Micah 5:7-9 meaning

Micah now changes his focus in Micah 5:7-9 as to what will happen as a result of the establishment of the Messiah’s rule in the future. After the Messiah eliminates Israel’s enemies (Micah 5:2-5), the remnant of Jacob Will be among many peoples (v. 7). Jacob’s name was changed to Israel, and he was the father of twelve sons who became the twelve tribes of Israel. The remnant of Jacob refers to Jews living in the last days (Micah 2:12, 4:7). The remnant refers to those who are believers in the LORD who have survived the LORD’s judgments (Isaiah 10:20, Romans 11:4-5).

They will live peacefully among many peoples in the world. This remnant will have two major impacts on the world. First, they will be an enormous blessing: Like dew from the Lord, Like showers on vegetation. Dew is frequently a reference to the LORD’s blessings (Psalm 133:3; Proverbs 19:12). This means that they will be a source of spiritual nourishment and refreshment for the peoples around them, like rain or dew is to vegetation.

The origin of the dew and showers, though, is the LORD. Humans have no control over when dew and showers occur—only the LORD does. Thus, the LORD will cause the remnant of Jacob to live among the nations and be His gift to them. Like rain, those of the remnant do not wait for man Or delay for the sons of men. They are not waiting for permission, the remnant is proactive in providing blessings to those around them.

The second result will be that The remnant of Jacob Will be among the nations (v. 8). Instead of being refreshing in verse 7 Among many peoples, they will be Like a lion among the beasts of the forest. Like a lion ruling over the animals living in a forest, the remnant will govern the nations (instead of the other way around). Jesus’s messianic kingdom will rule in Israel (Micah 5:2) as well as reigning “to the ends of the earth” (Micah 5:4).

The way these two statements can be viewed in harmony is to view the rule of the “lions” as being a reign of servant leaders that proactively provide the benefit of “rain” on those whom they serve. During His first advent to earth, Jesus said He did not come to be served but to serve (Matthew 20:28).

Jesus’s willingness to serve and “give His life a ransom for many” qualified Him to be made ruler over all things (Philippians 2:8-9). Jesus will rule with a “rod of iron” but rule together with believers who overcome in a manner that fills the earth with complete harmony, or righteousness (Revelation 2:26-27, 2 Peter 3:13) .

It is significant that the lion is mentioned here. Egyptian pharaohs were pictured as lions. In Micah’s time, the Assyrian kings thought of themselves as lions. The lion was a symbol of absolute authority that could not be challenged. However, unlike the tyrants that crushed and oppressed the surrounding nations, the ruling remnant will bless the surrounding nations, like rain on vegetation.

The remnant of Jacob will have irresistible power to protect against their adversaries: Like a young lion among flocks of sheep. A flock of sheep is completely defenseless against a lion in their midst. So it will be with the remnant rulers among the adversaries of God and of Israel.

Their power will be like the lions among the flocks of sheep, who when he passes through, Tramples down and tears, that there is none to rescue. The ability of the remnant to rule will be uncontested, there will be none to rescue any enemy they designate to defeat. So the picture is of an absolute ability to rule but with care and benevolence toward the subjects being ruled.

This imagery means that the remnant will rule in justice and righteousness, but with a power that is irresistible. This is referred to elsewhere as ruling with a “rod of iron” (Revelation 2:27, 12:5, 19:15). Those whom Jesus gives power to reign in the world will be invincible and irresistible and they will see complete triumph in the future world (Revelation 5:10, 20:4).

The transformation of the remnant of Jacob from being oppressed by the nations around them to being dominant over them is purely the work of the LORD. It is a fulfillment of God’s design for Israel (Exodus 19:6, Deuteronomy 28:13). This promise could include New Testament believers who are overcomers, for two reasons:

• New Testament believers are grafted into the spiritual olive tree that is Israel, and are spiritual children of Abraham (Romans 11:17, Galatians 3:7)
• Jesus promised to all who overcome that they will share His throne with Him (Revelation 3:21)

However, there will be different eras of Jesus’s reign. One will be on the current earth and one will be on the New Earth (Revelation 20:4). So it is also possible that Gentiles will only be included to reign in the New Earth.

Then, Micah proclaimed that the Ruler/Messiah’s hand will be lifted up against His adversaries (v. 9). Raising the hand was a symbol of power (Isaiah 28:2; Amos 7:7; Habakkuk 3:4; Matthew 8:3), and Micah prophesied that the Ruler/Messiah would use His power to ensure that all His

enemies will be cut off (v 9).

This promise of ultimate victory for Israel was given to comfort the Judeans who were faced with a looming Babylonian invasion and exile (Micah 3:12, 4:10). However, the time lag between the two is many centuries. The fulfillment of this prophecy of Israel’s restoration is still in the future as of this writing.