“In the Strength of Jehovah"
Micah 5:1-5

December 9, 2007
by C.W. Powell

This is a very familiar passage that is very often quoted at Christmas time. There is no doubt that these verses refer to the Lord Jesus Christ, for the Jews so understood it and directed the Wise from the East in terms of this prophecy. Before we look at the text, let me first of all give a short overview of Micah:

Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah. In fact, there is a great deal of similarity in some of their writings. It is as if God would establish the truth in the mouth of two witnesses, that the people of Judah would be without excuse.

Introduction: Overview of Chapters 1-4

A. Chapter One: God is pictured as coming out of His temple to bear witness against Israel and Judah, and to bring judgment and trouble against them. The sin is idolatry: vs. 7, which is the worship of false God and false and lying images. Vs. 7-9. This would be done in the sight of the Philistines and the other enemies of God's people: vs. 10

B. Chapter Two: Because they imagined to do evil against the Lord, God would imagine to do evil against them. God has greatly curtailed the pure preaching of the Gospel 2:6, 11. This is also a theme of the prophets: men imagine what they want to do; but God DOES what is in HIS heart. “A man’s heart deviseth his way but the Lord directs his steps.”
C. Chapter Three: The leaders of Israel are chiefly to blame: both the secular leaders, and the religious leaders.

1. They should have known judgment; the ability to discern between this and that: truth and error; the living God and idols.
2. They took bribes and oppressed the people for gain: vs. 5. Vs. 11: "Is not the Lord among us?" They turned this upside down: The Lord WAS among them; hence, they would not get away with their evil.

D. Chapter Four: The promise of Christ's Kingdom. Vs. 1: The mountain of the Lord's House. Over all kingdoms. Every political kingdom is an expression of a religious idea; there is always a temple associated with the political kingdom. Whether it is honestly proclaimed or not.

1. This kingdom would be over all other powers.
2. This kingdom would result in the education of the nations in the true faith.
3. This kingdom would be a kingdom of peace; it would thrive among the poor and needy. Vs.6ff
4. Great trials and tribulations would accompany the establishment of this kingdom. Vs. 10ff. But the covenant people would prevail: vs. 13 vs. 1 of chapter 5: The kingdom comes with great tribulation and troubles. It is so also with us. The king of Judah and all would be lost. Isaiah and the other prophets foretold the horrors that would come upon Israel because of their sins; through the armies of Assyria and Babylon. "judge" means the rulers in general.

Let us Now look at our text. 5:1-5

I. The consolation of Israel was in Her Messiah. Christ is always the center of everything in the Bible: look for Christ in the Bible and you will find Him. Don’t make things up, but find Him where He is, for He is certainly there if you have eyes to see. In the times of great tribulation and trials, Israel was to hope in Christ. This has been the consolation and hope of the church in all ages.

A. Here the place of his birth was announced: This passage was cited by the wise men of Jerusalem, when the wise from the East enquired where Messiah was to be born. Israel understood this passage.

B. God chooses the weak and lowly things of the earth. He ennobles them with His presence, and makes them important. This is also a great comfort to God's people, when they see themselves without influence or power in the world. It has often been this way--The people of God have known far more what it means to be oppressed with power, than the other way around.

C. It took the decree of Caesar to fulfill this prophecy: for the vain dream of Caesar, who thought He was God walking upon the earth--who needed tax revenues to fulfill his false messianic dream--to bring Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. By the way: they were not homeless; they were not refugees; poor they were, but they were not outcasts. They were in distressed because of government, messianic, ungodly, and vain dreams. It was government tax policies that brought them to this time of distress. That is a very old story. Tax and spend; tax and spend is an old formula for oppressing the godly and exalting the ungodly.

D. Bethlehem was least among the thousands of Judah: the divisions for government were thousands. Bethlehem was hardly large enough to be counted a thousand.

II. Two Goings Forth are presented here:

A. His begetting in time: in Bethlehem. The king of the church, would be a true man; one of our substance, flesh of our flesh, and bone of our bone.

