Devotional Commentary on Micah 5
In the English, not the Hebrew, the
first verse starts with a “now”. A particle `th sounds like it brings things
back to the days of Micah. But it can be in two ways: it can be a processional
`th “now” that is in the eschaton and moves from one scene to another as a next
“now” which has nothing to do with the present life of the prophet. It is his
visional “now”. There is a difference. Chapter 5 can be an eschatological chapter
with a view between 4-31 CE and the Second Advent (events during the Time of
Trouble). Events in the exile of the Northern Tribes brings the wide angle
lense description of all the events. This eschatological application was
also realized by Caspari when he said: “From the fact, however, that Zion, when
sanctified, is to be delivered out of much greater danger than that from which
it will riot be delivered in the immediate future, and also that the refined
and sanctified Zion will conquer and destroy an incomparably greater hostile
force than that to which it will now soon succumb, it follows, in the clearest
and most conclusive way, that in the nearest future it must be given up to the
power of the world, because it is now unholy.” Also Delitzsch followed Caspari:
“that the attack of the nations is directed against Zion, which has now become
holy, that it proceeds from hatred and enmity to His holiness, and has for its object
the desecration of the city of God. This feature is by no means applicable to
Jerusalem and Judah in the time of the Maccabees, but can only apply to the
time when Israel, redeemed from Babel, forms a holy church of God, i.e. to the
last period of the development of the kingdom of God, which began with Christ,
but has not yet reached its fullest manifestation.” (Delitzsch 474-475). The chapter starts with talking to
Bethlehem, the place where the Messiah King would be born and was (verse 1). “From
you shall He emerge for Me”. Says Ellen White in Acts of the Apostles:
“With convincing power Paul reasoned from the Old Testament Scriptures that ‘Christ
must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead.’ Had not Micah
prophesied, 'They shall smite the Judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek'?”—Ellen
White, Acts of the Apostles, page 225. In Mark 7:14 I. Rabinowitz raised the question
whether Jesus spoke Hebrew in 1962. The Assimilated form of Ephphata is
Babylonian and not Palestinian as Targummic sources indicates. Mark drew on
Hebrew and Aramaic sources. Matthew Black suggested that it could be Aramaic
since in Genesis 3:7 the Targum Neofiti offers an example of an assimilated /t/
in ‘ithpa`al of pth. The ruler is the Messiah. From the
lowest of clans will come the Ruler. His origin is from of old. The Jews
expounded this verse also as saying that the origin of the Messiah is before
creation. “And He shall stand and shepherd with
the might of the Lord”. “And they shall return” namely great
evangelism done as harvest to the Messiah accepting the gospel from all nations
(verse 3). “For now [then in prophetic order of time] He shall become great to
the ends of the earth”. This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the
world and then the end shall come, were the words of Christ while on earth. Deliverance will come after
persecution (verse 2). The Jewish sages developed the idea that the son of
David (Messiah) will not come until the wicked kingdom spreads over the entire
world for nine months (Yoma 10b, Sanh. 98b). Redak explained that prior to the
coming of the Messiah, God will bring unprecedented Trouble upon Israel
comparable to the pangs of a woman in confinement as in Daniel 12:1. It is also
what Adventists has been saying in their prophetic charts as the Time of
Trouble after the Door of Mercy closes and before the Second Coming of Christ. After the persecution, the King
Messiah will stand and Shepherd spiritual Israel with the might of the Lord
(Redak). The Targum Jonathan reads wr`h as wyslwt = to lead but this is only
wishful thinking although an amount of leading is involved. Assyrian power increased again under
Tiglath-Pilezer III after 744 BCE (2 Kings 15:29). Adadnirari VI made a treaty
with Mati-`el of Arpad (Sefire Inscription in 746 BCE). “It shall be peace” (verse 4). Verse 4
is not as complex as it seems. Since Micah started his preaching during the
days of Jotham, Agas and Hezekiah; it is expected that these Judean kings are
the “shepherds” appointed over Assyria. The other four are: Manasseh, Amon,
Josiah and Jehoahaz. The eight princes appointed over
Assyria will be all the rulers of Assyria between Tiglath-Pilezer III and the
fall of Niniveh in 612 BCE, namely: Tiglath-Pilezer III; Shalmanezer V; Sargon
II; Sennacherib; Esarhaddon; Ashurbanipal; Ashur-etil-ilani; and
Sin-shar-iskhun. Verse 4 is back into a scenario of
Assyrian history and events all the way down to 612 BCE. The fall of Niniveh is
predicted. The Land of Nimrod will be broken with
the sword and at the gates. It was in July of 612 BCE that Niniveh fell under
the combined attack of Medes and Chaldeans. Niniveh, Kalah and other important
cities were razed to the ground. Since Babylonians broke Nimrod in 612 BCE the
eight rulers could have been: Pulu; Marduk-apal-iddina; Sennacherib;
Esharhaddon; Shamash-sham-ukin; Kandalanu and Nabopolassar. This is more
fitting into the history of the Bible. The remnant of Jacob is then seen as
spread all over the globe like dew. Their spirituality and faith will have a
good effect on the nations across the globe (verse 6). “Like torrents of rain
upon vegetation”. The true remnant are not wrapped-up in Humanism “that does
not hope for any man and does not wait for the sons of men”. They shall be at the End Time “among
many nations” (verse 7) “like a lion among the beasts of the forest” (verse 7).
God will be great during the Time of Trouble since the four angels of the Four
Winds will blow and bring destruction upon the wicked from all corners during
this short time before the Second Advent. God is going to do Great things in
future as He said in verse 8. At the Executive Judgment after the Millennium He
promised to take care of the evil “I will cut your horses out of your midst,
and I will destroy your chariots” (verse 9). This is the ultimate Battle of the
Lord or Armegeddon or the Hell event after the Millennium. God does not fight
nations through history. He has a day for the evil to take care of them in one
array and one Day of Wrath. Fortresses will be broken (verse 10);
sorcery and soothsayers (verse 11); graven images; monuments (verse 12). No
more worshipping of images and kissing of the missing toe of St. Peter. The Asherim that they worshipped and
that helped them with their Woman Ordination in society with female priestesses
and fashion parades combined as on Kuntillet `Ajrud in the Negev where archaeology
has uncovered the deviant practices of Asherah worship and textile industry and
fashion shows (verse 13) “and I will uproot your asherim from your midst”. “And in anger and fury I will execute
vengeance upon the nations who have paid no heed” (verse 13). When Delitzsch came to this last verse
he said: “In other words, He will exterminate every ungodly power by a fierce
judgment, so that nothing will ever be able to disturb the peace of His people and
kingdom again.” (Delitzsch 491). It is the Hell event since it is the only
event in the Bible that has the “never again” theology as Adventists so well
know. Good for you Delitzsch. I have always wondered if Delitzsch was an
Adventist at heart?
Dear God You want us to be careful with our
relationship with You and to consecrate ourselves daily to You. Thank you for
that relationship and keep us safe in the hollow of Your hand even if the
heavens fall. In Jesus Name. Amen.