Peter Barnes | Micah 5:5-15
SERMON NOTES
GOD DELIVERS A REMNANT
Micah 5:5-15
– Micah has spoken of the coming of the Messiah (5:2). Now he writes of the Messianic people, the remnant whom God preserves.
1. God preserves a remnant.
– 5:5-6. This specifically refers to the events of 701 B.C. when Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, threatened Jerusalem, but was cut down (Isa.36:14-15, 18-20; 37:36-38; Nahum 3:1, 5-7, 18-19).
– C. S. Lewis said it was the empire which is always crumbling, yet it never quite crumbles.
2. This exiled remnant is like dew and like a lion.
– 5:7-9. Micah must be referring to the exile amongst the nations, after the Assyrians crushed Samaria in 722 B.C. and, more particularly, after the Babylonians crushed Jerusalem in 587-6 B.C.
(a) they will be like dew – 5:7; Psalm 72:6. Note Acts 13:14; 17:1-3.
(b) they will be like a lion – 5:8-9. This is a picture of victory. Matt.28:18-20.
3. God will purify His victorious remnant.
(a) they will have no false security – 5:10-11; Isa.31:1; Ps.33:16-22.
(b) there will be no sorcery or idolatry – 5:12-14; Acts 19:18-20; Jer.10:5.
(c) there will be judgment on nations which have not obeyed – 5:15; 2 Thess.1:8.
In the victory of God, we will all stand somewhere – Acts 17:30-34.