God’s Leader is Always Better
Micah 5:2-9
Intro
People, constantly look for good leaders. They want good persons to lead in government. Corporations search for competent people to manage their business. Churches look for effective pastors and other leaders. Nevertheless, leaders sometimes fail. Such was the case in Israel and Judah.
Kings had risen and falledn in Israel and in Judah with regular monotony. Only a few kings in Israel had been godly leaders. Often the historian would remark about a king of Israel, “And he did evil in the sight of the Lord” (1 Kings 15:26). The kings of Judah were not much better than the kings of Israel. When Micah prophesied, Jerusalem was under attack, and the king was being insulted. Micah predicted that a new ruler would come in Judah, and he would be far better.
God’s people need to look beyond present times and earthly rulers to a greater ruler, just as Micah did. Let us study carefully the characteristics of God’s ruler.
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I. God’s leader would have impressive credentials (vv. 5:2-3)
a. Micah gave some impressive credential about the new leader.
b. He compared the new leader with the days of David.
c. Yet, according to Micah, this new leader would be Israel’s Messiah and posses much more impressive credentials than David.
d. The new ruler would originate from God (v. 2)
i. God used the unexpected to confound the strong.
ii. Bethlehem was the least likely place for God’s ruler to originate, yet Micah predicted that God would take a ruler from Bethlehem.
iii. In the eyes of the people, Bethlehem held little prominence, but in the purpose of God, a new ruler would come from Bethlehem.
e. The new ruler would radiate the character of God.
i. New vitality would spring out of the dead state of the Judean monarch.
ii. God’s ruler woud be one “whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting”
iii. Micah and the nations longed for a ruler who would be a godly person like David (v. 3)
1. Several words in verses 2-3 disclose the unique character of the new ruler.
2. The word ruler suggests more than an earthly king.
3. Perhaps Micah reserved the title for one who would be a unique Messiah.
4. The expression “goings forth” in verse 2 comes from one word that means “origin.”
5. It describes a child originating in the loins of his father.
6. God’s ruler would have impressive credentials, for he would come from the heavenly Father.
II. God’s leader would have a shepherd’s leadership style. (v. 4)
a. Micah used the figure of a shepherd to describe the new leader’s style of leading.
b. In Micah’s day people lived in a pastoral setting.
c. They rejoiced to hear of a Shepard who would lead them.
d. The leader would perform the role of a shepherd.
i. What did a shepherd in ancient Israel do for his flock?
ii. He gave guidance, offered protection, and provided for their needs.
1. God’s new leader, the Messiah, would perform the role of a true shepherd.
2. He would protect and defend, feed and nourish, and guide and direct his people.
3. Israel’s shepherd would do all three roles in a extraordinary way, for he would do them in “the strength of the Lord” and “in majesty of the name of the Lord.”
e. The people will trust the leadership of the shepherd.
i. “And they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.”
ii. The new ruler’s power would provide security and stability for Israel.
iii. This shepherd would be known and feared to the ends of the earth.
III. God’s leader would have amazing power (vv. 5-6)
a. God’s leader would be more powerful than all other leaders.
i. Micah spoke of the difficult times in the 8th century B.C.
ii. Sennacherib laid siege to Jerusalem in 701 BC and boasted of his superior strength.
iii. According to Micah 5:5, Judah took measures to protect the nation from the invader.
iv. They raised up shepherds and princes to oppose Sennacherib.
v. The numbers seven and eight could have been a Hebraic way of saying “a large group.”
vi. But none of Judah’s leaders could stop Sennacherib.
1. The new leader would be much more powerful than all of Judah’s other leaders.
2. God’s leader is always better.
b. God’s leader would deliver his people from their enemies.
i. Micah confidently affirmed that God’s new leader would conquer and impose dominion over Assyria (v. 6)
ii. Without a doubt, the Messiah continues to deliver his people from all of their enemies. No person or circumstances can ultimately defeat God’s people.
IV. God’s leader would have committed followers (v. 7-9)
a. Micah predicted that God’s ruler would work with a special group of people called “the remnant.”
b. These were people who remained faithful to the Lord.
c. Notice how God’s leader used the remnant.
d. God used faithful people as a silent influence.
i. Micah used the figure of dew to describe the silent influence of God’s people
ii. “The remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as dew from the Lord.” (v. 7)
iii. The remnant of Israel served as a spiritual influence to others.
iv. God’s people are called to live in the world and to exert their influence among the nations like dew from the Lord.
e. God used faithful people as a militant army
i. The second figure is the lion.
ii. “As a lion among the beasts of the forest” (v. 8)
iii. God’s people would triumph over all adversaries.
Closing
Judah had many leaders. Some of these leaders were good leaders, but in most cases the kings and other leaders went in the way of idolatry. They forsook the Lord. Micah looked to the Lord for a better leader.
The ideal leader has come: Jesus is the long awaited Messiah. We need to give ourselves gladly to his leadership.
