Micah Chapter 5

A Ruler from Bethlehem

A. The birth and the work of the Ruler from Bethlehem.

1. (Micah 5:1–2) From the lowly and humble in Israel comes a Ruler.

"Now gather yourself in troops,
O daughter of troops;
He has laid siege against us;
They will strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek.
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.”

a. He has laid siege against us: Micah declared that a time was coming when Israel would be surrounded and humiliated by foreign powers. The nation, pictured as the daughter of troops, would be forced to gather defensively rather than stand confidently. Even her judges and leaders would receive public insult, symbolized by being struck on the cheek—an act of contempt and disgrace. Israel would not escape judgment, but this humiliation would become the setting for God’s unexpected work of redemption.

b. But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah… out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel: In the midst of national shame and oppression, God promised to raise up a Ruler—not from a mighty city like Jerusalem, but from the small town of Bethlehem. Though Bethlehem was insignificant among the clans of Judah, God chose it as the birthplace of the Messiah. Bethlehem was the hometown of David, Israel’s greatest king, yet it had no political power or prominence. God deliberately used the humble to shame the proud and to demonstrate that His purposes are not dependent on human greatness.

This prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The chief priests and scribes quoted this very passage when King Herod asked where the Messiah would be born (Matthew 2:5–6). The name Bethlehem means “House of Bread,” and it is fitting that the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ, came from there (John 6:35). The ancient name Ephrathah means “fruitfulness” or “abundance.” Spurgeon noted that Christ brings true fruitfulness to barren hearts, for no spiritual life or fruit ever came from us until our lives were watered by the blood of the Savior.

c. Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting: This Ruler would be born in Bethlehem, yet His existence did not begin there. Micah declared that His origins are from eternity—He is not a mere man but the eternal Son of God. Scripture confirms this truth. Jesus said, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:13). There has never been a time when Jesus did not exist.

Before His birth in Bethlehem, Jesus existed in perfect fellowship and shared glory with God the Father (John 17:5, 24). The title “Jesus” was not used until it was revealed by the angel Gabriel to Mary (Luke 1:31), yet the eternal Son existed long before. Prior to His incarnation, He was the Creator of all things, for “all things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:1–3; Colossians 1:16–17). As Clarke wrote, if Jesus created all things, then He Himself cannot be a created being—He must be God.

In the Old Testament, the pre-incarnate Christ appeared as the Angel of the LORD—God in visible form. Individuals such as Hagar (Genesis 16:7–13), Abraham (Genesis 18), Jacob (Genesis 32:24–32), Joshua (Joshua 5:13–15), Gideon (Judges 6:11–24), Manoah and his wife (Judges 13:8–24), and the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace (Daniel 3) encountered this divine Person. In each case, the One who appeared is called the LORD, yet He appeared in human form—pointing forward to the incarnation.

From eternity past, Jesus was central to God’s plan. “He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world” (1 Peter 1:20), and God chose His people “in Him before the foundation of the world” (Ephesians 1:4).

d. Knowing that His goings forth are from everlasting teaches us important truths:
– It shows the glory of Jesus—He is more than a prophet or teacher; He is eternal God.
– It shows the love of Jesus—He willingly left heaven’s glory to enter our world and save us.
– It shows the nature of Jesus—He added humanity to His deity, becoming fully God and fully man.
– It shows the sympathy of Jesus—He remains eternally both God and man, able to represent us and intercede for us perfectly.

2. (Micah 5:3–5a) The Ruler serves His flock.

“Therefore He shall give them up,
Until the time that she who is in labor has given birth;
Then the remnant of His brethren
Shall return to the children of Israel.
And He shall stand and feed His flock
In the strength of the LORD,
In the majesty of the name of the LORD His God;
And they shall abide,
For now He shall be great
To the ends of the earth;
And this One shall be peace.”

a. He shall give them up, until the time: Micah foresaw a period when God would seem to withdraw His protective hand from Israel. This happened in part during the Babylonian exile when the nation was disciplined for its sin, but the prophecy ultimately looks to the future Great Tribulation. During that time, Israel will once again experience intense suffering and feel abandoned by God “until the time that she who is in labor has given birth.” This imagery connects to the birth of the Messiah through Israel but also to the future travail of Israel as she awaits her full restoration. During those periods, God “gives them up”—not in rejection but in discipline—until the appointed moment of redemption arrives.

