Of course, Jesus is THE theme throughout the entire book of Micah. But as you read carefully, a beautiful picture of our Savior is revealed. There are some places where the imagery and prophetic vision of Jesus just scintillates.
This image of Jesus spans chapters 4 and 5. The first glimpse appears in chapter 4 and verse 2b.
For out of Zion the law shall go forth,
And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
This is a parallelism, a common type of Hebrew poetry. Both parts of the verse refer to the same thing. The apostle John identifies the “word” for us:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, . . . . John 1:1, Revelation 19:13, and John 1:14
The “word” refers to Jesus. All these outcast and lame that are flowing up to the Lord’s house and desiring to “walk in His paths” are doing so because of Jesus. He has drawn them. But He is not just the “word”, He is our strong tower: look at Micah 4:8.
And you, O tower of the flock,
The stronghold of the daughter of Zion,
To you shall it come,
Even from the former dominion shall come,
The kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.
Several places in Scripture Jesus is depicted as a strong rock or tower. David used this refuge when he was in distress:
From the end of the earth I will cry to You,
When my heart is overwhelmed;
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For You have been a shelter for me,
A strong tower from the enemy.
Psalm 61:2, 3
Do you being to see my rapture? The pictures in Micah are so beautiful.
Suddenly, the mood changes though, and the picture of Jesus takes on a startling dimension.
They will strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek.
Micah 5:1
Many years ago I attended a Bible conference. During one of the morning devotional sessions the speaker told about a book she had read. I have forgotten the name of the book, but not the story. The book was based on the experiences of a Bible scholar who decided to travel through the Near East and tell the parables of Jesus. The scholar wanted to learn more about these parables from their cultural context.
Whenever he told the story of the “Prodigal Son”, he met with the same reaction. The men would just nod their heads when he reached the end. Baffled, the scholar finally asked why no one was bothered that the story ended abruptly. He was told that the ending was obvious. Within that culture there was only way the story could end. Once the father finishes his appeal to the older brother in Luke 15:32, the older brother would pick up a stick and strike his father.
Profound.
Jesus did not “finish” the story because everyone listening knew what the older brother would do.
Yet here in Micah, the fulfillment of that parable is revealed. It is Jesus. In John 5:22, Jesus’ identifies Himself as the judge: “For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son.”
Jesus was struck. He was crucified.
This part of the picture of Jesus chokes us. There He is — taking my punishment.
Just three verses later though, we are reminded that He is living Savior.
And He shall stand and feed His flock
In the strength of the Lord,
In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God;
And they shall abide,
For now He shall be great
To the ends of the earth;
Micah 5:4
We overcome as He overcame — “In the strength of the Lord.” And we can abide because “He shall be great to the ends of the earth.” Our all is bound up with Him.
There is one last part to this picture. It is the first line of verse 5, which many translations connect with chapter 4 verse 13: “And this One shall be peace.” The English Standard Version renders it: “And this One shall be their peace.”
Jesus is the Word, our Strong Tower, our Judge, our Shepherd, and our Peace. What a picture! What a comfort! What an assurance!
