Gather in Troops Micah 5:1

As he came to the end of the fourth chapter of his prophesy, Micah the prophet quoted the LORD telling Jerusalem to “Arise and Thresh” because “the Lord of the whole earth” was going to give them strength to overcome “many people”. In chapter five and verse one, Micah began to show the need for a messiah as he tells the “daughter of troops” to “gather”. We read:

Now gather yourself in troops, O daughter of troops: he has laid siege against us:

they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.

The verse begins, “Now gather yourself in troops, O daughter of troops:” After declaring the subduing that is promised to Jerusalem over “many nations”, Micah tells them, “Now gather” which means “penetrate, cut, attack, invade or cut into” “yourself in troops” or “band, marauding bands or foray” “O daughter of troops” which refers to either Jerusalem's bands or their neighboring bands who might be allies. Whichever group it may be, they are to instructed to assemble together for a special reason.

The verse continues, “he has laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.” The reason for the gathering of troops is “he has laid” which means “put, placed, set, appointed, and made” “siege” or “entrenchment, enclosure and rampart” “against us”. Micah goes on to add, “they shall smite” which means “strike, hit, beat, slay, and kill” “the judge” or “strike, smite, hit, beat, slay and kill” “of Israel” which means “God prevails”. He proceeded to share the method in which they would “smite” him, “with a rod” or “staff, branch, offshoot, club, scepter or tribe” “upon the cheek” which refers to the “cheek of the face or jawbone”. Many believe this is a reference to the smiting of the Messiah, and in preparation for this horrific and humiliating act, the “daughter of troops” were to be gathered together.

As we ponder Micah's words, we can use our imaginations to see the gathering of the troops after Micah's instructions. However, it is interesting to note the word “he” who was to lay “siege” against them. The idea was for them to be prepared against this “he”, and yet, “they” would “smite the judge of Israel”. Micah was setting the scene for the advent of the messiah, and though these enemies might “smite” Him “with a rod upon the cheek”, they would never be able to overcome His power. We have the messiah Jesus who came to the earth to save people from their sins, and though His enemies smote Him upon the cheek, He shall reign forevermore. For those who know Him, we have the instruction to gather in troops and remember, as He did back then, that He will come again. Let us be gathered together and receive Him as LORD and King who shall reign for all eternity.

Next time Micah will share the prophesy concerning the birthplace of the Messiah, 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.