The words spoken by the LORD through the prophet Micah are the echoed in Jesus’ infamous Sermon on the Mount. In what we now call the Beatitudes, we often view the words of Jesus as radical. Yet the same theme had always been spoken by God. It was simply ignored and misunderstood by His people.
I will gather the lame;
I will assemble the exiles
and those I have brought to grief.
I will make the lame my remnant,
those driven away a strong nation
Micah 4:6-7 (NIV)
Micah uses the imagery of a woman in labour, writhing in agony. Though her present state is painful, but she will give birth to something marvellous. This was the warning given to the people of Judah and to their stronghold of Jerusalem: they would be left desolate, their castles abandoned, their temple without worshippers, and the land without a king to rule over them. Yet the LORD assures them of a day of restoration, when the weak and afflicted will be gathered and shaped into a strong nation under His rule.
Salvation is Found in Babylon
for now you must leave the city
to camp in the open field.
You will go to Babylon;
there you will be rescued.
There the LORD will redeem you
out of the hand of your enemies.
Micah 4:10 (NIV)
Many people believe they must come to a physical temple or a church building to be rescued by God because of the comfort and familiarity these places provide. A location where they have previously experienced God’s presence becomes deeply tied to their faith. For instance, Jacob met God at Bethel in a profound way and returned there to worship, associating that place with his encounter. In contrast, Isaac kept moving and built altars wherever he went, showing that God’s presence was not confined to one location or past experience.
In Micah’s time, many thought salvation could only be found in Jerusalem where the temple stood. Similarly, even today, people often feel that baptisms, marriages, or funerals must take place in their hometown churches, as if God’s blessing is tied to a particular building. Yet Scripture reminds us that the Lord’s power to redeem is not bound by place.
God promised to rescue His people in Babylon—far from the temple, far from Zion—so that they would learn that His salvation rests in His presence and faithfulness, not in human efforts to draw near geographically. He is able to rescue us wherever we are, even when we seem far from Him, because His presence is not confined to structures made by men but extends to all who call on His name.
But now many nations
are gathered against you.
They say, “Let her be defiled,
let our eyes gloat over Zion!”
But they do not know
the thoughts of the LORD;
they do not understand his plan,
that he has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor.
Micah 4:11-12 (NIV)
God sometimes allows our enemies to unite and gloat over us, just as He did with Israel, to teach us humility and dependence on Him. When Jesus was handed over, even those who opposed each other—Pilate, Herod, Pharisees, and Sadducees—came together against Him. Yet He did not retaliate or reveal His full identity while being mocked. Instead, He remained silent and entrusted Himself to the Father.
In the same way, when opposition rises against us, God may use it to remind us to be still and recognise that He is God. These moments are not meant to destroy us but to draw us closer to Him. He gives us space to turn to Him, and in that waiting, He provides peace. What seems like triumph for the enemy is often God’s way of shaping us, teaching us to wait on Him, and preparing the moment when He will act on our behalf.
Ruler from Ancient Times
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times.”
Micah 5:2 (NIV)
The Bible often shows a repeating pattern where God’s plan unfolds through unexpected lineages. Bethlehem was a small, almost insignificant town, overshadowed by Jerusalem and other greater cities of Judah. Yet it was from this humble place that David, the youngest and least likely of Jesse’s sons, was chosen to be king. In the same way, Micah declares that the promised ruler would arise from Bethlehem, again defying expectation. The title Ancient of Days is used only for God, yet here the ruler from Bethlehem is described as having origins before creation itself. When Jesus later alluded to His existence before Abraham, the patriarch of Israel, the temple leaders tried to stone Him.
Therefore Israel will be abandoned
until the time when she who is in labor bears a son,
and the rest of his brothers return
to join the Israelites.
Micah 5:3 (NIV)
God does not truly abandon His people, though at times it may feel that way. In Micah’s prophecy, Israel was said to be abandoned until the promised child was born. Yet this “abandonment” was not total forsaking—it was a period of silence, where no fresh prophetic word was given and the people had to endure darkness and wait for the Messiah. Even then, God was still at work: Daniel received visions, and Ezra and Nehemiah rebuilt the temple, showing that His hand never left His people.
In our own lives, when things do not go our way or when prayers seem unanswered, we often feel unrest and assume God has abandoned us. But more often, people drift from God themselves and then mistake that distance as His absence. In reality, what feels like silence is often God drawing us out of false comfort and teaching us to seek His real peace. Just as Israel’s waiting gave way to the birth of the promised Son, our seasons of silence can prepare us for restoration. God is still watching over us, whether we realise it or not.
The Good Shepherd
He will stand and shepherd his flock
in the strength of the LORD,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth.
Micah 5:4 (NIV)
Micah looks forward to a ruler who would shepherd God’s people with divine strength and authority, bringing security and peace that would extend to the whole earth. Jesus later revealed Himself as this Shepherd, saying to His disciples, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Unlike earthly rulers who often sought power for themselves, Christ’s greatness is shown in His care, sacrifice, and protection of His flock. Through Him, God’s people find true safety, and His name is magnified far beyond Israel, reaching the nations of the world.
The remnant of Jacob will be
in the midst of many peoples
like dew from the LORD,
like showers on the grass,
which do not wait for anyone
or depend on man.
Micah 5:7 (NIV)
The promised ruler will be Israel’s peace, delivering them from invading enemies. God’s faithful remnant is depicted as refreshing and life-giving, like morning dew. They will not depend on any man but will rely on their Shepherd for strength. The LORD Himself will purify His people, removing every false source of security—chariots, strongholds, witchcraft, and idols—so that their only dependence is on Him. In the end, He will bring judgment on the nations that refuse to obey Him, while His people live securely under His care.
Are we truly living our lives as the remnant who belong to the Shepherd, as Micah prophesied, or have we become so absorbed in the traditions and customs of the world that we can no longer recognise the path to the Father? Are we allowing God to purify us and strip away the impurities of the world that have seeped into our lives, or are we resisting His work, unwilling to be transformed because we prefer to remain aligned with the world?
Even after coming into the fold of God, many still live as though they are waiting for something more—more comfort, more assurance—rather than embracing what Christ has already given. Jesus brought heaven down to us, making God accessible and near, yet we often keep our eyes fixed on a distant heaven while neglecting to live according to God’s will here and now. The experience of the captured Israelites reminds us that we do not need to return to a particular place or building for God to begin His work. From wherever we are, in whatever condition or struggle, when we call on the Shepherd, He meets us there, rescues us, restores us, and brings us back into His fold.
Discussion Questions
- When God is able to rescue us even when we are seemingly far from Him, why do so many believe that they must first come to His temple to be rescued?
- Why does God at times allow our enemies to unite and gloat over us, just as He did with Israel?
- Does God really abandon His people until the Messiah comes? Why do people feel they have been abandoned by God?
The Jordan Valley 
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