Micah - Chapter 5

Micah 5.1 Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek. Micah 5.2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Micah 5.3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. Micah 5.4 And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth. Micah 5.5 And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men. Micah 5.6 And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders. Micah 5.7 And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the LORD, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor waiteth for the sons of men. Micah 5.8 And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver. Micah 5.9 Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off. Micah 5.10 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that I will cut off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots: Micah 5.11 And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strong holds: Micah 5.12 And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have no more soothsayers: Micah 5.13 Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands. Micah 5.14 And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so will I destroy thy cities. Micah 5.15 And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.

Micah : Chapter 5

The Prophecy of Micah and the Coming of the Messiah

Chapter 5 of the book of Micah prophesies the coming of the Messiah and the liberation of Israel. This crucial text asks us: where will the promised liberator come from? It predicts the birth of the eternal ruler in Bethlehem, thus establishing him in the line of David. Micah evokes the strength and peace this leader will bring, as well as the purification and exaltation of Israel among the nations. This chapter balances promises of restoration with warnings of judgment. Let's reflect together on five biblical passages that shed light on the messianic themes of this profound chapter.

Matthew 2:6

"But you, Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Governor, who will lead my people Israel like a shepherd." This verse directly quotes Micah 5:2, applying it to the birth of Jesus.

Isaiah 9:6

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulders. And he shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Like Micah 5:2-5a, Isaiah prophesies of a divine leader who will bring peace.

John 10:11

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." Jesus here identifies himself as the good shepherd, echoing the description of the leader in Micah 5:4.

Zechariah 9:10

"I will cut off the chariots from Ephraim and the war horses from Jerusalem, and the war bows will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion will be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth." This prophecy concerning the Messiah's peaceful kingdom aligns with Micah 5:5-6.

Revelation 19:15

"Out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, with which he will strike down the nations. He will rule them with a rod of iron. He treads the winepress of the fierce anger of Almighty God." This verse reflects the judgmental aspect of the messianic leader described in Micah 5:15.

These passages remind us of the importance of Micah's prophecy and encourage us to meditate on the coming of our Lord, the Messiah, who brings redemption and peace to his people.