Micah 5:4

The *Messiah will rule (Revelation 20:4-6). He will rule with his ‘brothers’ (the people that believe in him). He will stand. That means that he will live for always (Psalms 33:11; Isaiah 14:24). He will stand in the *LORD’s strength. He will be like a *shepherd. He will look after his sheep. David too was a *shepherd. He looked after sheep. Then God took him away from the sheep. God made him a *shepherd (ruler) over God’s people.

The *Messiah will not rule by means of human power. He will not rule by clever plans, like David’s sons. They had not followed the *LORD’s ways to live. They had trusted in their military strength. (Look at Micah 5:10-15.)

But the *Messiah will be like David. He will trust God and he will obey God’s laws. The *Messiah’s greatness was like David’s (2 Samuel 7:9). But David’s greatness was only in one country, *Israel. Christ’s greatness will reach further. His government will reach all over the Earth (Micah 4:3-4; Matthew 28:18-20; John 17:2). Christ gives *eternal life to his people. That new life will last for always. Nobody can steal God’s people from his hands (from his care). (See John 10:28.)

Jesus is the Good *Shepherd. And he will be the great Ruler of *Israel (Zechariah 14:9-11). The citizens that are under his rule will live in safety. They will defeat the devil (Matthew 12:22-29). Jesus will provide for their *spiritual health (John chapter 10; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 5:4).

v5 And the Ruler will bring peace.

The army from Assyria will come into our country. They will march past our strong buildings. But we will choose seven *shepherds (rulers) and even eight leaders. v6 They will use their swords. They will rule over the *Assyrians. They will rule Nimrod’s country. They will do it with their swords in their hands. They will use their swords to rule over those people. Then the Ruler of *Israel will save us from the *Assyrians when they come into our country. He will save us when they march past our borders.