The Ruler, Shepherd and Deliverer
Notes
Transcript
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. When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men;
6 they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at its entrances; and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian when he comes into our land and treads within our border.
Introduction
Introduction
1 The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.
The Kings of Judah
Micah has seen Judah go through a similar path as Isreal (the Northern Kingdom), where Jotham was not a “bad” king, but there was still idolatry in Judah, see 2 Kings 15:32-38, and in those days the LORD began to send Syria and Israel against Judah. Then Micah say the son of Jotham, Ahaz reign in Judah. Unlike his father Ahaz walked in the ways of the Kings of Israel, even bringing a foreign altar to Jerusalem to give an offering to the LORD, see 2 Kings 16. Following Ahaz Hezekiah became King of Judah and although he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, see 2 Kings 18-20. The King of Assyria, Sennacherib, would still lay siege to Judah, because although the King did what was right the people, including the priests, were not being obedient but having a form of religion with no substance.
This section of Micah’s prophecy is referencing the attack of Assyria and Sennacherib on Judah, and his desire to capture Jerusalem. This seige is taking place in history in 701 AD, while the capital of the Northern Kingdom, Samaria, has already fallen, 722 AD and Jerusalem yet to fall to the Assyrians, that does not take place until AD 586.
This is the backdrop for the book of Micah, who is a contemporary of Isaiah. Judah has been through Kings who have followed the LORD and not followed the LORD. Micah has seen a people who has the practices of religion without the heart for what they claim and he is seeing the Assyrians lay siege to Judah.
The Kings of Judah
The Assault on Judah
Current State of Judah
Current State of Judah
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.
Distressed City
Micah is speaking of the city of Jerusalem, when calling out the ‘daughter of troops’. Micah is calling on them to muster their troops. The word muster is an interesting word in the Hebrew, which can also have the theme of cutting oneself. The CSB renders this verse as follows:
1 Now, daughter who is under attack, you slash yourself in grief; a siege is set against us! They are striking the judge of Israel on the cheek with a rod.
Micah is getting the point across concerning the grief and despair that those in the city of Jerusalem are experiencing. This is not to say they were cutting themselves, but he is using this figure of speech to indicate how dire their circumstance is. This practice was done in other Ancient Near East nations, when there was a death or when some other major misfortune, like being overtaken and falling into enemy hands.
Distressed Judge
In addition to the state of the city of Jerusalem, Micah also wants to point to the state of the king. The judge, the one who is meant to mete out judgement, who is to mete out judgment as the LORD gives wisdom and knowledge, the one who has been appointed in Judah by the LORD to hold the sceptre of righteousness is being struck.
1 Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son!
2 May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice!
This judge is being struck, this judge of Judah is being hit with a rod on the cheek. Along with the city and the people in the city, the ruler of Judah under this seige is being humiliated, is being shown to be impotent, this judge cannot overcome and his humiliation adds to the plight of the people.
Micah is painting a picture Jerusalem’s current circumstance, he is ensuring that all who hear this oracle understand and can empathize with the state of Jerusalem.
The Promised Ruler
The Promised Ruler
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.
The LORD’s Promise
The LORD’s Promise
So although we see the current calamity of Jerusalem, we see the depths of sorrow that the people of Jerusalem are going through. We also see hope in these verse. The hope that God provides for His people. This is a hope that speaks to a promised one who is coming, to one who will replace the humiliated and impotent King.
We see the LORD is promising a Ruler .
Bethlehem-Ephrathah
With the callout of Bethlehem Ephrathah, we see the LORD God keeping His Plan and Covenant with David, expanding on the hope that we are to have beyond David to Him alone. With the understanding that God is a Sovereign and Providential God, Understanding that God is a Faithful God, that God is not one who lies or tells falsehoods. Nothing has changed God was still working His plan even in the dire times of a fallen Israel and an under siege Jerusalem.
The LORD gives some information about this us an address and a characterization, Bethlehem Ephrathah, which is small among the settlements of Judah. This was not a place of huge significance, but it was the place where the LORD would call out His king, the one that He chose. God can used this small place to accomplish His purposes and His promises. a small clan, why is this significant. This is where King David was called from.
1 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.”
For David is of the line of Ruth and Moab, who reside in Bethlehem.
11 Then all the people who were at the gate and the elders said, “We are witnesses. May the Lord make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you act worthily in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem,
For David received the Covenant from God and it was that David’s kingdom would be made sure before the LORD and that David’s throne would be established forever.
35 Once for all I have sworn by my holiness; I will not lie to David.
36 His offspring shall endure forever, his throne as long as the sun before me.
A Ruler over Israel For Me
The LORD notes that this ruler will be ruler in Israel (both the Northern and Southern Kingdom) and that He shall come forth for Me. The ruler will be for the LORD God, Carrying out the Activities of the LORD God, no longer swayed by the surrounding nations, but for the LORD.
From Old/Ancient Days
The LORD notes that this ruler will be from Old and Ancient of Days, meaning of antiquity. He is from pre-historic times, earliest ages in the history of the world time.
Appointed Time
There is a time when He will be born, meaning this ruler is not here yet, but there is an appointed time for Him to make His entrance and when He does, He will be the precursor for the return of his brothers.
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
The Ruler is Fulfilled in Jesus
The Ruler is Fulfilled in Jesus
Jesus is the one born in Bethlehem.
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.’ ”
And John the Evangelist pens
42 Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?”
