Where is the source of our strength? (Mic 5:1-6)
Mic 5:1-6
Every now and then we meet godly people who touch our lives in a special way. What is attractive in them is not some flashy ability, a golden tongue, or extraordinary insights and skills. Rather, in their very being we sense something of God’s presence, a taste of peace, a solidity of purpose and strength. It is the kind of encounter that inspires us to seek the Lord more fully because we want to experience first-hand that deep fellowship and friendship with Him. What is the ‘secret’ of such a life? And what needs to happen for us to attain to it? If ever a people needed help with this, it was Israel.[1] The series of three prophecies that we have been looking at all start with the present distress ‘now’ (Mic 4:9, 11; 5:1) and refer to confusion and a feeling that there is no support (v.9), to arrogant enemies who gloat (v.11), and to external attack and humiliation (v.1). It is in times of trouble that the state of our heart is truly revealed. Do we have the inner resources to deal with the inevitable crises that come in our lives?
In Israel’s case, they are woefully unprepared to meet life’s challenges, but it is these very difficulties that can awaken them to their spiritual deficiency. As we have seen, they must go through exile and chastisement to come to their senses (Mic 4:10, see post here). They will also have to learn how different God’s perspective is on matters and that in His sovereignty He can overrule arrogant human plans (Mic 4:12, see post here). Finally, today’s reading brings the element of kingship to the mix. In the character of God’s choice for a king, we will recognise a reflection of God’s ways and attributes and to some extent what kind of people we should be. While as Christians we do not have a physical king like Israel did, we are also challenged to ask, who – or what – rules our hearts?
The historic circumstances of Mic 5:1 are again opaque. The siege may refer to the Assyrian attack of Jerusalem in 701 BC or to the Babylonian in 587 BC. Ironically, the king, who was the highest judge in the land and meant to exercise authority with ‘a rod of iron’ (Ps 2:9; the psalm describes God’s anointed king) was to be struck with a rod on the cheek indicating a humiliating insult.[2] God deals with the arrogance of nations, but He also strikes a blow to His own people’s pride. In contrast, the king of His choice will come from an insignificant town, just like his ancestor, David (Mic 5:2; Bethlehem is not mentioned among the tribal allotments of Judah – Josh 15:33-60). Judah will have to go through exile and pain before this messianic ruler will reunite the people and care for them as a shepherd (Mic 5:3-4). Relying on God’s strength and acting in line with His purposes (in His name) will lead to the establishment of God’s people to live in peace (Mic 5:4-5). Moreover, Israel will have more than enough leaders (seven is the number of completeness, eight indicates above and beyond what is needed – v.5) to deal with any enemy threat.
When we face challenges, financial, relational, health or in starting out in a new job, ministry or other venture, the question is: where does our strength come from? It is tempting to fall back on our own resources, to trust in managing for ourselves because we were taught not to depend on others and that relying on someone outside of ourselves is weakness. Yet, God has chosen the weak, those who are passed over and of no account in human estimation to achieve great things for His kingdom because they live and act in His power (1 Cor 1:26-31; 2:1-5). It is only as we are ruled by Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ that we have power not only to defend ourselves against outside threats but also to make conquests into enemy territory in a spiritual sense (Mic 5:6). May we seek and find strength in the Lord.
[1] I use Israel here to mean ‘God’s people’. Confusingly, the prophets called the Northern Kingdom Israel while it existed (722 BC) and then transferred the designation to Judah, since they were the ones left of the original tribes and hence of God’s people.
[2] King Hezekiah during the Assyrian crisis emptied the royal and temple treasury to pay Assyria off and when that power nevertheless surrounded Jerusalem, the Assyrian envoys consistently omitted Hezekiah’s title as king (e.g. 2 Kings 18:19, 29-31) – humiliating indeed. While he did repent and seek God, his early actions suggest that he initially relied on his own resources rather than on God. King Zedekiah, Judah’s last king, never accepted God’s verdict of judgment (Jer 32:2-3) and when it did come, he was blinded by the Babylonians and taken to exile in chains (Jer 39:7).
Notes on the text
Mic 5:2 –
Bethlehem Ephrathah – is distinguished from another Bethlehem further north. Ephrathah was perhaps the name of the region (Ruth 1:2). The name is symbolic. Beth-lehem means ‘house of bread’, Ephrathah means ‘fruitful’.
‘days of eternity’ (NASB) – While ‘olam can mean something like ‘eternity’ or ‘forever/permanently’, this expression ‘days of…’ elsewhere refers to a historic time and would be better translated ‘days of old’ (Isa 63:11; Amos 9:11; Mic 7:14; Mal 3:4). Since this prophecy is fulfilled in Jesus, some commentators insist that this is an early a hint of His divinity, but it is not necessary. Just because this was not revealed to ancient Israelites, it is still true, and the NT affirms it.
Mic 5:3 –
‘she who is in labor has borne a child’ (NASB) – This may refer to Messiah’s physical mother, but it is more likely to connect us back to Mic 4:10 where daughter Zion (another name for Jerusalem and ultimately God’s people) will be in ‘childbirth’. Symbolically, God’s people had to come to a place of repentance when they would be ready to receive the promised messianic king.
Mic 5:5-6 –
the Assyrian – The Assyrian empire was destroyed by Babylon in 605 BC at the battle of Carchemish and was not revived again, so that in Jesus’ time it no longer existed. Micah uses the great threat of his own time as a code word for all Israel’s enemies in the same way in Revelation Babylon stands for Rome and the epitome of ultimate evil (Rev 17:3-5, 9 – the seven mountains point to Rome built on seven hills).
land of Nimrod – a reference to Babylon (Gen 10:8, 10)
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