From Micah 1-7
Set during the time when Israel is sent into exile and Judah is progressing towards their own. Micah delivers another series of judgments, exhortations and predictions of future restoration and hope. The following predicts the coming of someone important.
This post is part of my bible in a year series.
Passage and Comments
1 Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops;
siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek.
2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.
3 Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of his brothers shall return to the people of Israel.
4 And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.
5 And he shall be their peace. (Mic 5.1-5a)
I cannot imagine it would have been easy on the LORD’s prophets during those times. Being among the wickedness of that time, having to proclaim judgment and point out people’s sins. One consoling element in their ministry were the rays of hope we see above. But when would this happen? Would it happen soon? Micah displays a very helpful attitude in respect to the combination of judgment and prophecy. He says;
7 But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. (Mic 7.7)
Much of the time spent by God’s people is waiting for the LORD to bring about his plans. Waiting, hoping and trusting. Are their issues in your life you need to wait, hope and trust in the LORD for? This is the norm for God’s people.
Story of Israel
The people Micah was speaking to continued in their sin. No doubt there was a faithful remnant who waited on the LORD. But Judah was taken into Babylon in exile. But during that time the LORD still cared for them and as we know he eventually brought them back to the land. The prophecy above up and until this time still had not been fulfilled. Those who believed in the LORD still waited, hoped and trusted that God would fulfill this prophecy.
Story of Jesus
Then Jesus was born.
2.1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “ ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ” (Mt 2.1-6)
The LORD is faithful to the prophecy. Jesus the Christ our king, was born in Bethlehem. The LORD is good to those who wait, hope and trust in him.
Copyright © Joshua Washington and thescripturesays, 2014. All Rights Reserved.
