Project 119: Micah 5:1-6
| Project 119 | Dr. Wayne Splawn
God delights to work in ways we would not expect. Here in Micah 5, Micah states that God will raise up a ruler from His people from the most unexpected city of Bethlehem. Jerusalem was the city everyone associated with the worship of God. It was an important place of worship where the temple was located and the most logical city from which God might raise up a ruler. Bethlehem, in comparison, was a tiny city that Micah says was too little to be among the clans of Judah. How could anyone important come from Bethlehem? But, according to Micah, God would raise up a ruler to lead his people whose coming was from ancient days.
We know this prophecy was ultimately fulfilled in the true Messiah, Jesus Christ. In his telling of the birth of Jesus, Matthew draws on this prophetic word in Micah 5:2 to show that Jesus was the one through whom God would bring Micah’s word to pass. Jesus is the ruler from Bethlehem who would deliver God’s people from their greatest enemies, namely sin and death. Today, give God thanks for the gift of salvation made possible through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Also, ask the Lord to give you eyes to see the often surprising ways God brings His kingdom purposes to pass in this world.
Micah 5:1-6 (ESV):
The Ruler to Be Born in Bethlehem
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.