Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah, Amos, and Hosea. His messages were to both the northern and southern kingdoms of Israel. The nation divided after Solomon's death. 10 tribes to the north, were called "Israel" while the two tribes to the south were called "Judah." While "Israel" can refer to the 10 northern tribes, it's also used to refer to the twelve tribes of Israel. Such is the case in our passage for today.
The northern kingdom fell into idolatry quicker than did the southern kingdom. Consequently, they were the first ones taken captive. Around 722 BC, the capital of Samaria was taken by the Assyrians. Later, in 701 BC, the Assyrians attacked Judah; however, they were unable to capture Jerusalem due to the Lord’s intervention in the days of King Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 32:22). However, Judah eventually caught up with their northern countrymen with respect to idolatry, and God let them to be conquered by the Babylonians, who totally destroyed
Jerusalem in 586 BC after the rebellion of a couple of puppet kings.
In our passage, Micah confirmed that the southern kingdom was just as guilty as the northern kingdom, and would also be judged. So as the prophet speaks of "Israel," he is referring to the entire nation, north and south. But in the midst of speaking of God's judgment, Micah shares a promise concerning the Messiah, when "God’s Peace will Prevail."
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"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." - Matthew Henry
Micah speaks of judgment to come as Jerusalem (city of troops) would be conquered and the people taken captive to Babylon. But in the midst of this prophecy, he tells of a day of hope - when the Messiah would come. In so doing, Micah mentions . . .
1. An incarnation - v. 2
God would take on flesh in the person of the Messiah. The arrival of the Messiah would be . . .
A. Inconspicuous - v. 2a
Micah turns from talking about the most significant city of the nation - Jerusalem, to the least significant - Bethlehem. It's referred to as "Bethlehem Ephrathah" so as to not confuse it with another Bethlehem in the land. Ephrathah was the name used in Jacob's day, the father of Israel. This is an amazing illustration of how precise God's Word is with respect to prophecy concerning the coming of the Messiah.
There are 354 prophecies of Christ in the Old Testament, like this, that He'd be born in Bethlehem - each fulfilled exactly. Why is this important? Because it verifies of the claim that Jesus was God in the flesh. Consider these probabilities: Being struck by lightning in a year = 7 x 105 or 1 in 700,000. A meteorite landing on my house = 1.8 x 1014 or 1 in 180,000,000,000,000. Becoming president = 1 x 107 or 1 in 10,000,000. I will eventually die = 1 in 1.
Professor Peter Stoner calculated the odds of one person fulfilling only eight Old Testament prophecies are one in ten to the 17th power (1017). That's one in a number consisting of a 1 with 65 zeros after it): 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000. Now, what do you think the odds are against one person fulfilling all 354 messianic prophecies of the Old Testament? Astronomical! Yet that's what happened in the with the life of Jesus Christ.
“The fact is, the birth, crucifixion, and bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ are celebrated worldwide by folk of every race, language, and color, every year. And believing in Jesus, they have been delivered from the most evil, disastrous, frustrating, debilitating habits and life forms possible. The real problem with Jesus Christ is not that folk can't believe in Him—but that they won't believe in Him.” - former US Senate Chaplain Richard Halverson
B. Miraculous - v. 2b
It was here that God would take on flesh in the person of Christ.
"Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see - such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. He existed before anything else, and he holds all creation together. Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ, and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross." - Colossians 1:15-20 (NLT)
The most miraculous thing about the incarnation is the motive for the incarnation. God took on human flesh to rescue those who were lost.
2. An ingathering - v. 3
The Messiah's birth would bring Israel's deliverance and the Gentile's salvation. The hope for Israel is the Messiah, Jesus Christ, whose birth Micah foretold. But their deliverance will happen not only as a result of the Messiah's coming, but as a result of the Gentile's conversion, who are the "rest of his brothers" mentioned here. As Paul explains:
"I want you to understand this secret truth, brothers and sisters. This truth will help you understand that you don’t know everything. The truth is this: Part of Israel has been made stubborn, but that will change when enough non-Jewish people have come to God. And that is how all Israel will be saved. The Scriptures say, 'The Savior will come from Zion; he will take away all evil from the family of Jacob.'" - Romans 11:25-26 (NLT)
There will be an awakening among the Jews before Christ's return.
"Then I will return to my place until they admit their guilt and turn to me." - Hosea 5:15a (NLT)
"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'" - Matthew 23:37-39 (NIV)
This salvation will be possible for the Jews by the same means as salvation is possible for the Gentiles. The cross!
"And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on (to) me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son." - Zechariah 12:10 (NIV)
"Salvation comes through a cross and a crucified Christ." - Andrew Murray
Once the last person who will trust in Christ has done so, the Messiah will return to reign as King and Lord. When Christ came the first time, He came as a newborn baby; when He comes the second time, He will as King and Lord. He came the first time to be nailed to a cross; He will come the second time to ascend a throne.
3. An installation - vs. 4-5
A. He will reign supreme - v. 4a
Men often refer to earthly rulers as "your majesty." But majesty is something that must be ascribed to men. That is the reason for all the fuss, the pomp and circumstance surrounding earthly royalty. But Christ does not need us to ascribe majesty to Him. He is majestic. We will not ascribe majesty to Him when he returns to reign. We will merely acknowledge His majesty through all eternity.
B. He will bless His subjects - v. 4b-5a
"All we could ever imagine, could ever hope for, He is. He is the Prince of Peace whose first coming has already transformed society but whose second coming will forever establish justice and righteousness. All this, and infinitely more, alive in an impoverished baby in a barn. That is what Christmas means - to find in a place where you would least expect to find anything you want, everything you could ever want." - Michael Card
Conclusion: We spoke Old Testament prophecies about the 1st coming of Christ. What of His 2nd? Just as the Old Testament's filled with prophecies of His 1st coming, both Old and New are filled with references to His 2nd. It's estimated there are 1,845 references to His 2nd coming in the Old Testament. In the 260 chapters of the New, there are 318 references to His 2nd coming – that's 1 out of every 30 verses. In fact, for every prophecy in the Bible concerning Christ’s first advent, there are 8 which look forward to His second!
"The immense step from the Babe at Bethlehem to the living, reigning triumphant Lord Jesus, returning to earth for his own people - that is the glorious truth proclaimed throughout Scripture. As the bells ring out the joys of Christmas, may we also be alert for the final trumpet that will announce his return, when we shall always be with him." - Alan Redpath