b. Then the remnant of His brethren shall return… He shall stand and feed His flock in the strength of the LORD: After the time of discipline and waiting, God promises restoration. A remnant of His brethren, speaking of Israel, will return to the land and to covenant faithfulness. Ultimately, this will be fulfilled in the millennial reign of Christ when the remnant of Israel turns to their Messiah. The Ruler from Bethlehem—Jesus Christ—will “stand and feed His flock.” This means He will take His place as Shepherd and King, caring for His people, protecting them, and nourishing them. He will do this “in the strength of the LORD” and “in the majesty of the name of the LORD His God.” His shepherding is not weak or symbolic; it is powerful, royal, and divine.

c. They shall abide, for now He shall be great to the ends of the earth: Because of the greatness of the Messiah, His people will dwell securely. Their stability and safety do not come from their own strength or numbers but from His greatness. His rule will not be limited to Israel alone. His name and authority will extend “to the ends of the earth,” pointing to the global reign of Jesus Christ in the millennial kingdom when all nations will recognize His authority. The security of God’s people is rooted in His universal kingship.

d. This One shall be peace: The promise is not merely that He will bring peace, but that He Himself is peace. He is the embodiment and source of peace. Paul declared in Ephesians 2:14, “He Himself is our peace.” Peace is not merely a condition He creates; it flows from His very person. True peace—peace with God, peace within, and peace among men—comes only through Him. When He reigns, peace will characterize the world because peace is found in Him.

3. (Micah 5:5b–6) The Ruler delivers Jacob from Assyria.

“When the Assyrian comes into our land,
And when he treads in our palaces,
Then we will raise against him
Seven shepherds and eight princely men.
They shall waste with the sword the land of Assyria,
And the land of Nimrod at its entrances;
Thus He shall deliver us from the Assyrian,
When he comes into our land
And when he treads within our borders.”

a. When the Assyrian comes into our land: Following the prophetic pattern, Micah blended the immediate historical threat with a distant future fulfillment. The Assyrian Empire was an imminent danger to both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. Assyria would soon invade, conquer, and humiliate the land. However, beyond this immediate threat, Micah used “the Assyrian” as a broader prophetic symbol for any pagan nation or world power that sets itself against God’s people. In the last days, this finds its ultimate expression in the final oppressor of Israel during the Tribulation—often associated with the Antichrist. The prophecy, therefore, carries both a near fulfillment in Assyria’s invasion and a future fulfillment in Israel’s final deliverance by the Messiah.

b. Then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princely men: When the oppressor invades, God will not leave His people defenseless. Under His blessing, leaders—described symbolically as seven shepherds and eight princely men—will be raised up against the enemy. The numbers “seven and eight” are a Hebrew idiom indicating sufficiency and abundance—meaning God will provide more than enough leadership to defend His people. These shepherds represent rulers, defenders, and spiritual leaders through whom God will act. This reflects God’s consistent pattern: He raises godly leaders at the appointed time to deliver His people, whether judges like Gideon and Samson, kings like David, or, in the final sense, the Messiah Himself.

c. They shall waste with the sword the land of Assyria, and the land of Nimrod at its entrances: Those raised up by God will not only defend but go on the offensive. The land of Assyria and the land of Nimrod—another ancient name connected with Babylon and the broader region of Mesopotamia—will be struck and laid waste. “At its entrances” suggests a decisive victory even at the gates or strongholds of the enemy's territory. This points to total triumph granted by God over those who oppose Him and His people.

d. Thus He shall deliver us from the Assyrian: Ultimately, the source of deliverance is not the shepherds or princes, but the Messiah Himself. He is the One who delivers. The human leaders are instruments; He is the Savior. Whether it was Assyria in Micah’s day or the final oppressor in the last days, the pattern remains the same—God allows a time of affliction, but He never abandons His people and ultimately delivers them through His anointed King.

B. The triumph of the remnant of Jacob.

1. (Micah 5:7–9) The remnant is large and triumphant.

