In this chapter, Micah pointed to the restoration of God’s people through the reestablishment of the Davidic throne to its former glory. Bethlehem Ephrathah is identified as the place or origin of this coming ruler. Two other places have the name Bethlehem; it is significant the Ephrathah was used to pinpoint the actual place where the ruler would come from. Micah 5:2 has its prophecy fulfilled in Matthew 2:5 where the place from which the Messiah would come was identified with reference to the prophecy of Micah.
Although Bethlehem was a small town among the clans of Judah, yet its significance comes from the very fact that it was an insignificant town. We see a pattern in God’s working here; He uses the insignificant to carry out HIs plans. Jacob, the younger of the two sons of Rebekah, would become the more prominent of the two. Gideon, though the youngest in the smallest family in Manasseh, was used mightily by God, and the list goes on.
The mention of Bethlehem reminds us of king David; David himself was from this town and David was a shepherd. The future ruler and King would come from Bethlehem and He would shepherd His people and be their King. This great King would spring from the Davidic line and He would fulfill the ideals of the Davidic covenant: the Lord Jesus Christ, the perfect and ideal Son of David, would emerge as the new ruler in the future.
Micah pointed out that the sufferings of Zion would eventually come to an end; although God would send His people into exile, He would bring the exile to an end and the nation would return from exile and be reunited eventually.
The future Shepherd and King would be their peace. He would be a Shepherd who rules by the power of God. In the end times, Israel would be invulnerable to enemy attack and she would overcome them. The nations would be unable to combat the military power of Israel’s remnant. The Lord would purify Judah and she would be purged of false religious practices. She would depend solely on the power of the Lord for deliverance and victory.
In contrast to the promised peace for His people, God promises wrath upon those who oppose Him. Referring to Assyria in a figurative sense to represent all hostile enemies, God describes a time when the tables will be turned and the enemies of His people will be destroyed.