Micah 5 - Introduction

The Messiah Will Come From Bethlehem

Micah Five

The sin of Israel had caused the nation to fall into disgrace. The enemies would now come and it would do no good for Israel to gather her troops because God had departed from her. The enemies would prevail and smite Israel. When they were taken into captivity the leaders of Israel would be treated shamefully. Their idolatry, dishonesty, acceptance of bribes and disregard for the poor would be punished severely. Lest the people should feel "total despair" for the nation the Lord promised the coming of the Messiah. God promised, "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting." (Micah 5:2)

Jesus existed in eternity as a member of the Godhead. He came to this earth as the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16) The psalmist wrote of Jesus, "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." (Psalms 90:2) Jesus existed even before Abraham. (John 8:58) He came to the earth as Savior of the world. (Matthew 1:21) He is head of His church, the spiritual kingdom or spiritual Israel. (Ephesians 1:22-23) Bethlehem signifies or means the house of bread. No place could be more fitting for the birth of "the bread of life" than this place. (John 6:48) At the fullness of time the Lord Jesus was born of a woman at Bethlehem. God provided spiritual restoration through the Messiah. The Messiah would bring peace, but more than that He is peace. (Ephesians 2:14)

Micah also pictured a time when Israel would go into captivity in Assyria. This captivity by the Assyrians would come shortly. At the end of seventy years a remnant of Israel would be restored to their homeland with God's blessings. At the end of the captivity God would raise up strong leaders to bring His people home. When God decided to bring the remnant home it would be a wide spread deliverance, like dew upon the ground or like rain upon the grass. His deliverance would not only be wide spread but it would also be strong, like a lion. When He delivered His people God would execute vengeance upon the nations that refused to hear His message. As the Jews were restored to their homeland God would cut off things that had separated his people from Him in the beginning. The Jews would not bring back idolatry with them as they returned from captivity.