June 4, 2012 – Micah 4 – 5

It is really hard to blame the Jews that thought Jesus was the Messiah and to think that He was not going to be some type of military leader.  If I gave you this description of the Messiah, “tend the land of Assyria with the sword,… like a lion among beasts of the forest,… when it passes through it tramples; it tears and no one can rescue. Your hand shall be lifted above your foes, and all your enemies shall be cut down….I will destroy the horses from your midst and ruin your chariots; I will destroy the cities of your land and tear down all your fortresses.”  That isn’t even all the language.  Granted, you have to ignore what Christ actually teaches, but you can get a sense of what Israel was looking for.  They were a nation that was conquered and under the thumb of an empire.  It isn’t a big leap to think that a Messiah would come that would tear down their fortresses. 

Now, go back and read chapter 5 again and think of sin as the enemy that the Messiah will conquer.  Think of how sin has ruled your life at one time or another and how Christ helped when you allowed Him.  When He passed through, He trampled.  He destroyed their horses, their chariots, sins power.  Think about what Christ, the Messiah, was really coming to do, what He was really coming to conquer.