Sermon Tone Analysis

*Micah 5.*

*Assyria invades (v.5):** *Who is Assyria?

In Daniel 2 king Nebuchadnezzar had a dream – its meaning was of human empires, the first being Babylon, the second Medo-Persia, then Greece and a fourth.

Babylon is the great human empire that speaks of human effort and pride that pits itself in independence against God.

It began with Nimrod in Gen 10 and ends in Rev 18.

Its typology and significance is clear in Scripture but there was another great empire that is in the Bible before the rise of the Babylonian empire, that played an important part in God’s dealing with His people – Assyria.

What is the significance of Assyria?

I will look at this in more detail when we look at the book of Nahum which is a prophecy directed against Assyria.

But this prophecy is talking about Assyria invading Israel.

Egypt is the world, Babylon humanism, Amalek the flesh …Who is Assyria?

Assyria was a great empire that ruled the world before the rise of the Babylonian empire yet, in the vision in Daniel, it is not counted as preceding it – it is of a different origin and spirit.

Assyria was a threat to Israel, particularly the northern kingdom and was used as God’s instrument to discipline his people when they went away from Him. Assyria, like Babylon had its origins with Nimrod, the mighty hunter (*Genesis 10:8-12** */Now Cush became the father of Nimrod; he became a mighty one on the earth.

He was a mighty hunter before /יהוה/;// therefore it is said, “Like Nimrod a mighty hunter before /יהוה/.//”

The beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech and Accad and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.

From that land he went forth into Assyria, and built Nineveh and Rehoboth-Ir and Calah, and Resen between Nineveh and Calah; that is the great city./).

It was a rich and powerful regime but also very cruel – it gloried in military strength and worshipped violence.

This is what characterized it – so I thought what does Assyria portray?

– it portrays man getting his own way and getting wealthy by might, by violence and assertiveness – a spirit very much alive in our present society [Assyria = assertive].

Micah is prophesying the coming invasion of Israel by Assyria but the context is very much in the end times.

This prophecy wasn’t literally fulfilled – Israel did not shepherd Assyria with the sword, Babylon defeated her.

Where is Assyria today – largely in the British museum, the French and Germans also got many relics, under mounds in Iraq – the Assyrian race doesn’t exist today.

Does this Scripture no longer have any relevance, is it now obsolete?

How come an end time prophecy still refers to Assyria?

Because Assyria still does exist!

Man still asserts his own way, gets wealthy by defeating others and by use of force.

So what does this prophecy say about Assyria?

*Assyria will be shepherded by the sword (v.5, 6):* - Assyria will invade the land and trample it – and they did, leading the northern kingdom of Israel into exile – but the seven shepherds did not come to deliver Israel – there is a fulfilment yet to come.

There will be perfect leadership, a whole new kind of regime.

Strong and powerful rule that will put down the mighty that oppress and invade.

Assyria, the enemy, will come and trample the fortresses, but will be defeated.

Shepherds, leaders, guides and rulers will be raised up to lead the people to defeat the foe.

*v.6* – Instead of Assyria being over them, they will rule Assyria.

These will not be gentle shepherds - they will shepherd Assyria with the sword.

Governors appointed by יהוה to govern the land of Assyria on behalf of the King, Jesus the Messiah, they will administer it with strict discipline - harshly dealing with any who oppose Jesus’ decrees (cf.

*Psalm 2* ‘/You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware.’

” Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath may soon be kindled/.).

The references to entrances, refers to the gates of the cities where judgement~/court sat - righteous justice will be administered.

No more will Assyria be allowed to cruelly oppress - those that they have oppressed will be delivered from their hand.

When Assyria comes to the land of God’s people - they will be rescued.

He comes to trample our territory but he will not succeed because of the leaders raised up.

Note not "they will deliver" but "He will deliver" - though it is through appointed leaders, it is יהוה Himself who delivers - it is from Him that salvation comes.

Bless His Name!

*Those of different spirit – the remnant (v.7):*

They are not of man.

There is a contrast in this chapter between Assyria, the rule of might, and God’s rule [write “man’s might” “ יהוה’s power”].

