The Remnant of Jacob as Dew and Showers Micah 5:7

As Micah the prophet continued sharing about the Messiah being “the peace”, he told how “seven shepherds, and eight principal men” would defend against “the Assyrian” when he came into the land of Israel. We learned how this “Assyrian” could represent the true attack of the Assyrians during King Hezekiah's day, or the future attack of Iran and Russia, or a spiritual allegory of “satan” when he attacks us. In chapter five and verse seven, Micah writes concerning “the remnant of Jacob” which shall return to the land of Israel where we read:

And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the LORD, as the showers upon the grass, that tarries not for man, nor waits for the sons of men.

The verse begins, “And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew from the LORD,” Micah began this verse with the word “And” which demonstrates a continual thought, and included “the remnant of Jacob” or “rest, residue, remainder or what is left of Jacob” in his thought. This “remnant” “shall be in the midst” or “among, in the inner part or middle” “of many people” which refers to “many nations”. Micah also compared “the remnant of Jacob” to being “as a dew” or “nighttime mist” “from the LORD” which means “originating from Yehovah or Jehovah”.

The verse continues, “as the showers upon the grass, that tarries not for man, nor waits for the sons of men.” In addition to being like “dew from the LORD”, Micah said this “remnant” would be “as the showers” or “copious and heavy rains which bring fertility and prophetic influence” “upon the grass” or “herbs, grass or green plants”. Micah went on to say, “that tarries not for man” which means “it does not wait, hope, look for or expect from any person” “nor waits for the sons of men” which refers to the “sons or grandsons of men”. This “remnant” shall be both like the dew and the showers which originate from the LORD and shall cover the nations and people around them.

As we think about Micah's words, we begin to understand what an awesome influence this “remnant” of Israel will be among the nations surrounding it. The LORD will have His hand upon this “remnant”, and the other nations of the world will be benefitted by them. This will be like the original idea given to Father Abraham when the LORD told him, “and through His seed shall all the nations of the world be blessed”. God's purpose and plan was and is for every person to know Him, and He demonstrated this through the people of Israel. As “dew” and “showers” cover the earth and originate from the LORD, so the people of Israel were and are to be the “remnant” of people who demonstrate the love God has for all people. When we understand this love came through God's son Jesus, we will understand what the LORD is communicating through His prophet Micah, and may we be a part of the “dew” and “showers” He will use in this world.

Next time Micah shares more about the remnant of Jacob, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.