“Then the remnant of Jacob
Shall be in the midst of many peoples,
Like dew from the LORD,
Like showers on the grass,
That tarry for no man
Nor wait for the sons of men.
And the remnant of Jacob
Shall be among the Gentiles,
In the midst of many peoples,
Like a lion among the beasts of the forest,
Like a young lion among flocks of sheep,
Who, if he passes through,
Both treads down and tears in pieces,
And none can deliver.
Your hand shall be lifted against your adversaries,
And all your enemies shall be cut off.”

a. The remnant of Jacob shall be… like dew from the LORD: After Israel’s judgment and scattering among the nations, God promises that a remnant—those preserved by His grace—will remain. This remnant will not be insignificant or hidden; rather, it will be like dew from the LORD and showers on the grass. Dew appears quietly, without human effort, yet brings refreshment and life. It “tarries for no man,” meaning it is sovereignly given by God, not controlled by human schedules or strength. In the same way, God’s remnant will be a blessing among the nations. Their presence will provide spiritual refreshment and testimony of God’s mercy and covenant faithfulness. This speaks both of Israel’s role in spreading the knowledge of God and of the future restoration in the Millennial Kingdom, when Israel will be a source of blessing to the world as originally promised to Abraham.

b. And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles… like a lion among the beasts: The picture shifts from refreshing dew to conquering strength. Israel will not only be a blessing but also a force that cannot be resisted when God empowers them. The remnant will be like a lion among the beasts of the forest and like a young lion among flocks of sheep—unstoppable, fearless, and victorious. When a lion passes through, it tramples and tears its prey, and none can rescue. This imagery portrays Israel’s ultimate triumph over her enemies through the power of the Messiah. What was once a scattered, oppressed people becomes a strong and victorious nation. This will reach its complete fulfillment in the Millennial Kingdom when Christ reigns from Jerusalem and Israel is exalted among the nations.

c. Your hand shall be lifted against your adversaries, and all your enemies shall be cut off: The phrase “hand lifted” speaks of dominance, authority, and victory. No longer will Israel be the oppressed and conquered nation. Instead, under their Messiah, they will stand in victory over every enemy. Those who opposed them will be cut off entirely, signifying complete and final judgment. This is not accomplished by Israel’s strength alone, but by the LORD who fights for them. This final triumph fulfills God’s covenant promises that Israel would not only survive but be established in power and safety forever.

2. (Micah 5:10–15) The LORD is exalted among the remnant.

“And it shall be in that day,” says the LORD,
“That I will cut off your horses from your midst
And destroy your chariots.
I will cut off the cities of your land
And throw down all your strongholds.
I will cut off sorceries from your hand,
And you shall have no soothsayers.
Your carved images I will also cut off,
And your sacred pillars from your midst;
You shall no more worship the work of your hands;
I will pluck your wooden images from your midst;
Thus I will destroy your cities.
And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury
On the nations that have not heard.”

a. I will cut off your horses… the cities of your land… your strongholds… your sorceries… your carved images… your sacred pillars: In the day of Israel’s restoration, the LORD Himself will purify His people. He will remove every source of false trust and idolatry. Horses and chariots represent military strength—things that are not sinful in themselves, but become sinful when Israel relies on them instead of God. God will also remove fortified cities and strongholds—symbols of human security and pride. Beyond these, He will cut off things that are inherently evil—sorceries, soothsayers, carved images, and sacred pillars used in pagan worship. Israel will no longer worship what their hands have made. The LORD is declaring that in His kingdom, idolatry in every form will be uprooted, whether it is material, military, spiritual, or religious. This complete cleansing prepares Israel to fully worship the LORD alone.

b. You shall no more worship the work of your hands… I will pluck your wooden images from your midst: Israel’s future restoration will include full repentance. No longer will they bow to idols or trust in man-made objects. God Himself will ensure that every idol, every pagan altar, and every groves and wooden image is removed completely. This fulfills His covenant promise to write His law on their hearts and bring about true internal transformation, not merely external reform.

c. I will execute vengeance… on the nations that have not heard: God’s work of restoration is not only inward purification of His people, but also outward judgment against the rebellious nations. Those nations that refused to hear, respond, or submit to the LORD will face His vengeance. This is not petty revenge, but righteous judgment poured out by a holy God upon unrepentant nations that rejected His truth and persecuted His people. This points to the time of Christ’s return and the establishment of His millennial reign, when He will rule with a rod of iron. In that day, Israel will be purified, the LORD alone will be exalted, and the nations will be judged in righteousness.