Micah 5: Surprising Power from a Surprising Place

​Key Verse
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.
 
Meditation
God brings surprising power from a surprising place. Worldly powers tremble when they learn of God's sovereign plan, illustrated by King Herod when he discovered today’s prophecy. (Matthew 2:3, 6-7) In Jesus, God uses weakness to expose the façade of the world’s strength.
 
When Micah prophesied, Assyria was the global superpower and their military had surrounded Jerusalem, taunting their citizens and mocking God. (2 Kings 18:23) The Assyrian empire would eventually fail. God’s promise will prevail.
 
God’s ancient promise was to bring a seed from Eve, (Genesis 3:15) a ruler from Judah, (Genesis 49:10) through king David, (2 Samuel 7:12) who will rule forever. (2 Samuel 7:13-14) Bethlehem was a lowly place to birth the promise, “too little to be among the clans of Judah.” (2) The King born in Bethlehem had origins in eternity past (John 1:1) to guarantee He would restore Israel’s dominion (4:8) forever, to the ends of the earth. (5:4) 
 
Today’s reading exposes our temptation to trust in military or political might for strength and hope, (vv. 10-14) reinforcing that salvation comes only from the Lord- surprising power from a surprising place.
 
The gospel reminds us that through Jesus, God uses what worldly foolishness to shame the wise, what is lowly and despised to shame what the world exalts and honors- so no one may boast in God’s presence. (1 Corinthians 1:27-30) Jesus Christ, the baby born in Bethlehem, is the King of Kings. The work of King Jesus is the power of God for the people of God. (Romans 1:16-17)
 
Today’s Reading
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.

A Remnant Shall Be Delivered
7 Then the remnant of Jacob shall be
    in the midst of many peoples
like dew from the Lord,
    like showers on the grass,
which delay not for a man
    nor wait for the children of man.
8 And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations,
    in the midst of many peoples,
like a lion among the beasts of the forest,
    like a young lion among the flocks of sheep,
which, when it goes through, treads down
    and tears in pieces, and there is none to deliver.
9 Your hand shall be lifted up over your adversaries,
    and all your enemies shall be cut off.
10 And in that day, declares the Lord,
    I will cut off your horses from among you
    and will destroy your chariots;
11 and I will cut off the cities of your land
    and throw down all your strongholds;
12 and I will cut off sorceries from your hand,
    and you shall have no more tellers of fortunes;
13 and I will cut off your carved images
    and your pillars from among you,
and you shall bow down no more
    to the work of your hands;
14 and I will root out your Asherah images from among you
    and destroy your cities.
15 And in anger and wrath I will execute vengeance
    on the nations that did not obey.
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially the surprising source of Judah’s hope for salvation?
 
-Why is it easy to ignore the unlikely power of God’s promises and trust the perceived powers of this world? Why do rulers tremble when they hear the fulfillment of God’s promises?
 
-How can you trust the promises of God more faithfully, responding to God’s grace with more faith in His word, rule, and love? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
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.