BIG IDEA:
WHO IS AN ETERNAL GOD LIKE YOU – WORKING OUT YOUR PLAN OF DELIVERANCE ACCORDING TO YOUR PROVIDENTIAL TIMETABLE?
THE GOD OF PEACE WILL PURIFY HIS PEOPLE, SHEPHERD HIS FLOCK AND EXECUTE VENGEANCE
I. (:1-3) PROMISE OF DELAYED DELIVERANCE THROUGH GOD’S APPOINTED RULER (WHO HAS BEEN ACTIVELY WORKING FROM ETERNITY PAST)
God’s concept of time and the fulfillment of His program according to His sovereign schedule is key in this section
A. (:1) Leadership Crisis in Context of Warfare
1. Battle Cry to Israel
“Now muster yourselves in troops, daughter of troops;”
2. Impotency of Israel’s Human Leadership
“They have laid siege against us;
With a rod they will smite the judge of Israel on the cheek.”
B. (:2) Messianic Deliverer Promised
1. Humble, Surprising Origins
“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Too little to be among the clans of Judah”
2. Divinely Appointed Ruler
“From you One will go forth from Me to be ruler in Israel”
3. Eternal, Incomprehensible Origins
“His goings forth are from long ago,
From the days of eternity.”
C. (:3) Deliverance Delayed Until the Regathering of the Nation Under the Messiah
1. Temporary Suffering – Birth Pangs
“Therefore He will give them up until the time
When she who is in labor has borne a child.”
2. Timely Regathering and Deliverance
“Then the remainder of His brethren
Will return to the sons of Israel.”
II. (:4-6) PROMISE OF PROTECTION BY THE MAJESTIC REIGN OF THE SHEPHERDING MESSIAH WHO IS OUR PEACE
A. (:4) Protection Assured By His Majestic Greatness
1. His Anticipated Coming
“And He will arise”
2. His Awesome Shepherding
“and shepherd His flock”
a. “In the strength of the Lord,”
b. “In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God.”
3. His Abiding Security
“And they will remain”
4. His Acknowledged Greatness
“Because at that time He will be great to the ends of the earth.”
B. (:5) Protection Advanced By His Leaders Who Wage War to Keep Peace
“This One will be our peace.
When the Assyrian invades our land,
When he tramples on our citadels,
Then we will raise against him
Seven shepherds and eight leaders of men.”
C. (:6) Protection Accomplished By Deliverance from All Attackers
“They will shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword,
The land of Nimrod at its entrances;
And he will deliver us from the Assyrian
When he attacks our land
And when he tramples our territory.”
III. (:7-9) PROMISE OF PERVASIVE VICTORY TO THE REMNANT OF JACOB – BRINGING BLESSING TO THE RIGHTEOUS AND DESTRUCTION TO THE WICKED
Cf. 2 Cor. 2:14-16
A. (:7) Analogy #1 – Refreshing Like the Morning Dew – to the Righteous
“Then the remnant of Jacob Will be among many peoples
Like the dew from the Lord, Like showers on vegetation
Which do not wait for man Or delay for the sons of men.”
B. (:8-9) Analogy #2 – Destructive Like the Predatory Lion – to the Wicked
“The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations,
Among many peoples like a lion among the beasts of the forest,
Like a young lion among flocks of sheep,
Which, if he passes through, tramples down and tears,
And there is none to rescue.
Your hand will be lifted up against your adversaries,
And all your enemies will be cut off.”
Wiersbe: Though small in number, the Jewish remnant of the last days will experience great help from the Lord as they face their enemies. Micah used two similes to illustrate this blessing: the refreshing dew from heaven and the conquering strength of the lion. God will enable His people to overcome like lions and then bring fruitfulness to the world like the dew that watered Israel’s crops (Psa. 133:3). Israel will triumph over her enemies through the power of the Lord.
IV. (:10-15) PROMISE OF PURIFICATION OF GOD’S RESTORED PEOPLE UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE MESSIAH
A. (:10) Purified From False Military Dependence
“’It will be in that day,’ declares the Lord,
‘That I will cut off your horses from among you
And destroy your chariots.’”
B. (:11) Purified From False Security (and Pride) of City Fortifications
“I will also cut off the cities of your land
And tear down all your fortifications.”
C. (:12) Purified From False Religious Charlatans
“I will cut off sorceries from your hand,
And you will have fortune-tellers no more.”
D. (:13-14) Purified From False Idolatrous Worship
1. Man-made Idols
“I will cut off your carved images
And your sacred pillars from among you,
So that you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands.”
2. Pagan Gods
“I will root out your Asherim from among you,
And destroy your cities.”
Fraser: wooden poles erected to symbolize the Canaanite deity Astarte.
E. (:15) Purified From Pagan Enemy Nations
“And I will execute vengeance in anger and wrath
On the nations which have not obeyed.”