by heavy dews that fell during
the night (compare Genesis 27:28, Deuteronomy 33:13, and Haggai 1:10). The
difference between a bountiful harvest and a devastating famine, would be “the
dew from the Lord” that either fell or it did not fall. The people of that time
referred to the dew as “showers” upon the land.
Those who have been and are of the nation Israel were
never intended to remain within the borders of Israel and keep the Lord their
God to themselves. As the Lord told Abram, so long ago, “in you ALL the families
of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3). Though Abraham had another son
(Ishmael) and subsequently would have even more children, God spoke of Isaac as
Abraham’s “ONLY son,” through whom “ALL the nations of the earth will be
blessed” (Genesis 28:16-18), and the ultimate “Seed” of Abraham would be the
Messiah, who is “like dew from the Lord.”
Verse 8. "The remnant of Jacob will be
among the nations, among many peoples like a lion among the beasts of the
forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which, if he passes through,
tramples down and tears, and there is none to rescue.”
When we consider Israel today, it is reasonable to
wonder WHY this little nation does so well in battle! Many times, since their
recent re-creation as a nation, they have been “like a young lion among flocks
of sheep.” In 1948, their relatively few soldiers were equipped with obsolete
rifles and they faced millions of Arabs, armed with the latest weapons of the
time. Little David (Israel) triumphed over nations that were like giants by
comparison.
Those in the nation Israel today are a “remnant” of
those who came before, and the fact that they have been “like a lion (let loose)
among flocks of sheep” relates to these Scriptures in Micah. We should look at
these verses and consider the latest news about Israel, and then do… what?
Why, we should praise the Lord God and turn to Him, for He has done it. In
relation to Israel, we see both the power and the love of God. Trust in Him and
He will bless YOU, as well.
Verse 9. "Your hand will be lifted up
against your adversaries, and all your enemies will be cut off."
If you search the world today, you will not find anyone
who is clearly and demonstrably an Assyrian. They are gone. Though they would
conquer and destroy the nation Israel not long after these verses, Israel exists
today, but the Assyrians are gone. The Babylonians would later attack, defeat
and destroy the other Hebrew nation, Judah. The tribe of Judah lives in the
nation Israel today, but Babylon is no more.
The Canaanite tribes, the Amorites, the Philistines and
more – they are all gone. But Israel identifiably lives in the land. Their
ancient “enemies (have been) cut off.” Now, our job is not to look at Israel or
the Church or any other temporal entity, but rather we are to understand from
Israel that our Lord is all-powerful and full of love. “And if you are Christ’s,
then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians
3:19). The promises are to everyone – the promises
are to ALL who are willing to TRUST in the Lord.
Verse 10. "’It will be in that day,’"
declares the Lord, ‘that I will cut off your horses from among you and destroy
your chariots.’"
These verses in the Book of Micah, jump back-and-forth
across time. “In that day” is a time when the Messiah, the Anointed One of
Israel will visibly REIGN upon this earth. The nation Israel did put their trust
in “horses” and “chariots” in battle (see Isaiah 2:7), just as the politicians
and armies of today rely on artillery shells, airplanes and tanks. We’ve been to
the moon! But horribly, we have also blown-up cities and killed the innocent!
But take heart, all who hate the very thought of warfare
– God will DESTROY our weapons of war. If “civilization” passes away for some
reason and we return to the weapons of the past, God will DESTROY our horses and
chariots of the future. If modern weaponry remains, He will destroy all that,
too, enforcing His command that we not “multiply horses” for the purpose of war.
Our Lord does not like it when we bring harm to one another, and He loves it
when we become men and women who trust in the God of peace and learn to love one
another.
Lord, I confess that I have trusted all too often in
the things of this world, looking to them instead of to You. Forgive me,
Lord. I come to You now and give my heart to You. Thank You for
receiving me. I praise Your Holy Name. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Audio Bible Study - Micah 5:11-15
Verse 11. "I will also cut off the
cities of your land and tear down all your fortifications."
There are many who would heartily approve the
destruction of weapons all over the world, along with the elimination of
military “fortifications” as in this verse. Though most of those same people
would reasonably be horrified at the thought of “cities” being “cut off” from the “land.”
But this verse is not simply about destroying cities. It refers specifically to the fortified cities
of the time, which were designed as weapons of war – cities built for defense in
battle.
