Micah 5: 7-9……The remnant concept.

Then the remnant of Jacob shall be
in the midst of many peoples
like dew from the LORD,
like showers on the grass,
which delay not for a man
nor wait for the children of man.
And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations,
in the midst of many peoples,
like a lion among the beasts of the forest,
like a young lion among the flocks of sheep,
which, when it goes through, treads down
and tears in pieces, and there is none to deliver.
Your hand shall be lifted up over your adversaries,
and all your enemies shall be cut off.

Comment: In this short passage the remnant or leftover number of the punished Jews are still scattered amongst other nations apart from their own. They will be a great blessing – like dew or showers of rain on grass. Rain is not under the control of people nor will the blessing around the remnant be because of their own strength. It will be a work of God. Although dew and showers are gentle the Jews are promised that they will be strong and victorious. The language now sounds war like – rampaging lions and enemies cut off. Whilst being a blessing can be accepted and built upon, it can also raise opposition and conflict. Neither the God shown in the Old Testament, who leads the Jews into many battles, nor the God, Jesus the Son, seen in the New Testament, wielding a whip in the temple and who promised final judgement of catastrophic proportions are shown as weak and scared to express displeasure. This is in spite of having steadfast love as a dominant characteristic of His multi-faceted nature. The judgement about to fall on the nation was due to their turning to sinful ways. The coming judgement is to deal with their sinfulness and restore them to be a people of holiness and with backbone for service of their (and our) God.

Prayer: I would not try and draw a God that suits me, but see You in all Your Magnificence.