CRITICAL NOTES.
Micah 5:5. Man] Heb. this, emphatic (Genesis 5:29); the cause or author of peace between God and man (Zechariah 9:10; Ephesians 2:14; Ephesians 2:17; Colossians 1:20). Seven and eight] Numbers complete, victorious, and contrasted with the enemy (Job 5:19; Proverbs 6:16). Prin.] Shepherds equivalent to princes or rulers (Jeremiah 6:3; Nahum 3:18).
Micah 5:6. Entrances] The borders where garrisons and its chief strength lie (2 Kings 3:21). Waste] Lit. eat up; the metaphor of shepherds (Numbers 22:4). Sword] With her own naked swords (Psalms 55:21). He] Messiah.
HOMILETICS
THE PEACEFUL RULE OF CHRIST.—Micah 5:5-6
This one just mentioned will bring peace within his kingdom, and bestow means sufficient to secure it when given. Literally and spiritually this promise belongs to the whole Church, and indicates the peaceful reign of Christ over men,
I. He will give peace to His people. Peace to the individual and to the Church is the gift of God.
1. Peace in his own person. “This man shall be the peace.” The soul is dissatisfied and restless; filled with fear, anxiety, and a sense of guilt. The inner life of men is a prayer for peace. Everything points to God as the only sufficient satisfaction. Christ reconciles to God, gives peace with God, and peace with conscience. He is “the Prince of peace, and sends peace on earth” where all is strife. He “came and preached peace to you who were far off, and to them that were nigh.”
2. Peace by his own agencies. “Then shall he raise up seven shepherds,” &c. Whatever number this may signify, the soldiers of Christ in themselves are weaker than the armies of the world. But the feeblest become heroes in Christ to conquer the enemy and secure the Church. Valiant achievements have been made by the shepherds and princes of the Church. God requires not numbers nor prowess. His instrumentalities are feeble and more than enough. Grace is stronger than sin. God is mightier than man. The weapons of our warfare are “not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.”
II. He will defend the peace which He has given to His people. The Church is in danger, the peace of the Christian is often disturbed, and “in the world ye shall have tribulation.” But this man gives and secures peace to the individual, the Church, and the country.
1. He delivers from the enemy. “Asshur is a type of the nations of the world by which the people of the Lord are attacked, because in the time of the prophet this power was the imperial power by which Israel was endangered.” Nimrod was the founder of the empire, Genesis 10:9, and indicates the hostility of this power. Notice—
(1) The imminent danger. The enemy treads within the borders—prevails in the land, and enters their palaces. Sennacherib’s army entered Judah, took defenced cities, and besieged Jerusalem itself, Isaiah 36:1; Isaiah 37:3.
(2) The complete deliverance. Asshur was driven back, confined, and wasted in his own territory with the sword. He was defeated and crushed at his own gates.
2. He defends from the enemy. When defeated once the attack is often renewed. But the Church will carry the battle into the dominions of sin and Satan. Those who try to waste her shall be foiled and wasted themselves. “Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field.”
OUR PEACE IN TROUBLE.—Micah 5:5
The Messiah is here intended. The word man, in Italics, is not in the original. The translators should rather have put in the word Ruler or Shepherd. But if he himself be understood, it is all the same, whatever be the supplement. The Assyrian is used metaphorically, for some enemy. It is common for sacred writers to express any significant adversary by the name of Egypt, Assyria, or Babylon; for these powers distinguished themselves by their hatred, oppression, and enslaving of the Jews. We may include everything that annoys and alarms, that would injure and destroy. Be the case what it may, he is our relief. He does not exempt us from conflict, but affords help, comfort, and deliverance. Enemies assail, but he keeps our minds stayed upon him in perfect peace. Let us think of several Assyrians, and see how he is our peace, when they invade and would swallow us up. Does the broken law of God threaten us? A man has nothing to fear from the law when perfectly kept. The curse enters through every breach of transgression. Who is not therefore exposed? The commandment coming—sin reviving—hope dying—and nothing expected but a certain fearful looking for of judgment! But he is our peace, who died for our sins and rose again for our justification. Does our adversary the Devil terrify? When you think of his wiles and strength, and consider yourself, you are filled with despair. You are no more than a worm to a mountain. The promise is, “Fear not, thou worm Jacob; for thou shalt thresh the mountains, and beat them small as dust.” In the Lord you have righteousness and strength. In all these things you are more than conquerors, through him that loved you. Do we complain of the sin that dwelleth in us? A Christian must feel and ought to feel it, and be deeply humbled. “O wretched man that I am!” &c. But where does he find relief? “I thank God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.” He has begun and will finish the good work in me. My sanctification will be as complete as my justification now is. He is not only able to keep me from falling, but to present me faultless. Do we consider the troubles of life? In the world ye shall have tribulation, but in me ye shall have peace. “As the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.” Modern Christians may not be called to suffer persecution as the disciples did; but they may be subjects of the same personal and relative trials, which require the same support and solace: they equally belong to him, and are never dearer to his heart than in the hour of affliction. He will not leave them comfortless. But death! Death is called the king of terrors. Where would be the triumph of faith if we did not feel its approach? But it is possible to rise above this enemy. We know it from Scripture and observation. Whence comes the victory? There is only one relief when this Assyrian comes—to see Him that has “abolished death.” The enemy is not only disarmed by him but turned into a friend—the curse converted into a blessing. To die is gain. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,” &c. From Jay.
HOMILETIC HINTS AND SUGGESTIONS
Micah 5:5. This Man. Christ is our peace, because through him we have peace above us with God, within us in our conscience, around us with other men, and under us with Satan [Lange].
Micah 5:6. Seven shepherds. Feeble instrumentality. Contrasted with the powers of evil. Its work. Its strength. Its exploits. In the Church of God the work of pastoral teaching is always a work of warfare against error. In the escutcheon of the Church the sword is joined with the crook. Cf. Psalms 149:6-9 [Wordsworth]. The more widely the Gospel spreads itself among the nations of the world, the more bitter will be the spirit of unbelief and ungodliness [Keil].
Princes of men. Victorious army of believers and preachers [Wordsworth].
Shall waste. Note, says one, those that threaten ruin to the Church of God hasten ruin to themselves; and their destruction is the Church’s salvation.
ILLUSTRATIONS TO CHAPTER 5
Micah 5:5-6. Peace. How like a paradise the world would be, flourishing in joy and rest, if men would cheerfully conspire in affection, and hopefully contribute to each other’s content. Holy Scripture itself in that one term of “peace” most usually comprehends all joy and. contents, all felicity and prosperity; so that the heavenly consort of angels, when they agree most highly to bless and to wish the greatest happiness to mankind, could not better express their sense than by saying, “Be on earth peace, and good-will among men” [I. Barrow].
“Peace hath her victories
Not less renowned than war.”—[Milton.]