Minor Prophets · Chapter 5 of 7

Micah 5

Micah promises a ruler to come from little Bethlehem Ephratah, one whose origins are from everlasting, who will shepherd his flock in the LORD's strength and be great to the ends of the earth. He becomes the peace against the invading Assyrian. The remnant of Jacob will be like dew and like a lion among the nations, while God purges Israel of idols, sorceries, and every false trust.

What happens in Micah 5

Micah opens with Jerusalem besieged and her judge struck on the cheek, then turns to hope. From tiny Bethlehem Ephratah, least among Judah's clans, comes a ruler for Israel whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting. God gives Israel up until she who travails brings forth, then the remnant returns. This ruler stands and feeds his flock in the LORD's strength and majesty, and his greatness reaches the ends of the earth.

He himself is peace when Assyria invades, and shepherds rise to deliver the land. The remnant of Jacob will be among many peoples like refreshing dew and like a fearless lion among flocks. God then declares he will cut off Israel's horses, chariots, fortified cities, witchcrafts, soothsayers, graven images, and groves, removing every object of false confidence, and will execute vengeance on the disobedient nations.

Micah 5 in context

Micah ministered in Judah as Assyria loomed in the eighth century before Christ. Bethlehem Ephratah was the ancestral home of David, so a ruler from there signals a new David. The contrast between the struck judge of verse one and the everlasting ruler of verse two frames the chapter.

The purging of horses and idols in the closing verses reflects prophetic insistence that security lies in God alone, not in military or occult power.

Main themes of Micah 5

Micah 5 (KJV)

1Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek. 2But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. 3Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. 4And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth. 5And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men. 6And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders. 7And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the LORD, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men. 8And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. 9Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off. 10And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots: 11And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strong holds: 12And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers: 13Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands. 14And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so will I destroy thy cities. 15And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.

Verses to carry from Micah 5

“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”Micah 5:2

“And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.”Micah 5:4

“And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.”Micah 5:5

Reflection

The greatest ruler came from the smallest place. Where do you despise smallness in your own life, assuming God works only through the impressive? Consider that your peace may not be a circumstance to arrange but a person to trust. Rest today in the shepherd who is himself your peace.

A prayer from Micah 5