5:1This teader was probably King Zedekiah, who was reigning in Jerusalem when Nebuchadnezzar conquered the city (2 Kings 25:1, 2). Zedekiah was the last of the kings in David’s line to sit on the throne in Jerusalem. Micah said that the next king in David's line would be the Messiah, who would establish a Kingdom that would never end.
Life Application Study BibleMicahChapter 5
Micah 5
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 1471, 1472
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
5Micah 5
1one whose origins are from the distant past.
3The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemiesuntil the woman in labor gives birth.Then at last his fellow countrymenwill return from exile to their own land.
4And he will stand to lead his flock with the LORD’s strength,in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.Then his people will live there undisturbed,for he will be highly honored around the world.
5And he will be the source of peace.When the Assyrians invade our landand break through our defenses,we will appoint seven rulers to watch over us,eight princes to lead us.
6They will rule Assyria with drawn swordsand enter the gates of the land of Nimrod.He will rescue us from the Assyrianswhen they pour over the borders to invade our land.
The Remnant Purified
77 Then the remnant left in Israel*will take their place among the nations.They will be like dew sent by the LORDor like rain falling on the grass,which no one can hold backand no one can restrain.
8The remnant left in Israelwill take their place among the nations.They will be like a lion among the animals of the forest,like a strong young lion among flocks of sheep and goats,
pouncing and tearing as they gowith no rescuer in sight.
9The people of Israel will stand up to their foes,and all their enemies will be wiped out.
10“Tn that day,” says the LORD,“I will slaughter your horsesand destroy your chariots.
11T will tear down your wallsand demolish your defenses.
12T will put an end to all witchcraft,and there will be no more fortune-tellers.
13J will destroy all your idols and sacred pillars,so you will never again worship the work of your own hands.
14I will abolish your idol shrines with their Asherah polesand destroy your pagan cities.
15T will pour out my vengeanceon all the nations that refuse to obey me.”
3. The trial of the people
The LORD’s Case against Israel
Listen to what the LORD is saying:“Stand up and state your case against me.
Textual footnotes
- 5:1 Verse 5:1 is numbered 4:14 in Hebrew text.
- 5:2 Verses 5:2-15 are numbered 5:
- 5:7 Hebrew in Jacob; also in 5:8. See note on 1:5a.
Life Application Notes 8 notes
5:1ffJerusalem’s leaders were obsessed with wealth and position, but Micah prophesied that mighty Jerusalem, with all its wealth and power, would be besieged and destroyed. Its king could not save it. In contrast, Bethlehem, a tiny town, would be the birthplace of the only ruler who could save his people. This deliverer, the Messiah, would be born as a baby in Bethlehem (Luke 2:4-7) and eventually would reign as the eternal King (Revelation 19-22).
5:2Ephrathah was the district in which Bethlehem was located.
5:2This ruler is Jesus, the Messiah. Micah accurately predicted Christ’s birthplace hundreds of years before Jesus was born. The promised eternal King in David’s line, who would come to live as a man, had been alive forever—“whose origins are from the distant past.” Although eternal, Christ entered human history as the man, Jesus of Nazareth.
5:5This chapter provides one of the clearest Old Testament prophecies of Christ's coming. The key descriptive phrase is “he will be the source of peace.” In one of Christ's final talks he said, “lam leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid” (John 14:27). Because of Christ’s first coming, we have the opportunity to experience peace with Ged with no more fear of judgment and ne more conflict and guilt. Christ’s peace gives us assurance even though wars continue. At Christ’s second coming, all wars and weapons will be destroyed (4:3-5).
5:5Micah’s prophecy of seven rulers and eight princes is a figurative way of saying that the Messiah will raise up many good leaders when he returns to reign. This contrasts with Micah’s words in chapter 3 about Judah’s corrupt!eaders. “The Assyrians” symbolically refer to all nations in every age that oppose God’s people. These good leaders will help Christ defeat all evil in the world.
5:6The land of Nimrod is another name for Assyria, which, in this case, is a symbol of all the evi! nations in the world.
5:10When God rules in his eternal Kingdom, our strength and deliverance will not be found in military might but in God’s almighty power. God will destroy all the weapons that people use for security. Armies will not be needed because God will rule in the heart of every person. Instead of being overwhelmed by fear of invasion or nuclear attack, we should have confidence in God. §:12-14 Idols, sacred pillars, and Asherah poles were all part of pagan worship.