Micah 5:5-7

Protection for God's people -- Micah 5:5-7: The children of Israel would spend seventy years in captivity as promised by the Almighty. God promised that He would raise up, "seven shepherds and eight princes among men." This is a prediction that the Lord would not allow His people to be retained forever in exile by the Assyrians. He would raise up men to lead Israel back home. Among those leaders were Ezra and Nehemiah. The name Nimrod appears in connection with Assyria because the nations can be traced back to him. (Genesis 10:9-11) God's people would be taken into this horrible captivity, but when the time was right He would deliver them and preserve the nation through which the Messiah would be born.

A few of Jacob's descendants would survive being carried into captivity. They would be scattered among the nations. God said that they would cover the earth like dew and rain. Sunshine, dew and rain all come through the bounty of God. The dew is a small thing and the gentle rain is a small thing but the influence of both is great. The remnant that would be brought back would also be small but because of the Messiah descending through them their influence would be great.