Micah: Vengeance is Mine (Part 8)

Marshal your troops now, city of troops, for a siege is laid against us. They will strike Israel's ruler on the cheek with a rod. "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be our peace when the Assyrians invade our land and march through our fortresses.
Micah 5:1-5a

Micah has prophesied about destruction, judgement, justice, sin, and false prophets/teacher. Now, Micah is tell us about the one who can save us from all of this and the one who will judge those who choose to not be saved, and that would be Jesus. The most important thing in these first five verses is that Jesus' "greatness will reach to the ends of the earth." Even when bad happen, his greatness will be there.

And he will be our peace when the Assyrians invade our land and march through our fortresses.

I love how Micah puts this. Even when there are invaders, Jesus will be our peace. When everyone else, is freaking out because people are marching through our fortress, Jesus' greatness will still remain.

We will raise against them seven shepherds, even eight commanders, who will rule the land of Assyria with the sword, the land of Nimrod with drawn sword. He will deliver us from the Assyrians when they invade our land and march across our borders. The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among flocks of sheep, which mauls and mangles as it goes, and no one can rescue. Your hand will be lifted up in triumph over your enemies, and all your foes will be destroyed.
Micah 5:5b-9

Later in this chapter, Micah focuses on the negative side of God's judgment, but right now, Micah highlights the fact that God will deliver them. Micah reminders us that delivereance will come, before getting into the details of the destruction.

"In that day," declares the LORD, "I will destroy your horses from among you and demolish your chariots. I will destroy the cities of your land and tear down all your strongholds. I will destroy your witchcraft and you will no longer cast spells. I will destroy your idols and your sacred stones from among you; you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands. I will uproot from among you your Asherah poles when I demolish your cities. I will take vengeance in anger and wrath on the nations that have not obeyed me."
Micah 5:10-15

Micah prophecies about God's judgement time and time again, but there are a few things Micah mentions that have become idols to the people of Isreal:

1. Horses, chariots (This would be technology)
2. Strongholds (buildings)
3. Witchcraft, spells, (superstition)
4. Idols, scared stones, Asherah poles (false religions)

These are things people can become obsessed with in modern time, whether be getting the newest phones, computers, TVs, etc. or practicing a false religion such as Islam, Hinduism, and Atheism.
But Micah also reminds us that it not our place to avenge sin. God says through Micah: "I will take vengeance in anger and wrath on the nations that have not obeyed me."

It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them."

Dueteronomy 32:35

-Ruth

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Sources:
http://www.holydevotion.org/micah/2009/06/micah-510-15-standing-on-rock.html

Photo Credit:
http://untilallhaveheard1.wordpress.com/2010/07/06/the-prophets-and-prophecy-m-dods/