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948_2; Micah 5:1, Now gather thyself in troops

The "word of the lord that came to Micah"

(Micah 1:1), having described the future kingdom (Micah 4:1-8), and glanced at the Babylonian captivities (Micah 4:9-10), goes forward into the last days to refer to the great battle (see "Armageddon," Revelaton 16:14; Revelation 19:17; Ref. Note Page 1348_4), which immediately precedes the setting up of the Messianic kingdom (see "Kingdom (Old Testament)," Genesis 1:26; Zechariah 12:8; Ref. Note Page 976_2; also, "Kingdom (New Testament)," Luke 1:31-33; 1 Corinthians 15:28).

Micah 5:1, 2 forms a parenthesis in which the "word of the lord" goes back from the time of the great battle (yet future) to the birth and rejection of the King, Messiah-Christ (Matthew 27:24, 25, 37). This is followed by the statement that He will "give them up until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth" (verse 3).

There is a twofold "travail" of Israel:

• (1) that which brings forth the "man child" (Christ) (Revelation 12:1, 2); and

• (2) that which, in the last days, brings forth a believing "remnant" out of the still dispersed and unbelieving nation (verse 3; Jeremiah 30:6-14; Micah 4:10).

Both aspects are combined in Isaiah 66.

• In verse 7 we have the "man child" (Christ) of Revelation 12:1, 2;

• in verses 8-24 the remnant, established in kingdom blessing.

  • The meaning of Micah 5:3 is that, from the rejection of Christ at His first coming Jehovah will give Israel up till the believing remnant appears; then He stands and feeds in His proper strength as Jehovah (verse 4);
  • He is the defence of His people as in Micah 4:3, 11-l3, and afterward the remnant go as missionaries to Israel and to all the world (verses 7, 8; Zechariah 8:23).

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949_1; Micah 5:2, goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting

From Everlasting.

• Cf. Isaiah 7:13, 14;
  Isaiah 9:6, 7.

  The "Child" was born in Bethlehem, but the "Son" was "from everlasting."

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949_2; Micah 5:7, the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst

The ministry of the Jewish remnant

(Isaiah 1:9; Romans 11:5; Ref. Note Page 1205_1) This ministry has a twofold aspect,

• "a dew from the lord";

• "a lion among the beasts."

Turning to the Lord in the great tribulation (Psalm 2:5; Revelaton 7:14; Ref. Note Page 1337_1), the remnant takes up the beautiful gospel of the kingdom (Revelation 14:6; Ref. Note Page 1341_1) and proclaims it under awful persecution "unto all nations, for a witness" (Matthew 24:14).

The result is seen in Revelaton 7:4-14.

This is the "dew" aspect, and is followed by the "day of the lord" (Isaiah 2:10-22; Revelaton 19:11-21), in the morning of which the kingdom is set up in power. Again there is a world-wide preaching to Jew and Gentile, but now it is the word that the King is on His holy hill of Zion (Psalm 2), and the unrepentant will be broken with His rod of iron (Psalm 2:6-9).

The preaching is given in Psalm 2:10-12.

This is the "lion" aspect of the remnant's testimony (Revelation 2:26-28).

The full kingdom-age of blessing follows the "rod of iron" aspect.

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In Process . . . .

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