A Coming Ruler
6/8/26 Bible Thought (Micah 5)
Main Idea: God’s reign would be established through a coming ruler from Bethlehem who would shepherd God’s people.
A Look at the Text:
While the future was a hopeful time for Micah and his contemporaries, it was still an awaited time. Yet Micah predicted that the little town of Bethlehem would produce a ruler who would shepherd God’s people (Mic. 5:2-6). In that final day, Israel would no longer trust in their military might (Mic. 5:10). No longer would they turn to fortune tellers or idols (Mic. 5:12-13).
Instead, the Lord would reign supreme. Many would flow into Jerusalem (Mic. 4:2), but every nation that opposed Him would be destroyed (Mic. 5:15). All of this hinged upon this coming King.
Bringing it Home:
The New Testament reveals without even the slightest doubt that this Ruler is the Lord Jesus Christ (Matt. 2:1-6). Through godless human leaders, our sovereign God directed Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, thus fulfilling Micah’s prophecy about the birth of the Christ (see Luke 2:1-7). He did so at “the fullness of time” (Gal. 4:4), just as He ordained.
Though this was foretold hundreds of years in advance, God faithfully executed His plan with a tiny baby in a manger.
Jesus Christ is the final one in the lineage of David, in whom the Davidic Covenant is fulfilled (2 Sam. 7:16). He is both the Good Shepherd (John 10:11) and the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Rev. 17:14). He is both gentle and just.
One day, He will finally establish the reign of God on the earth. All will bow—whether they want to or not (see Phil. 2:9-11). As one scholar has noted about the coming Davidic King, “There is no refuge from Him, only in Him.”
“Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:9-11).
We can humbly bow our knees to King Jesus today, or one day we won’t have a choice. Just as God fulfilled His promise in the days of Caesar Augustus, so He will again in the future. Even if that day is yet awaited 2,000 years later.
Challenge:
Do I believe in God’s ability to orchestrate the future and fulfill His promise as He has directed history thus far?