The Humble Place

The Humble Place

Micah 5:1-5a

Main Idea: Jesus is the promised King, born in humility, who will shepherd us into security and peace.

I. The Promise of A Ruler (5:1-2)

Micah’s prophetic ministry coincides with Isaiah, with the Assyrians having conquered the Northern Kingdom and now closing in on Jerusalem. Micah warns that things will be worse before they improve; they should “muster their troops” for warfare, as their city is on the brink of destruction and their “judge” (king) is publicly humiliated.

In contrast, God promises a ruler to come in verse 2. We learn 3 things about this promised king:

  1. He is “from old, from ancient days” 

  2. He will serve God faithfully 

  3. He will be born in Bethlehem

1 Corinthians 1:27–29: But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;  God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.

II. A Tale of Two Kings (5:3-4a, cf. Matt. 2:1-18)

This prophecy related to Bethlehem creates a collision in the NT between:

  1. King Herod. The (self-proclaimed) “King of the Jews” channeled all the world’s power and strategies to promote his own glory, willing to use violence and any means necessary to make a name for himself.

  2. King Jesus. Micah promises that Jesus will gather God’s people back together after a period of exile, and that he will rule as a “shepherd” over his flock in toughness and in tenderness, showcasing the strength of God over and against the strength of mankind.

“Christ then rules not in his Church as a dreaded tyrant, who distresses his subjects with fear; but he is a Shepherd who gently deals with his flock. Nothing therefore can exceed the kindness and gentleness of Christ towards the faithful, as he performs the office of a Shepherd.”
~ John Calvin

While Herod was willing to sacrifice others in order to benefit himself, Jesus sacrifices himself to benefit others (cf. Jn. 10:11, Mk. 10:45). Bethlehem is the perfect birthplace for Jesus, as it sets the trajectory for a life and ministry marked by humility. The cradle in Bethlehem ultimately leads to the cross of Christ.

III. The Results of His Reign (5:4b-5a)

While Christ is lowborn in obscurity and killed in scandal, he is the King who has been resurrected in glory and promises to return to make all things new, establishing his earthly throne forever. The promises here in Micah draw our attention beyond the first advent of Christ to his second coming. 

There are two results for those in the Kingdom of Christ:

  1. Security: Those in his flock will “dwell secure” as a result of his greatness that will extend to the ends of the earth. Those who take up the humble place before his greatness, embracing their own obscurity and smallness, will experience this promise (cf. Jn. 3:30, Ps. 131)

  2. Peace: The peace that we all long for is not found in better circumstances or in the next best thing that the world has to offer, but only in Christ.

 “Christ is always born in Bethlehem among the little ones. Big hearts never get Christ inside of them; Christ lives not in great hearts, but in little ones. Mighty and proud spirits never have Jesus Christ, for he comes in at low doors, but he will not come in at high ones. He who has a broken heart, and a low spirit, shall have the Savior, but none else… He is the Christ of the little ones.”
~ Charles Spurgeon

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