This verse relates to our habit of preferring human
solutions to God’s solutions. In Deuteronomy 28:1, it says, “IF you diligently
obey the voice of the Lord…” blessings will follow, including, “the Lord will
cause your enemies… to be defeated before your face; they shall come against you
one way and flee before you seven ways” (Deuteronomy 28:7). Yes we should
protect ourselves, protect our loved ones, but we should also look to the Lord
first in our defense, first in our decisions; first in everything.
Verse 12. "I will cut off sorceries from
your hand, and you will have fortune-tellers no more."
There is much beauty in the world and there is also a
great deal of trouble. God created the beauty and humanity is largely
responsible for the trouble. God would heal us of all that makes us afraid, but
people often incredibly ignore Him and look to substitutes. All too many times
we have preferred our own solutions to His. At the time of this verse, God’s
people had turned to “sorceries” and “fortune-tellers” to guide them, thereby placing
themselves into great danger.
Before the land now called “Israel” was given to the
descendents of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, it was occupied by a number of national
groups and God through Moses specifically warned the people to avoid the
idolatrous practices of those nations. “Sorceries” and so-called
“fortune-tellers” were common before Israel arrived and God had told His people:
“You shall not learn to follow the detestable acts of those nations”
(Deuteronomy 18:9-14). God wants to save us from harm, but too many times we
have become self-willed and placed ourselves and our loved ones into danger.
Verse 13. "I will cut off your carved
images and your sacred pillars from among you, so that you will no longer bow
down to the work of your hands."
Have you ever observed children being disciplined by
their parents? Often the child will stop doing what is not permitted by the
parent as long as the parent is watching them, and then do it again, as soon as
they think they are alone. That streak of rebellion has led many into lives of
degeneration and sorrow, for themselves and for others who are associated with them. In that
regard, it’s good for us to see our rebellious ways right now, and not wait for
His judgment upon our lives.
The Lord through Moses could not have been more clear: “You shall not make idols for yourselves; neither a carved image
nor a sacred pillar… nor shall you set up an engraved stone in your land, to bow
down to it;” and then God concluded with the reason WHY idolatry is so
bad: “for I am the Lord your God” (Leviticus 26:1 &
context). God is wholesome, just, good and full of love, and any other types of
“gods” we might look to are just distractions that will lead us astray.
Verse 14. "I will root out your Asherim
from among you and destroy your cities."
“Asherah” was a so-called “goddess” of the Canaanites
who preceded the nation Israel in that land. “She” was considered to be a
fertility “goddess,” and worshippers looked to “her” for bountiful crops in
their fields and healthy children in their households. Since it is really God
our Creator who brings us all we have and are, it is a very real concern that
His people would give the credit to something else. It’s especially a problem when
you consider they were giving credit to a pretend person – this “goddess” was
someone who really does not exist.
To create false religious practices is very dangerous on
a number of levels. If you create a false “god” in your mind, it’s like you have
an imaginary friend. Misplaced imagination to that extent leads to delusions that
truly ruins lives. The “Asherim” of this verse were
groves of trees dedicated to a pretend “goddess.” Those who built them and
worshipped in such places were “men who suppress the truth
in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18) – such groves of trees would be
destroyed and God would reluctantly destroy their nation as well.
Verse 15. "And I will execute vengeance
in anger and wrath on the nations which have not obeyed."
Notice in this verse that God was not limiting His
decision to “execute vengeance in anger and wrath”
only upon Israel and Judah. His judgment will fall upon ALL “nations which have not obeyed” Him. Does your nation
discourage prayer to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Does your country
condone the killing of unborn children? (for God loves those little ones). Does
the nation where you live forbid places of worship dedicated to the Lord?
Take a good look at your answers to those and other
similar questions. The Lord God, Maker of heaven and earth, is the Creator of your nation and your
body; and He reasonably expects you to acknowledge Him for the good He has done. If you
don’t like the circumstances of your life, tell Him about it, for He both hears
and answers prayer that is “according to His will”
(1 John 5:14-15). He loves you and me, and it’s time to trust in Him, for though
He “will execute vengeance in anger and wrath on the
nations” (as in this verse), He truly longs to have “compassion on us” all (Micah 7:19).
Lord of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, I acknowledge that
You have created and sustained me. I confess that I have not placed You
first in my life and I ask for forgiveness. Heal me, heal my land. I
trust in You, Lord and thank You for all the good that You have done. Fill
me, fill my nation with Your Holy Spirit. In Jesus Name. Amen.
