Jesus was born to set us free, and to restore our relationship with the Father.
Micah 5:5 KJV
And this man shall be the peace,
when the Assyrian shall come into our land:
and when he shall tread in our palaces,
then shall we raise against him seven shepherds,
and eight principal (Hebrew: princes of) men.
And he will cause the people to rest, so that they have no trouble. Assyria’s soldiers will come to attack our country. They will march through our large, strong buildings. Then we will choose seven or eight leaders (more than enough leaders are available) to fight against them.
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This man
In Hebrew simply “This.” The One just mentioned; He and He alone. Emphatical for Messiah (compare Genesis 5:29).
The peace
The fountainhead of peace between God and man, between Israel and Israel’s offended God (Genesis 49:10, Isaiah 9:6, Ephesians 2:14,17, Colossians 1:20), and, as the consequence, the fountain of “peace on earth,” where heretofore all is strife (Micah 4:3, Hosea 2:18, Zechariah 9:10, Luke 2:14).
The Assyrian
Being Israel’s most powerful foe at that time. Assyria is made the representative of all the foes of Israel in all ages, who shall receive their final destruction at Messiah’s appearing (Ezekiel 38:1-23).
Seven shepherds, and eight princes
“Seven” expresses perfection; “seven and eight” is an idiom for a full and sufficient number (Job 5:19, Proverbs 6:16, Ecclesiastes 11:2).
Principal men
Literally, “anointed (humble) men” (Psalms 62:9), such as the apostles were.
Their anointing, or consecration and qualification to office, was by the Holy Spirit [CALVIN] (1 John 2:20,27 ).
“Princes” also were anointed, and they are mentioned as under Messiah (Isaiah 32:1).
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And this [man] will be Peace.
Peace… how much it is desires in this world ravaged by war and violence.
Despite all the peace initiatives and peacekeeping missions, our world remains a battlefield, where the blood of countless victims flows every day.
This is the result of our foolish rebellion against God. Delusional pride and wanting more and more, often are the cause of a lot of misery. The break between God and man, also caused a break between people as well.
How is it going to be good again?
How is peace, as it was in paradise, restored?
This can only be done through Him.
This is only possible through the Prince of Peace.
Micah testifies of Him, “And This [man] Will Be Peace”!
First of all, the Christ restores peace between God and His creation.
Whoever is connected with the Christ may by faith confess:
Romans 5:1 KJV
Therefore being justified by faith,
we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ
And when this peace with God in your heart has become a reality, you also long to live in peace with your neighbor. Yes, by becoming a child of God, you also become a child of peace on His way to His eternal Kingdom of Peace.
The world really needs the work of this Prince of Peace.
So that from the restoration of peace with God, peace can again come between people.
Now in principle, soon in perfection.
When we read the words in the book of Micah, we understand that it was no different in Micah’s days than it is in our days. Wars and rumors of wars dominated the news. Tensions between the superpowers turned the lives of small people upside down.
Even then, thousands of refugees traveled from city to city in search of a safe haven. It is particularly Assyria that used the weapon of terror at that time.
When you think about this all, it is not really surprising that the thought comes to mind, “What can a child born in a small town like Bethlehem do about this all?” Are it not the children who are the first victims of the violence of war?
But Micah says that Bethlehem’s child will be Peace!
“Prince of Peace” is not only His Name, it is also who He really is.
That is why we can only participate in that peace if we want to follow Him, if we are implanted in Him by faith. His peace is initially small and sometimes almost invisible, just like Bethlehem, but in God’s future, this mustard seed grows into a tree whose branches reach into heaven.
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