Like Dew and Like a Lion – Micah 5:7-15

Paul said that the ministry of the New Covenant, indeed his ministry and the ministry of those who follow Christ, was “…the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.” (2 Corinthians 2:15).  Micah is describing Israel in similar terms, and thus, by default, the church in its New Covenant fulfillment.

7 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.  8 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.  9 Your hand shall be lifted up over your adversaries, and all your enemies shall be cut off.

10 And in that day, declares the Lord, I will cut off your horses from among you and will destroy your chariots; 11 and I will cut off the cities of your land and throw down all your strongholds; 12 and I will cut off sorceries from your hand, and you shall have no more tellers of fortunes; 13 and I will cut off your carved images and your pillars from among you, and you shall bow down no more to the work of your hands; 14 and I will root out your Asherah images from among you and destroy your cities.  15 And in anger and wrath I will execute vengeance on the nations that did not obey. (Micah 5:7-15)

Israel is to be the dew and showers that bring blessing to the nations, and a fierce lion who brings destruction to the idolatrous nations.  But first she must be cleansed herself if she is to follow her Messiah into both these functions.  She must first be invaded by Yahweh.  He will cut off the horses and chariots they purchased from Egypt contrary to Yahweh’s law (Deuteronomy 17:14-17), and on which armaments they depended instead of Yahweh.  He will cut off their fortified cities (using the Assyrians and later the Babylonians) where they seek security.  He will cut off their sorceries, carved images, pillars and Asherah (female shaped representatives of that goddess).  Then Yahweh will turn His attention from Israel to the nations and He will use Israel to execute vengeance on them.

The Church has this same dual function of blessing and destruction, and the same need for cleansing.  Paul describes us as armed for battle with Roman armor, but our battle is against the unseen enemy, the Devil.  And prayer and the word of God are our weapons as we seek to rescue the lost from Satan’s grip.  God could reach the world Himself but He chooses to use us in this enterprise.

One day Jesus will return from heaven with a mighty army and defeat the Antichrist and his armies in a decisive battle near Jerusalem (Revelation 19).  We will be in the army, most likely, those of us who have already died, carrying out one aspect of this dual function God has given us.  He could defeat the enemy by Himself, but He chooses to use us in the battle.

But if we are given to imported lies and falsehoods from the world, we will be ineffective and in need of judgment and cleansing ourselves.  When we see Him taking away all our comforts and securities that we have leaned on too long, we will know He is preparing an army of militant peacemakers who wage war against sin and wage peace against sinners.