Minor Prophets Micah

From Defeated Ruler to Conquering King

Discover Jesus as: The Shepherd Micah 4-5 Read on Bible Gateway (HCSB)

Day 698 of 730
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INTRO

The minor prophets are shorter books, but they contain a lot of meat. In Micah, the picture of Jesus is The Shepherd. The book of Micah has three oracles of warning. The third is in Micah 3 and talks about the leadership of the country. Micah 3:1-4 talks about the sins of the princes. Micah 3:5-8 talks about the sins of the false teachers and the judgment they will face. In Micah 3:9-12, the destruction of Jerusalem is covered because of the sins of the nation.

TEACHING

Micah 4:1-13: J. Vernon McGee summarizes Micah 4 as “a prediction of the millennial kingdom, with Jerusalem as the center of worship and government. At that time swords will be beaten into plowshares (v. 3).”1 This means that war will be no more and there will be a period of peace and prosperity. Joel 3:9-10 describes it as a holy war. The people will find peace and security in their own vineyards and gardens (vv. 4-5) (Zechariah 3:10). Jesus, The Shepherd, will gather the people who have been scattered, into His kingdom (vv. 7–8) (John 10:10).

In verses 9 through Micah 5:1, their future captivity was announced. Constable explains, “The Israelites would leave Jerusalem as a woman in labor.”2 However, the Lord would rescue them in Babylon and deliver them from captivity (v.10). Verses 11-13 give a picture of the coming battle in Armageddon.

Micah 5:1-9: Micah 5 continues the same timeline as Micah 4. Verse 1 actually belongs with chapter 4. Most likely, verse 1 is “a reference to the capture of King Zedekiah at the hands of Babylon in 586 B.C.”3 (2 Kings 24-25). Verse 2 is a prophetic verse about Jesus: “Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; One will come from you to be the ruler over Israel for Me. His origin is from antiquity, from eternity.” This describes the first advent coming of Christ. In Matthew 2:1-2, the wise men knew the prophecy of Micah 5:2. They expected Him to be born in Bethlehem, and they knew He came as king. McGee writes, “In His humanity Christ came from Bethlehem. In His deity, Christ came from eternity” (Matthew 2:5-6).4

Verse 3 points to the time we are currently in—when Jesus has been born through the first advent but has not returned for the second. MacArthur describes this as “the times of the Gentiles when Israel rejects Christ and is under the domination of enemies.”5 The second advent is referred to in the statement, “Then the rest of His brothers will return to the people of Israel.” Christ will come back to gather and shepherd His brothers in the majestic name of Yahweh His God (v. 4). This points to the millennial rule of Christ. In verse 5 the Isaiah 9:6 picture is echoed— “He will be their peace.”

MacArthur describes the tension in verses 7-9: “Israel’s presence in the midst of many peoples would be to some a source of blessing; to others, she would be like a lion—a source of fear and destruction.”6 The remnant of Jacob will truly be blessed, and their enemies will be destroyed.

Micah 5:10-15: Constable describes verses 10-15 as “the purification of Zion.”7 Constable explains, “In that future eschatological day, the Lord also promised to remove the vain sources of security that had always tempted the Israelites, represented by: ‘horses,’ ‘chariots,’ ‘cities,’ and ‘fortifications.’”8 God would also remove altars to false gods, carved images, and the Asherah poles, sorcerers, and fortune-tellers (10-14). God also promised to take vengeance against the nations that had not obeyed Him.

CLOSING

Finally, after Micah 4 and the end of Micah 5, we have a message of incredible hope. Micah 4 draws the picture of what the millennial kingdom will look like. Micah 5 adds color and details to that description. The message for both chapters is to get ready because Jesus the Messiah is coming back.

For the Gentiles, the message is to embrace Jesus the Messiah.

For the Jews, the message is similar but includes more. Scripture says there is a partial hardening among the Jews that will last until all the Gentiles have had the chance to hear about Jesus. There are currently 196 countries that have not heard about Jesus. The gospel has to go into those lands before the end times will be put in motion. Only then will the world face the Great Tribulation. Somewhere in that process, the Jewish people will become ready to accept Jesus as their Messiah.

2 Peter 3:10-13 states:

“But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness as you wait for and earnestly desire the coming of the day of God. The heavens will be on fire and be dissolved because of it, and the elements will melt with the heat. But based on His promise, we wait for the new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will dwell.”

  1. J. Vernon McGee, “Outline for Micah”; available at https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/mcgee_j_vernon/notes-outlines/micah/micah-outline.cfm.

  2. Thomas Constable, Dr. Constable’s Exposition Bible Study Notes: Micah, p. 43; available at https://planobiblechapel.org/tcon/notes/pdf/micah.pdf.

  3. John MacArthur, The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2005), p. 1019.

  4. McGee, np..

  5. MacArthur, p. 1019.

  6. MacArthur, p. 1019.

  7. Constable, p. 52.

  8. Constable, p. 52.

Questions

  1. What and when was Micah 4:1-8 speaking about? (Isaiah 2:3-5; Acts 1:6-8; Revelation 21)
  2. Who was Micah 5:2 talking about (Luke 2:11)? Who were some of the other prophets that prophesied Jesus’ coming to earth to live as a man? (Isaiah 53; Jeremiah 30:21-22; 33:14-16; Zechariah 9:9)
  3. Micah 5:5-15 speaks of the coming judgment on Israel’s enemies. Does this scare you considering how many countries have turned their backs on Israel?
  4. What did the Holy Spirit highlight to you in Micah 4—5 through the reading or the teaching?

Next: the Daily Word →

Daily Word

Laura Martin Micah 5:4–5a

“He will stand and shepherd them in the strength of Yahweh, in the majestic name of Yahweh His God. They will live securely, for then His greatness will extend to the ends of the earth. He will be their peace.”

After the Babylonian exile, God promised to restore His people to Jerusalem. Micah prophetically proclaimed of the coming King from the line of Judah who would be born to rule over Israel. Indeed Jesus, God’s Son, would be born in Bethlehem and shepherd the people of Israel. And then, after a time, Jesus would return in the strength of Yahweh and in the majestic name of Yahweh His God. All people who call upon His name will live securely in His greatness extending to the ends of the earth. Yes, Jesus will be peace to all people. He will reign from antiquity to eternity.

Jesus is both the Great Shepherd and the King of kings. He was born to redeem an entire world, offering hope and restoration to His people. He is your peace, your strength, and your security. Are your eyes focused on the world—on false gods, other forms of security, prized earthly possessions, or rich food and drink? Like He did with the Israelites, the Lord promises to remove things from your life that distract your vision and ability to fix your eyes on Jesus alone. He is the only peace. He is the only security. Today, give thanks for the birth of the Son given to the world named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

“He will stand and shepherd them in the strength of Yahweh, in the majestic name of Yahweh His God. They will live securely, for then His greatness will extend to the ends of the earth. He will be their peace.”

— Micah 5:4–5a

FURTHER SCRIPTURE

  • Isaiah 9:6 — “For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”
  • Micah 5:2 — “Bethlehem Ephrathah, you are small among the clans of Judah; One will come from you to be ruler over Israel for Me. His origin is from antiquity, from eternity.”
  • Matthew 2:4–6 — “So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born. ‘In Bethlehem of Judea,’ they told him, ‘because this is what was written by the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the leaders of Judah: because out of you will come a leader who will shepherd My people Israel.’”