Reflections on Micah 5

Micah 05 (Contemporary English Version)


1. Jerusalem, enemy troops have surrounded you; they have struck Israel's ruler in the face with a stick.
   
2. Bethlehem Ephrath, you are one of the smallest towns in the nation of Judah. But the LORD will choose one of your people to rule the nation-- someone whose family goes back to ancient times.
   
3. The LORD will abandon Israel only until this ruler is born, and the rest of his family returns to Israel.
   
4. Like a shepherd taking care of his sheep, this ruler will lead and care for his people by the power and glorious name of the LORD his God. His people will live securely, and the whole earth will know his true greatness,
   
5. because he will bring peace. Let Assyria attack our country and our palaces. We will counterattack, led by a number of rulers
   
6. whose strong army will defeat the nation of Assyria. Yes, our leaders will rescue us, if those Assyrians dare to invade our land.
   
7. A few of Jacob's descendants survived and are scattered among the nations. But the LORD will let them cover the earth like dew and rain that refreshes the soil.
   
8. At present they are scattered, but later they will attack, as though they were fierce lions pouncing on sheep. Their enemies will be torn to shreds, with no one to save them;
   
9. they will be helpless, completely destroyed.
   
10. The LORD said: At that time I will wipe out your cavalry and chariots,
    
11. as well as your cities and your fortresses.
    
12. I will stop you from telling fortunes and practicing witchcraft.
    
13. You will no longer worship the idols or stone images you have made-- I will destroy them,
    
14. together with the sacred poles and even your towns.
    
15. I will become furious and take revenge on the nations that refuse to obey me.
    

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The previous chapter referred to a future time when the Messiah will return to earth and rule the world from Jerusalem - Christ's second advent. This will be a time in which there is finally world peace because Christ, the Messiah, will be the arbitrator of disputes between nations, and His arbitration will settle disputes with finality. Verse 5:1 returns to Micah's day referring to the coming siege of Israel in which she will be defeated and taken into exile. But the prophet returns to Israel's future hope in verse 2 with a reference to the birth of the Messiah - Christ's first advent. Christmas sermons and musicals frequently reference this verse which speaks of Christ's birth in Bethlehem Ephrathah and His lineage from the tribe of Judah. Then Christ's first advent is tied to His second advent in verse 3. After Christ's death on the cross and ascension to heaven, "He will abandon them (Israel) until the time when she who is in labor has given birth."

During this period between Christ's first and second advents, Israel will remain scattered. But with Christ's return (2nd advent) Israel will be reunited in her homeland under Christ's worldwide reign. Verse 5 makes another reference to peace. At that time, Israel's enemies, such as the Assyrians, will be subdued under Christ's leadership. Also at that time, Israel will have leaders who will shepherd or care for the people. This contrasts the condition in Israel at the time of Micah. The leaders he addressed where using their positions as a means of taking advantage of the people, not to care for them. While Israel is abandoned between the two advents, she will be detested by the other nations, but in the period of the second advent she will not only have peace from the other nations, but will also have influence among them, becoming dominant and more powerful than they.

In the period of this second advent, also referred to as the Millennium (Christ's 1,000 year reign), Israel will become what God had intended for her when He first made the covenant with Abraham. Though the nation seemed on track during King David's reign to fulfill God's intentions for her, she strayed from God and declined. We are individually inclined to be like Israel during that period. Because of her relationship with God and His blessings to her, the nation came to think that God would bless whatever she did. But God was not blessing her plans, He was blessing her as she allowed herself to be guided by God's plans. So it is with us. The life God intends for us and the blessings He has in store for us are found when we adopt His plans, not in asking Him to bless our plans.

Under Christ's reign, in His second advent, Israel will become what God intended for her because she is adopting His plan for her and relying on Him to accomplish it. "In that day," says the Lord, "I will remove your horses from you and wreck your chariots." (verse 5) By doing this, Israel will no longer depend on her military power, but on the Lord alone. Neither will she depend on her cities and fortresses because the Lord will also remove them. Furthermore, the Lord will remove Israel's dependence on other gods by ridding her of sorcerers and fortune-tellers, carved images and Asherah poles.

All of this is in the future and contrasts the conditions in Israel in Micah's day. In his day Israel did not depend on God but on her own strength, which was insufficient, and on other gods, which were nothing more than objects they have made themselves.