Micah the prophet told the
people of Israel they should “gather in troops” and that
“the judge of Israel” would be smitten “with a rod
upon the cheek”. He also told them of the Messiah's birthplace,
“Bethlehem” who though it was “little among the
thousands of Judah” would be the place that He “that is to
be ruler in Israel” would come. In chapter five and verse three
of his prophesy, Micah shares about Israel will be given up “until
the time that she which travails has brought forth”. We read:
Therefore will he give
them up, until the time that she which travails has brought
forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the
children of Israel.
The
verse begins, “Therefore will he give them up, until the
time that she which travails has brought
forth:” Micah began this verse
with the word, “Therefore”,
and as we have learned, whenever we see a “therefore”
in the Bible, it is a conclusion word and we should look at what was
stated just before it. In this case, because the Messiah was to be
born in Bethlehem and be the “ruler in Israel” Micah
wrote, “will he give them up”
which refers to the LORD “setting, putting, making and inflicting”
the people of Israel over to other nations. They were to be oppressed
by these Gentiles “until the time”
or “occurrence or occasion” “that she which travails”
which means “bears, brings forth, begets and genders” “has
brought forth” or which again
mean “bears, brings forth, begets and genders”. The phrase in
Hebrew is “Nathan 'eth yalad yalad”, and as we notice word
“yalad” used twice in a row, we recognize the importance of this
special event.
The verse continues, “then
the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of
Israel.” After the birth of
this special one who ends the “giving up” of Israel to other
nations, “then the remnant”
which refers to “remainder, excess, rest and other part” “of
his brethren” or “relatives
and kin” “shall return”
which means “turn and go back” “unto the children of
Israel” or “the people of
the nation of Israel”. In other words, when the timing of the birth
of the Messiah is realized, people will be returning to Israel.
When
the Messiah was born, He was to deliver Israel. However as we learned
in the first verse of this chapter, the Messiah was smitten with a
rod on the cheek or “cut off”. Jesus came in His first advent
only to be “cut off” by those who were in the world, and though
their Messiah was among them, the people of Israel did not recognize
Him as such. Therefore the LORD God gave “them up”
to other nations or Gentiles until the time when their travail shall
be so great, they will call upon the LORD once again. A remnant shall
return to Israel until the time of the Gentiles has ended, and then
the LORD shall gather the people of Israel to Himself once again.
When we take the time to meditate upon these things, we can see these
events happening before our very eyes. Jesus was “cut off”, and
Israel was dispersed to other nations. Today Jewish people are
returning to Israel, and this remnant is being regathered. For those
who watch closely, the time for the Messiah's return in near. May all
who read these words not only hear these sayings but also realize
that they are indeed true and soon to be fulfilled.
Next
time Micah shares about one who will “stand
and feed in the strength of the Lord”,
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.
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