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Majoring on the Minor Prophets – Lesson 30, Book of MICAH, pt. 5 – “Our Shepherd King”
The Book of Micah is the sixth of the twelve minor prophets in the Hebrew Bible. [1] Ostensibly, it records the sayings of Micah, whose name is Mikayahu ( Hebrew: מִיכָיָ֫הוּ ), meaning “Who is like Yahweh?” The book has three major divisions, chapters 1–2, 3–5 and 6–7, each introduced by the word “Hear,” with a pattern of alternating announcements of doom and expressions of hope within each division. Micah reproaches unjust leaders, defends the rights of the poor against the rich and powerful; while looking forward to a world at peace centered on Zion under the leadership of a new Davidic monarch, The Messiah. The book is divided as follows: I. Oracles of Punishment ( 1:2-3:12) II. Oracles of Salvation ( 4:1-5:14) III. Announcement of Judgment ( 6:1-7:6) IV. Confidence in God’s Future ( 7:7-20). Micah, a prophet during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, would’ve been a contemporary of Hosea and Isaiah. He provides one of the most significant prophecies of Jesus Christ’s birth in all the Old Testament, pointing some seven hundred years before Christ’s birth to His birthplace of Bethlehem and to His eternal nature ( Micah 5:2 ).
Birth of the King in Bethlehem – Micah 5:1-13 NASB1995
“1 “Now muster yourselves in troops, daughter of troops;”1 “Now muster yourselves in troops, daughter of troops;
They have laid siege against us;
With a rod they will smite the judge of Israel on the cheek.
2 But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Too little to be among the clans of Judah,
From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel.
His goings forth are from long ago,
From the days of eternity.”
3 Therefore He will give them up until the time
When she who is in labor has borne a child.
Then the remainder of His brethren
Will return to the sons of Israel.
4 And He will arise and shepherd His flock
In the strength of the Lord,
In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God.
And they will remain,
Because at that time He will be great
To the ends of the earth.
5 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.
6 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.
7 Then the remnant of Jacob
Will be among many peoples
Like dew from the Lord,
Like showers on vegetation
Which do not wait for man
Or delay for the sons of men.
8 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.
9 Your hand will be lifted up against your adversaries,
And all your enemies will be cut off.
10 “It will be in that day,” declares the Lord,
“That I will cut off your horses from among you
And destroy your chariots.
11 I will also cut off the cities of your land
And tear down all your fortifications.
12 I will cut off sorceries from your hand,
And you will have fortune-tellers no more.
13 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.
14 I will root out your Asherim from among you
And destroy your cities.
15 And I will execute vengeance in anger and wrath
On the nations which have not obeyed.” Micah 5:1-13 NASB1995