Micah 5)
1 Meanwhile (as in 4:10,11. Showing that 5:1 relates to the interval between the present time and 'that day' of 4:1,6.) gather yourself in troops, O daughter of troops (or, you shall have sore tribulation [for your sins], you daughter of affliction): he (i.e. the enemy. The Assyrian, antichrist) has laid siege against us (the prophet includes himself): they shall smite the judge of Israel (or, the the ruler [cp. 1 Kings 22:24. Lam. 3:30; 4:20; 5:8,12], who would thus be the type of the Messiah [Matt. 27:30]) with a scepter upon the cheek. (Heb. shebet = the club [of defense], as in 7:14; hence, of office. See Ps. 23:4. And historically they certainly accomplished this, the 10 tribes of Israel into captivity. There’s going to be a little different smiting going on this next siege There is a spiritual war going on, and unless you teach God's truth boldly, you might not be aware of that war.)
2 But you, Beth-lehem Ephratah (the full name given, as in Gen. 35:19, thus connecting Gen. 35:21 with Mic. 4:8. Where are we pointing back to now? Jesus Christ’s birthplace. Bethlehem, the house of bread), though you be too little [to rank] (cp. 1 Cor. 1:27-29) among the districts of Judah (see 1 Sam. 23:23. Cp. Ex. 18:25. Though you’re just a little village Bethlehem compared to the larger cities of Judah), yet out of you shall He (the bread of life) come forth (note the difference between Heb. here [yatza] and bo' = come unto, in Zech. 9:9. All the events between these 2 make up the period we call "1st Advent", and thus are typical of the "2nd Advent"; the coming forth being 1 Thess. 5:2,3 and 2 Thess. 2:8: the former being in grace, the latter in judgment. A similar period may eclipse in the antitypical comings as in the typical comings of 5:2, and Zech. 9:9) for me that is to be ruler in Israel; (quoted in Matt. 2:5,6. John 7:42. You remember back in verse 9 where it said, "Is there no king in thee?" God’s chosen a king) whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting (Cp. Ps. 90:2. Prov. 8:22,23. John 1:1,2. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. From the first earth age. You’re here in the 2nd earth age and yes beloved, in the third earth age is the eternity, Jesus Christ will be present).
3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travails has brought forth: (Cp. 4:9,10-; also John 16:21,22, and Rev. 12:1-6.)
then the remnant of his brethren shall return to the sons of Israel (Brought forth out of out of Babylon [confusion]. Out of the captivity. And you’ve got a part to play in it. And you know some say, "Well, isn’t this nice? God's going to find the people that He lost." God hasn’t lost anyone. They’ve lost themselves).
4 And He (i.e. the Shepherd of Israel. Ref. Gen. 49:24. Cp. Ps. 90:1. Jer. 31:10. Ezek. 34:23) shall stand and tend (or shepherd [as a flock]. Cp. 7:14. Isa. 40:11; 49:10) in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they (Israel, His flock) shall abide (in everlasting security): for now shall He be great (Cp. Pss. 22:27; 72:7. Isa. 49:5,7; 52:13. Zech. 9:10. Luke 1:32. Rev. 11:15.) unto the ends of the earth. (Time everlasting.)
5 And this [great Shepherd of Israel] shall be the peace (cp. Ps. 72:7. Isa. 9:6,7. Zech. 9:10. Hebrews chapter 7 where He’s also called Melchezadek. What’s another name? Do you know what the king of Salem is? King of peace. There will be no peace until he returns), when the Assyrian (Antichrist) shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces (cp. Isa. 7:20; 8:7-10; 37:31-36. He wants to be the king. He’ll be in the palace, believe me), then shall we raise against him (cp. Isa. 44:28; 59:19. Zech. 1:18-21; 9:13; 10:3; 12:6) seven shepherds, and eight principal men. (The 7,00 elect plus Christ gets the victory. How many of you think a lot of E.W. Bulllinger? Do you know what his comment regarding this verse is? When it comes time for us to know what this means, we’ll know. I think the time has come for us to know what this verse means. How many elect are there? 7000. Now that can be any number. Don’t get me wrong. Boy I mean if there’s just 7000… wow! Then there’s a lot of them in this same room. 7000 is just a number. But with 7000 elect and we add 1, Melchezadek, the King of the Zadok, then how many is that? It’s 8, is it not? I think you’ve got a part in this)
6 And they shall eat up (feed on) the land of Assyria with the sword (What sword are we talking about? Revelation chapter 1 verse 16, that two-edged sword, the tongue of Christ that cuts both ways. When your tongue holds that same truth it’s the same sword beloved. He’s got a role for you in this), and the land of Nimrod (ref. Gen. 10:8-10. That’s Assyria and Babylon) in the passes thereof: (Cp. Nah. 3:13.)
