Announcing the Messiah (Part 3)
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Over the past two weeks, we have been looking at some of the prophetic announcements that announced the Messiah! Two weeks ago we looked at the prophetic Psalm 110. Last week we looked a two prophecies from Isaiah one in chapter 7 and the other in chapter 9.
Today we want to look at a prophecy in Micah. So if you have your Bibles, I want to encourage you to turn with me to Micah chapter 5.
Now to understand Micah 5, we have to know where it comes in the book. Micah 4 talks about the Millennial reign of Jesus in the Last days.
The Tanakh—the Hebrew Holy Scripture—verse 1 of Micah 5 is the last verse of Micah 4. For them, Micah 5 begins with verse 2. Let’s look at verse 2.
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
This verse tells gives us a lot of information about the Messiah.
He will be born in Bethlehem. Ephrathah is an older name for Bethlehem.
Bethlehem was so small that it was not even included in the list of towns in either Joshua 15, or Nehemiah 11.
Yet out of this small town would come the King—the ruler over all of Israel.
This Messiah—King is from ancient times—reminding us of John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
So then, when the wise men went to King Herod they asked him, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him” (Matt. 2:2) it was not hard for the wise men to search the Tanakh and find where the “Messiah,” the Jewish King, would be born.
The Jews had been looking for the Messiah for so long! And Micah prophesied that there would be a delay in His coming. Look at verse 3.
Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor gives birth and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites.
When we come to verse 4 we see what kind of ruler will He will be.
He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace. When the Assyrian invades our land and marches through our fortresses, we will raise against him seven shepherds, even eight leaders of men.
He will stand—nothing can make Him move. This was something kings of Judah did not do.
He will be a shepherd to Israel, His flock. Both the good kings and bad kings of Judah failed to shepherd the people—shepherding them to follow God.
He will operate out of the strength of YHWH.
His greatness will reach the end of the earth.
He will be out peace.
And he will be their peace. When the Assyrian invades our land and marches through our fortresses, we will raise against him seven shepherds, even eight leaders of men. They will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod with drawn sword. He will deliver us from the Assyrian when he invades our land and marches into our borders.
He will raise seven or eight rulers (commanders) to rule over Assyria (the arch enemies of Israel).
He will deliver His people when the Assyrians try to cross Israel’s borders.
After the Messiah roots out Israel’s enemies, the remnant of Israel will be like:
The remnant of Jacob will be in the midst of many peoples like dew from the Lord, like showers on the grass, which do not wait for man or linger for mankind. The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which mauls and mangles as it goes, and no one can rescue. Your hand will be lifted up in triumph over your enemies, and all your foes will be destroyed.
A refreshing dew, or refreshing showers.
The remnant will strong be like a lion among the sheep.
Yet the Messiah, will be make Israel triumphant over all their enemies.
“In that day,” declares the Lord, “I will destroy your horses from among you and demolish your chariots. I will destroy the cities of your land and tear down all your strongholds.
Despite the command in Deuteronomy 17:16, Israel’s kings had been trusting in their military might (horses), and their fortified cities and strong fortresses (strongholds).
So, God says in the last days He will destroy these.
I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells. I will destroy your carved images and your sacred stones from among you; you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands. I will uproot from among you your Asherah poles and demolish your cities.
The Messiah will destroy all witchcraft.
The Messiah will destroy all their idols, sacred stones, and polls of worship.
I will take vengeance in anger and wrath upon the nations that have not obeyed me.”
The messiah will take vengeance on ANY nation that have not obeyed God.
SO WHAT
SO WHAT
Everyone loves a baby in the manger and this passage in Micah begins by telling where the baby will be born. But the passage ends with this baby as the adult Messiah:
The immovable Shepherd.
The Strong and Mighty King.
The Ruler of all rulers! A Mighty Warrior!
The Peace Maker! For no one can withstand Him.
The conqueror over Israel’s enemies, and over God’s enemies.
The only one that Israel’s can depend on. For He will destroy anything they use to trust other than Him!
The destroyer of witchcraft , and idols.
The Vengeance against any nation that doesn’t obey God!
From a baby in a manger with the most unlikely beginning to the conquering, ruling King!