There is Assyria, the assertive and powerful, they dry up a place but, praise God, there are those of a different spirit, who are not of man, who don’t live by assertiveness and might but bring refreshing wherever they are – they are not of human spirit – it is from above, dew from heaven.

The remnant of God’s people, true believers, will be among the nations as a witness - as salt and light - to bring refreshing - life-giving water.

They will minister the life of Jesus (the life-giving water that flows from His millennial throne) to the nations which they are among.

Dew from יהוה is refreshing, reviving - sustaining life - bringing freshness to a dry place.

They will keep the place green - cause growth to continue.

They will provide this life-giving nourishment, this source of life from יהוה Himself, at the appropriate time - regular, unsolicited.

The rain and dew come without us having to ask (pity help our situation if our rain supply depended on us asking!).

God knows what and how much and when we need, and supplies.

So too, these restored, believing people of God will provide the appropriate requirement to sustain spiritual growth.

The remnant will bring refreshing, spiritual blessing but they will also avenge the wrongs done and destroy יהוה’s enemies.

*Weak remnant becomes strong (v.8, 9):* -They do not live by assertiveness and might, they are the meek but they become strong and exercise יהוה’s might, His rule.

Again, יהוה reiterates that the remnant of Jacob, believing Jews, will be among many nations.

A Diaspora, but not in punishment, rather as emissaries - representatives of יהוה’s government of peace, righteousness and justice - justice of the severe and retributive king (cf.

Psalm 2).

Not only will they administer יהוה’s kindness but also His severity – there are two sides to God’s nature (cf*.**

Romans 11:22 */Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off./).

We need to ensure which side of His nature we will encounter.

This remnant will be fierce like a lion, tearing to pieces all rebellion and opposition to the King.

None can rescue from their hand.

There is no deliverance for those who set themselves against יהוה!

No more will God’s people be defeated in battle - rather they will be the invincible force which, if they choose to attack, none can escape.

*v.9* - No enemy will prevail against God’s people.

They will raise their hand in power to execute יהוה’s judgement on their enemies - those who for centuries have persecuted and oppressed God’s people.

They will be utterly cut off!

Hallelujah!

No more will the wicked triumph over God’s people and persecute them.

Israel has forever been trampled, now the boot is on the other foot – how terrible it will be for those who have oppressed her.

The day of the LORD will be a big turnaround!

*The Day of the LORD (v.10-15):* יהוה is going to have His day, when He rules and sets things right.

The Minor Prophets have much to say about the Day of the LORD.

That’s why we have to be familiar with them because that day is coming soon.

It will be a day of retribution and vengeance.

יהוה will be against those who oppose Him.

Does this passage refer to Assyria or Israel – doesn’t really matter – it is a message of *VENGEANCE, *יהוה* cuts off those who:*

*Live by military might (v.10): * - Instruments of war shall be done away with.

"יהוה declares"!

This will happen!

The mouth of יהוה has spoken!

This introduces a new prophecy.

יהוה is speaking to His apostate people again and also to the heathen nations (see v.15) - all the godless peoples- who trust in man not in יהוה.

"In that day" - refers to the day of the LORD - the day of final judgement.

In that day יהוה will destroy all props on which man has relied: military strength, religion and spiritual forces - everything on which man depends that isn’t יהוה will be cut off (cf.

*Hebrews 12:25-27** */See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking.

For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven.

And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.”

This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain./).

Man relies on his own strength - his military power but יהוה will annihilate it - war will no longer be possible because the instruments of war will be destroyed by יהוה (cf/.

/*Micah 4:3** */And He will judge between many peoples and render decisions for mighty, distant nations.

Then they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they train for war.

/*Psalm 46:9*/ He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariots with fire./).

יהוה Himself acts to destroy them: "/I will/ cut off ..."; "/I will/ destroy ...." In (v.10-15) יהוה says, "/I will/" 9 times (in the Hebrew).

"That day" will be a day of "cutting off" (4x) by יהוה, a day of destruction - "destroy" (2x).

Look at Saddam Hussein and Bush in Iraq, the Palestinians in Israel, the Soviets, Hitler – man still thinks that might is right.

We all universally deplore war – but we still use our weapons.

And on the individual level, we still fight – be it not with guns, we still fight to try and make our way prevail – assert our will.