thus shall He deliver us from the Assyrian, when He comes into our land (see v.5), and when he treads within our borders (Claiming to be Jesus. Claiming to our king. Deceiving the world).
7 And the remnant of Jacob (That’s you, the elect) shall be in the midst of many people (Whoa! What are these many people? We’re talking about the kings and queens of the ethnos) as a night mist from the LORD (ref. Deut. 32:2. Cp. Ps. 133:3. The tender truth trickles down as dew from heaven), as the showers upon the grass, that tarries not for man, nor waits for the sons of men.
8 And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many peoples (See 4:3. Lambs without a shepherd are lost and defenseless. You are one of those shepherds.) as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the flocks of sheep (Ref. Num. 23:24; 24:9): who, if he go through, both treads down, and tears in pieces, and none can deliver (That doesn’t sound very Christian at all does it? The weapon beloved is the truth. That’s what we were talking about on that threshing floor. It’s the truth that separates the good from the evil. There’s a separation coming. And thank God we don’t want the wicked and the evil in the eternity. So take part in that. And you know when someone hears the truth, the truth often offends people, God’s word often offends people. My thoughts to that are so what? It’s always good for them. And hopefully they’ll see the error of their ways and turn it around).
9 Your hand (This is referring to the remnant, the elect) shall be lifted up upon your adversaries, and all your enemies shall be cut off. (5 times used in vv.9-15. 5 = grace. By the grace of God we get the victory. To be in His army you have to be skilled and well trained in His Word. We are talking about spiritual warfare. Without discipline He can not use you. All this refers eventually to restored Israel.)
F h 10. Evil people, &c. Military.
i 11. Cities.
h 12-14-. Evil people, &c. Idolaters.
i -14. Cities.
10 And it shall come to pass in that day (see 4:1), says the LORD, that I will cut off your horses (their power and strength) out of the midst of you, and I will destroy your chariots (Ref. Deut. 17:16. Cp. Isa. 2:7. Zech. 9:10. Ezekiel chapter 38 and 39, the battle of Armageddon. Excuse me that's Hamon-gog in Ezekiel, Armageddon in Revelation. Whose battle is it at that point? It’s not yours and mine, it’s time to stand back and say go get ‘em Lord, because He’s going to do it. Why is He going to do it? Because He wants everyone to know that He is real. As we go into the eternity He wants people to know HE is God, and stop this nonsense of all the idolatry that’s going around in the world. I think He’s going to make believers out of them):
11 And I will cut off the cities of your land, and throw down all your strong holds (No more wicked, no more evil):
12 And I will cut off sorceries (ref. Ex. 22:18. Lev. 19:26. Deut. 18:10) out of your hand; and you shall have no more soothsayers (i.e. users of secret or occult arts. Fake preachers.):
13 Your graven images (see 1:7) also will I cut off, and your pillars (the Asherahs. Ref. Ex. 23:24; 34:13. Deut. 7:5) out of the midst of you; and you shall no more worship the work of your hands (He will tear down false religion. And that will include the image of the beast in Revelation 13).
14 And I will root up (or tear down) your groves (the Asherahs) out of the midst of you:
so will I destroy your idol temples. (Were fertility rites held. Quick like a bunny. Roll "Easter" eggs.)
15 And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the nations, such as they have not heard." (Because they followed the tradition of men.)