B. The one begotton in Bethlehem, however, is eternal, for He also came forth from eternity. This is the same word used in Deuteronomy 8:2: "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth…." Comes forth—and eternal begetting. This is a figure of speech: Explain in HC: Q33: Why is He called God's "only begotten Son," since we also are the children of God? A33: Because Christ alone is the eternal, natural Son of God, but we are the children of God by adoption, through grace, for His sake.

C. H. Catechism: He must be man, so that he could die for our sins; He must be God, for no mere man could pay the penalty for all our sins in his sufferings on the cross.

Q16: Why must He be a true and righteous man?
A16: Because the justice of God requires that the same human nature which has sinned should make satisfaction for sin; but one who is himself a sinner cannot satisfy for others.

Q17: Why must He also be true God?
A17: That by the power of His Godhead He might bear in His manhood the burden of God's wrath, and so obtain for and restore to us righteousness and life.

III. But before Messiah came, there would be many sufferings of the Jews. Vs. 3. A remnant would endure: There would neither be a properous earthly state; nor would they be completely cut off. A remnant would endure. "The begetting shall beget." The sufferings of Isrrael would be as a woman in travail: then joy would come when the king should appear. Jechoniah the king would be cut of and there would be no proper king in Judah until the coming of Christ. But what a marvelous King our Lord Jesus is: His kingdom is described here.

IV. The nature of the King. Vs. 4, 5

A. He shall stand. His kingdom is eternal. "Of His Kingdom there shall be no end." Eph. 1: He took possession of His kingdom at His resurrection as Romans 1:1ff ‘declared to be the Son of God with power….” And Eph 1: “far abaove all principality and power and every name that is named….”

B. He shall feed: As mediator: He feeds his flock like a shepherd: this is the first duty of the Mediator: to feed his people. There is sufficient strength in Him to provide for all the people of God: for all of us to endure and fulfill the purpose for which we have been called. He is a shepherd: not a deadly tyrant; but one who feeds His people, as He himself was fed of God. We partake of His nature and his blessings. Yes, yes, yes: you are weak; but He is strong. Do not make excuses for your weaknesses; they are real and palpable; but His strength is real and sustaining. We triumph by faith in Christ. You can do what God has called you to do. You can be a better father; you can be a better mother; you can be a better Christian; you can be a better servant of Christ. Do not focus on your weakness and failure: every time you come to the Lord’s Supper you are confessing that you are strong in Christ and in His nourishment.

C. He feeds in the strength of Jehovah: there is power in the gospel; power in the preaching of the word. Power to change lives and to restore the weak and the suffering. There is safety in Christ.

“13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. 14 Let all your things be done with charity.” (1Co 16:13-14 )

“14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” (Eph 3:14-19)

“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;” (Ro 4:20 av)

“3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” (2Co 10:3-6 av)

“10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;” (Eph 6:10-18 av)

D. In the Name of Jehovah: in the attributes of Jehovah: His eternity; His self-sufficiency; His unity; His immutability. Jesus does not present to us another God; but the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He is strong in the attributes of God: we are strong by faith in those attributes.

E. Christ does not govern after a human manner: the power of Jehovah; the majesty of the name of Jehovah.

F. God can only be found through the mediator: all else is idolatry.

G. The gospel will go to the ends of the earth, and His people shall be safe from the evil of sin and misery.

H. The godly would have peace, even when the Assyrian came into the land. It was Christ who sustained them even in OT times.

I. There would always be a godly government in the church, no matter what the evils that come. Because of Christ. Next week I will speak on the two witnesses of Revelation; and how they apply to the Christmas story. This will be of great comfort and hope to you, I believe.

J. God has never promised the church in the world to be free from trouble and distress; but He has promised to preserve and protect her, and to bring us to our final rest and hope: eternal life in the presence of God forever. We are strong because He is strong. Without Him we are weak indeed; but in His name we can overcome all things for the glory of god. Christ’s rule is according to his appointment and according to the men that he raises up to serve Him. This is what is meant by the shepherds and the principal men of verse 5. The church is never without good and proper government.

Amen and Amen

May God bless you.