Micah 5
5 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.
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.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
5:1-6 Having showed how low the house of David would be brought, a prediction of the Messiah and his kingdom is added to encourage the faith of God's people. His existence from eternity as God, and his office as Mediator, are noticed. Here is foretold that Bethlehem should be his birthplace. Hence it was universally known among the Jews, Mt 2:5. Christ's government shall be very happy for his subjects; they shall be safe and easy. Under the shadow of protection from the Assyrians, is a promise of protection to the gospel church and all believers, from the designs and attempts of the powers of darkness. Christ is our Peace as a Priest, making atonement for sin, and reconciling us to God; and he is our Peace as a King, conquering our enemies: hence our souls may dwell at ease in him. Christ will find instruments to protect and deliver. Those that threaten ruin to the church of God, soon bring ruin on themselves. This may include the past powerful effects of the preached gospel, its future spread, and the ruin of all antichristian powers. This is, perhaps, the most important single prophecy in the Old Testament: it respects the personal character of the Messiah, and the discoveries of himself to the world. It distinguishes his human birth from his existing from eternity; it foretells the rejection of the Israelites and Jews for a season, their final restoration, and the universal peace to prevail through the whole earth in the latter days. In the mean time let us trust our Shepherd's care and power. If he permits the assault of our enemies, he will supply helpers and assistance for us.
Matthew Henry gave such love to the people surrounding him, he raised orphan family, his kindness turned his in-laws into his own family. The Light of Christ warms the hearts. And his commentaries today are always wonderful, many centuries later.
Matthew Henry's Country Home is Chester. In the 17th century and today:
Notice the round what we call first floor window. This method of building is new again in Victoria, Canada - the old is not done away with and is build upon as foundation. In Dallas, The Highland Park Pharmacy is being kept as a skyscraper is going up on the levels above The Highland Park Pharmacy.
Time has marched on on Matthew Henry's country home. And the commentary of Matthew Henry is without time and beautifully correct.
Why would we need Matthew Henry to tell us what Micah meant? Micah is relaying a vision, a dream or and 'understanding' of the Holy Spirit.
If we look at the timeless quality of Micah jumping from:
Judges to Daniel.
The Birth of Jesus Christ, the massacre of the infants. Acts 1 and Acts 2 - the reuniting of Mary and Joseph's family
This is the conversation of the Ancient of Days, Almighty God, Creator of All Things. Our Father God.
The Shepherding Quality of David, to Jesus and the great Shepherds of God.
Noah to Assyria.
Jesus with the Children. The Psalms of David and Psalm 65.
The rise and fall of the Davidic Line. And the end of the Davidic Line with lions.
The need for Israel, Israel of the Old Testament was overcoming the prosperity gospel of the 'philistines' and sacrificed infants. Father God of the mankind, has always considered all of Creation to be His.
The Psychology of having enemies and being your own worst enemy.
If we went on a casual fishing trip with Jesus and cast nets deep into the shining waters of Heaven, we might have many questions to ask Jesus.
What happened to this person and that person. What did they think about in this occasion. What did God think at this circumstance? What is and was the Plan of God?
Jesus is going to answer us.
And I'd bet, just as our brain is not going into Heaven carried under our arm - like a football helmet - Jesus is going to explain using stories our intact soul (after our death) would understand as analogies from His Word even in Heaven. Why? The Nature and ideas of God are without time.
Ancient of Days - Father God
Jesus and our Father will draw up on Ancient Day happenings to explain how puzzles fit together. Long conversations skirting the Universe, the Heavenly Host, the most intimate aspects of our heart and the Vast Plans of God bringing us to His Home and Heart.
I'd bet the conversation would fly from before the Copper Age to the Moon and Venus walks faster than the speed of light or sound.
Micah bounces around like a good talk with Jesus. The Timeless Visitation of the Holy Spirit. Micah who says
As this Day is given to us, we learn more than Justice, to have had Mercy as God walked with us.
Why we would kneel before the Father.
Gathering with every family, with our own family in Heaven and on earth.
We will hold in our hearts why we have derived our names.
Our prayers will be filled and fully known as held in His Glorious Riches.
We will find we where Strengthened by His Power in His Word. We will Know from His Spirit to our inner being.
We will find fully Jesus Christ dwelling in our hearts. Our faith will be completed and seen, known and loved. Filled.
Know being rooted and established in love,
fully seeing to have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people,
Yesterday, Today and to Tomorrow holding in our heart's how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Jesus Christ for me. For you.,
We will see clearly this love surpassing knowledge
you will understand our filling to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Give us This Day.
Abba,
We give You our Thanks for Your Abiding Blessings. Lord Jesus, our hearts fill with our Thanks.
We thank You Elliott is feeling better, please heal the Cancer and Thank You the numbers are beautiful. We thank You Dee is feeling better. Thank You the drought in the Southern Eastern states is easing. And pray for California to be healed and the Western Coast.
Now, This Given Day to You, Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to Your Power that is at work within us. Giving To Jesus the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!
For all our cares cast before You. You have held us up and warmed us to Love.
Give us this day, today, filling abundant life with more of Your Will done on earth as in Heaven.
2 Peter 1:19
So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts.
Isaiah 58:8
Your light will break out like the dawn, And your recovery will speedily spring forth; And your righteousness will go before you; The glory of the LORD will be our rear guard.
Isaiah 60:1
Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
Malachi 4:2
You who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.
Luke 1:78
Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,
Romans 13:12
The night is almost gone, and the day is near Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Alleluia and Amen in Jesus Christ.
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
Posts
