Micah 5

Introduction

(Tell the story of Assyria capturing Israel all the way to them surrounding Jerusalem with 185,000 soldiers) Assyria invaded Judah during the early stages of Hezekiah’s reign and captured her strongholds (2 Kings 18:13). Hezekiah rebelled against Assyria in favor of obeying the Lord.

-After much turmoil and prayer by Hezekiah God gave them victory and restored a remnant of Judah (2 Kings 19:29-31). And the king of Assyria went back home.

I. The Liberation of the Messiah (v. 1-6)

A. In the midst of the invasion and siege of all Judah’s fortified cities, Micah makes a rallying cry to the people (v. 1)

1. Assyria was God’s tool to judge Israel for her sins. They were taken away into captivity

2. Now, Assyria shifted their sights to Judah, to smite them in a similar way

B. The people of Judah were under stress and difficulty. They must have thought that Hezekiah’s actions are unwise and are bringing ruin upon them. But Micah promised a future ruler who will do great things (v. 2-6)

1. The new Ruler will be better in every way:

a. He will be from humble beginnings in Bethlehem Ephrathah (means Fruitful in the House of Bread, v. 2a)

b. His rule is sanctioned by God and He Himself will come from eternity past (will be Divine, v. 2b)

c. He will gather His people as a remnant after their trials (v. 3)

d. He will be the Good Shepherd, caring for and leading His flock in the Name and Strength of God. He will be great (v. 4)

e. He is the Peace of His people (v. 5a)

f. He is the Deliverer (v. 6)

2. In spite of people’s possible perception of Hezekiah, he acted as a good king should, he prayed for God’s help while Jerusalem was surrounded by the army of the Assyrians. Here’s what happened:

a. 2 Kings 19:35–37 “And that night the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. Then Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went home and lived at Nineveh. And as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, Adrammelech and Sharezer, his sons, struck him down with the sword and escaped into the land of Ararat. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.”

b. Hezekiah was powerless on his own and he called out to the One who had the power to work! We see that The Angel of the Lord took charge and slayed 185,000 Assyrians in one night, casting judgment upon those who chose to do evil on God’s people by their own might

c. The coming ruler from Bethlehem would be even greater than Hezekiah. He would bring forth the future glory of the “last days” from ch. 4: establishing the people in the Lord, gathering His flock, and leading them in strength

C. If God sent the Angel of the Lord to do that amazing feat, how much greater would His Messiah be at the incarnation

1. Of course, we recognize the prophecy to be referring to Jesus. In fact, it is most likely that The Angel of the Lord in the O. T. is the preincarnate Christ

a. When the wise men came in search of the King of Judah who had been born they inquired of Herod where he was, quoting the prophet Micah, Matthew 2:6 ““ ‘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.’ ””

b. He did the work to liberate Judah from the Assyrian army and now He has done the work to liberate people from their sins

2. Jesus had humble beginnings by being born as a baby in Bethlehem, He is God and from eternity past (He has been the plan from before the foundations of the world)

a. He is the Good Shepherd who gathers His flock in strength protecting her and leading her in the name of the Lord. He is the Prince of Peace and protects us from the power of sin

b. He has raised up the church with her leaders to be sufficient to train in righteousness and deny ungodliness (seven shepherds/eight leaders), and Jesus has delivered us from the power of sin and death

3. It is only through Jesus that the glory of Judah’s latter days comes to fruition. Jesus instituted the church to gather people from every nation into His kingdom and has established us in His Name

a. Now, no matter what is thrown at us, we can overcome by the strength of the Good Shepherd. Whether it’s an army of 185,000 people or a constant temptation, or doubts in your mind, or anxiety, or depression. We can overcome!

b. The powers of the world around us seem strong and relentless. Sometimes we may feel weak and powerless when facing such opposition. But the same power that raised Jesus from the dead now lives in us

1. Romans 8:10–11 “But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.”

2. Pursue Jesus, because He alone gives us the victory

II. The Remnant of the Lord (v. 7-15)

A. God’s remnant , who are gathered by the Messianic Ruler, will not be found lacking (v. 7-15)

1. God’s people will...

a. Dwell throughout the world, among many people (v. 7)

b. Will have victory over their enemies (v. 8-9)

2. The Messiah will be the One who gives them the ultimate victory (v. 10-15)

a. His peoples’ strengths are removed and replaced with His Power (v. 10-11)

b. Their idols will be removed and they will worship the true God (v. 12-14)

c. Vengeance and wrath for other nations, who refuse to obey while they live in righteousness (v. 15)

B. Think of how beautiful it is to be part of Christ’s church

1. Our family is vast and spread throughout the world (as many as the sand on the seashore), the enemy, sin, has been defeated and death will be defeated at Jesus’ return

a. There must be a shift in our perspective from our strengths to God’s strength

1. Steven Curtis Chapman has a song called “Whatever.” It begins like this, “I made a list, wrote down from A to Z, all the ways I thought you could best use me, from all my strengths to my abilities. I made a plan, it seemed to make good sense, I laid it out for you so sure you’d be convinced. I made my case, presented my defense, but then I read the letter that you sent me. It said that all you really want from me is just Whatever, whatever you say. Whatever, I will obey. Whatever, Lord have your way. Cause you are my God, whatever.”

2. We may count our skills and abilities as something God will be excited to use. But Paul offers a different perspective (2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”)

b. No longer will we look to worldly solutions, money, false gods, or man’s wisdom for victory. Now, Jesus is our focus

c. Yes, Satan and sin surrounds us, yet, we do not need to worry about them. For their power is temporary and wains in comparison to the Awesome Power of Jesus. He will bring wrath and vengeance on those who choose to live for Satan/sin instead of Him

2. Romans 8:33–39 “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Conclusion

I’ve got news for you, you don’t have the strength to overcome the armies your facing. It is God who can and has defeated your enemies. Let’s do what Hezekiah did in the midst of turmoil and trials: pray and follow.

Pray to the God who can do anything to handle what you cannot. He will strengthen your weakness.

Jesus is the Great Ruler from humble beginnings who now reigns on High. Follow His lead. Don’t wait to do what pleases Him because it isn’t your strong suit. Let God handle the fruit and the strengthening, you be willing to follow His lead, even when it’s scary.

He can and will give you victory, He already has over sin. He can give you victory over the struggles you face in life, over personal turmoil, over the ways you choose to serve, everything. Remember what we read in Romans 8, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us”