Jesus is the one who is Solely for the Father
30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.
4 I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do.
Jesus is the one who is from of Old and Ancient of Days
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.”
57 So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”
58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
John also pens
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—
2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—
Jesus is the one born at the appointed time
30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
The Right Shepherd
The Right Shepherd
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.
The LORD’s Shepherd
The LORD’s Shepherd
The oracle identifies the coming ruler will also be a shepherd. The idea of a shepherd is not apart from ruling, in fact it was a common metaphor in the Ancient Near East and something that Micah has mentioned twice already.
12 I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob; I will gather the remnant of Israel; I will set them together like sheep in a fold, like a flock in its pasture, a noisy multitude of men.
6 In that day, declares the Lord, I will assemble the lame and gather those who have been driven away and those whom I have afflicted;
7 and the lame I will make the remnant, and those who were cast off, a strong nation; and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion from this time forth and forevermore.
8 And you, O tower of the flock, hill of the daughter of Zion, to you shall it come, the former dominion shall come, kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem.
Stand
The Oracle notes that this shepherd will stand, meaning that he will be in position. This is his rightful position.
Shepherd
The oracle also notes that the promised ruler will shepherd. The sense of David, being taken from the field shepherd the flock, bringing this forward to the people Israel that David cared for can be seen here. Where the shepherd would protect the flock, would lead the people. The promised One will carry this out for Israel as well.
He will shepherd in the strength of the LORD. As the LORD gives direction. The promised ruler will not be subject to his own desires and wants. The promised ruler will not be easily led astray by the surrounding nations. The Promised King leans on the LORD and allows His footsteps to be guided by the LORD. The rulers strength shall be in the LORD and from the LORD.
He will also shepherd in reverence to the name of the LORD. Where the name of the LORD is revered, held in high esteem. The actions of the shepherd consider the name of the LORD in all their actions, not as one who does not hold the LORD’s name and the LORD himself in reverence.
Secure and Great
The oracle gives us the result, which is the security of the people, of the flock. Where the flock is protected to the point where they sit in their place, they remain and dwell in Israel. Without fear of being under siege, without fear of a humiliated ruler. Because the king is now great, the shepherd is important, his importance precedes him throughout the whole earth.
The Redemptive Shepherd is Jesus
The Redemptive Shepherd is Jesus
Jesus is the one who rightfully stands as the shepherd. There is no question of His position and His standing.
10 Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.
11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.
The arm of the LORD rules, … He will tend His flock like a shepherd. He has come for the lost sheep of Israel
11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.”
23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.”
24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Jesus is the one who shepherds in the strength and the majestic name of the LORD. Jesus does as the Father wants, cares for those whom the Father sends. Jesus is the one who has compassion on Israel as they are without a shepherd until he steps in.
We see His compassion for the people of Israel who are without a shepherd.
36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
We see that Jesus knows His own sheep and His sheep will know Him
3 To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”
Jesus Protects the sheep
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
Jesus is great to the end of the earth
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David,
Jesus’ Name is Greater than Any Name
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The creatures of heaven and elders in heaven exalt Jesus the Christ.
8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
9 And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”
The Needed Deliverer
The Needed Deliverer
5 And he shall be their peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men;
6 they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at its entrances; and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian when he comes into our land and treads within our border.
The Confidence in the LORD’s Chosen
The Confidence in the LORD’s Chosen
The LORD is the one who confidence should be in. In nothing and no one else. Not in the chariots that have been accrued, not in the armament that they have. Confidence is in the LORD and His appointed King.
The peace of the People
This king brings peace, shalom, among his people. Where there is no war to be had in the land which Israel dwells. This peace is accompanied with the under-shepherds and princes that the king has. With this ruler there is no lack of persons ready and willing to follow. Willing to carry out the will of the ruler of Israel. They will not speak nicely when necessary, rather will wield the sword as commanded, striking down enemies as they attack as far back as their own gates.
Deliverance from the enemy
The ruler of the LORD will deliver Israel from the enemy, the Assyrians. the ruler of Israel will pull them out of harms way, He will save them.
The Ultimate Deliverer is Found in Jesus
The Ultimate Deliverer is Found in Jesus
Jesus is our Ultimate Peace
We have peace in Jesus, We have rest in Jesus. The peace of Jesus extends to all who believe in Him, both Israel and Gentile. That is why Paul writes of the one new man in Jesus that provides a peace for all who believe, removing the angst that comes with the condemnation that comes with the law of commandments.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility
15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,
Jesus gives us a peace that goes beyond what we would not normally comprehend, Jesus gives us a hope that allows those who believe in Him to deal with any enemies who come our way. We have our ultimate peace in Christ and the inheritance and expectation we have in Him.
Jesus is our Ultimate Deliverer
Jesus is our deliverer, both Jew and Gentile. Apart from Jesus there is no salvation from the enemy.
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus is the One sent by the Father to provide eternal life.
11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
Jesus is our Hope as the Firstborn of Creation that we may follow behind
18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
For the ruler delivers from the threat of any who would attack, in Jesus we who believe are be delivered from out ultimate enemy, then enemy that was realized at the sin of Adam, death. For once the fruit was eaten from the tree the consequence of sin was realized and man died, spiritually and physically. But in Jesus we can have eternal life. As Jesus is the one who was sent by the Father, the Messiah who was promised, the Shepherd for His people who addresses the sin debt that we could not address. Just as John says:
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.