And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.
And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard - or, as the Hebrew order favours, 'the nations that have not hearkened to my warnings.' So the Septuagint (Psalms 149:7).
Remarks:
(1) The prophet guards against the carnal security which the preceding glorious promises might have otherwise generated in the elect nation, by reminding them of the indignities which were awaiting their judges and princes soon. Even the Messiah, the coming Saviour, was to be smitten on the cheek-the greatest of insults-before the glory and kingdom should be fully manifested. Let us hence learn that in our own case also, if we are to win the heavenly crown, we must bear the cross, and mortify our earthly members;
(2) In the appointment of Bethlehem as Messiah's birthplace, the universal principle of God's way of redemption is exemplified, that out of seeming littleness and weakness God has perfected strength. Not royal Jerusalem, but humble Bethlehem; not the best house of that petty village, but a common inn; not the best room in the inn, but a stable or outhouse-was the scene of the nativity of Him "whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting" (Micah 5:2).
(3) This Divine "Ruler in Israel," moreover, came forth unto the Father. God's glory was and is the ultimate end of redemption. To fulfill the eternal counsel of the Father, "to the praise of the glory of His grace," was the purpose of the Son in His incarnation: as He saith, "Lo, I come ... I delight to do thy will, O my God." (Psalms 40:7-8). As Son of God, His "goings forth are from everlasting" (Micah 5:2): as Son of man, He "cometh forth," to fulfill the will of the Father on earth.
(4) God's giving up Israel to her foes is to "last until she which travaileth hath brought forth" (Micah 5:3). The virgin-mother's travail before the first coming of Messiah is to have its counterpart in Zion's pains, which shall precede the second coming of the same Jesus as the "Deliverer who shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob" (Romans 11:26): at which time also "the remnant of Israel's brethren shall return" from their long-continued dispersion. There is another counterpart also, in the sighing prayers of the elect Church for the second coming of the Lord, "Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20-21): in concert with which are the groans of the whole creation, travailing in pain together (Romans 8:22), and longing "to be delivered from the bondage of corruption."
Thus a principle of interpreting Scripture prophecies is given us-namely, we are to remember that, while they receive a fulfillment in the immediate future, and in Messiah's first advent, they also look forward to their exhaustive fulfillment in the final consummation of all things at Messiah's second advent in glory. (5) The accurate knowledge which the scribes evinced to Herod of the exact birthplace of Messiah according to the prophecy of Micah, is a striking confirmation alike of the supernatural character of the inspiration of the prophets, and of the reality of Jesus' claim to be both the Son of God and the Son of Man. The scribes were constrained by the power of the truth involuntarily to confirm, from Jesus' very birth, the Messiahship of Him whom they then neglected, and subsequently rejected and condemned.
Thus alike friends and foes, the testimony of his contemporaries and that of the holy men of the Old Testament, who spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21), assure us that Jesus is both Lord and Christ.
(6) The Saviour now "feeds" His people in the green pastures of His Word, and by the inward teaching of His Spirit. Hereafter "He shall stand and feed" (Micah 5:4), or rule "in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God," fully manifested. Now but a "little flock" (Luke 12:32) follow Him: hereafter "He shall be great unto the ends of the earth." Now he is "the peace" of His believing people, giving them peace with God and with their own consciences, through faith in Him (John 14:27; John 16:33; Romans 5:1). Hereafter He shall give them external peace also, so that no longer shall they have, as now, "tribulation in the world;" for the Church shall be then co-extensive with the world, and the world with the Church; and all enemies of both the literal and the spiritual Isr ael shall be destroyed (Micah 5:5-6).
(7) Israel restored to God's favour and to her own land, though at first but a "remnant in the midst of many people," shall soon be multiplied as the drops of rain, and shall act with the same happy influence spiritually on the surrounding nations that the rain or dew exercises in reviving the withering grass (Micah 5:7). The spiritual dews from above are as independent of man, so far as power or merit is concerned, as are the literal dews of the atmosphere above and around us. Conversion and sanctification are altogether of grace, not of works. This shall be specially manifested in the new birth of all Israel and of the nations as in a day (Isaiah 66:8).
(8) As Israel and Israel's King shall wear a benignant aspect to the obedient, so shall He and the elect nation be formidable as a lion to all that oppose themselves, tearing them in pieces, so that "none can deliver" (Micah 5:8). Her "hand" shall be strengthened by Yahweh's hand against her "adversaries," and when lifted up shall cut them off (Micah 5:9).
Thus, ever the Lord's coming wears a double aspect to the believing and to the impenitent respectively. Let us see that we take our portion with Israel and with Israel's God.
(9) While the Lord is to "execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the disobedient pagan" (Micah 5:15), He will "cut off," not His people, but His people's idols, and their past creature-confidences, such as horses chariots, and strongholds (Micah 5:10-14). Israel shall no longer need the appliances of war when there shall be universal peace and security. Believers are never so safe as when stripped of all other dependencies, they rest on Yahweh alone. Let us pray earnestly for that blessed time to come, and meantime, as "the Israel of God," keep ourselves from idols of every kind, and trust in the Lord alone.