In total Control

Micah 5:1-5

As Micah tells about the suffering, the attack and the siege of Jerusalem and the humiliation of it’s leaders, he also wants us to understand that our God is always in total control of all that He is allowing to happen.  Micah has been telling the people and the leaders to repent or God’s judgment will come and it is a dim comparison but today it is like telling the people of the United States that disaster is coming from a small nation like Iran, or from an evil group like ISIS. 

And in the same breath, proclaiming the most wonderful news, of a new ruler who would come from the hometown of King David, Bethlehem Ephrathah, and his origin is from antiquity, from eternity.  I feel the need for an insert at this time; do you recall in 1 Samuel the people wanting a king like all the nations around them, and so God sent Samuel to Saul and he anointed him king.  Do you recall that 1 Samuel 10:23, states that when Saul stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward, and the people cry “Long live the king!”  And I’m sure you recall king Saul trying to play the role of God and it was all over even though he and the people did not know it at that time.  But God, once more sent Samuel to anoint a new king for Israel from the house of Jesse.

And in fear Samuel went for he was fearful of king Saul and yet God told him it’s alright, and that he had him covered.  So he gets to Bethlehem and the first son he sees is Eliab and he is tall, handsome, and has been to finishing school and is working on a doctorial in political science.  He is everything Samuel is looking for, great king material.  But look at 1 Samuel 16:7, “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”  I’m fearful, very fearful that the modern day church has looked often to the Eliab, and not inquired if God has already rejected them.  So back to Micah 6, with a little history lesson mixed in.

Once again we must understand that prophesies have there origin in God and some were for the time and place the prophet was living, others were for a later time, and some for a time yet to come.  It is my understanding this is referring to the Messiah and his earthly birth, and yet for a time in what you and I call future.  It sure seems as if Micah is talking about Christ’ return and the 1000 year reign on the earth.

“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.  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.  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.  And he shall be their peace.”  (Micah 5:2-5a)     

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice