WHO IS LIKE YOU A DIVINE SHEPHERD? In the fourth chapter he proclaims the setting of a spiritual glorified kingdom; the Catholic Church; the spiritual unique paradise; the spiritual army of God that the forces of darkness cannot conquer. But how could this Church be set? By the Savior, who has the authority over the new spiritual Israel; the One born in Bethlehem; the divine Shepherd, who is glorified to the end of the earth? The prophet Micah started his book by prophesying about the captivation of Samariah and Jerusalem and the extent of devastation that would dwell on the two kingdoms because of their persistence on evil. Then he introduces a new kingdom, the Church of the New Testament, and speaks about the wickedness and the corruption of the leaders that became the cause of bitterness to the two kingdoms. And now, instead of the wicked leaders, he prophesies about a unique Leader, the King Messiah, and the Good Shepherd. 1. A falling rein 1. 2. The birth of the eternal King 2-3. 3. A capable Shepherd 4. 4. An active shepherding 5-6. 5. An ecumenical extension of shepherding 7. 6. A victorious shepherding 8-15. 1. A FALLING REIGN: “Now, gather yourself in troops, O daughter of troops; He has laid siege against us; they will strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek” (Micah 4:5) The enemies of Zion, who longed to have victory over Israel and Judah, are called by a divine allowance to lay siege against all their cities to chasten His people. The prophet Micah turns to what would dwell on Israel that would be captivated by Assyria, whereas Judah, after holding fast against the repetitive sieges of Assyria, would be captivated in stages culminated by Babylon in the days of king Zedekieh, then it would be utterly devastated on the hands of the Roman Titus in the year 70 AD. The king, the nobles and the religious leaders were preoccupied with riches and authority assuming that they are secure within the strong walls of Jerusalem, not aware that it would be put under siege, destroyed, and its judge or king Zedekieh would be incapable of protecting it. Zedekieh was the last king of the seed of David to sit on the throne of Jerusalem when Nebuchadnezar took it over (2 Kings 25:1). He says that Samariah will be put under siege by the enemy, who will not only strike her cheek by their heads, which would be bearable, but they will crush it with rods, which is especially cruel. This refers here to the miserable and insulting calamity of captivation. There is no doubt that striking on the cheeks is especially humiliating, but note here that they will also crush it with rods, causing severe troubles besides humiliation. Samariah was humiliated and disgraced when ruled by the tribe of Ephraim. Anyways, the striking hands would stop and our misery would come to an end, if we do our best to have God’s wrath lifted; the wrath that dwelt on us because of our rebellion and our eagerness to commit sins, which is hated by God. If we honor 86 Him by leading a good life, we would enjoy prosperity and a commendable joyful life1. St. Cyril, the Great Some believe that the prophet Micah addresses here the army of Titus, the Roman Leader, who put Jerusalem under siege and struck its Judge Jesus, the Lord of Glory, on His cheek and insulted Him, saying: ‘Prophesy, who struck You!’ 2. THE BIRTH OF THE ETERNAL KING: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2) As king Zedekieh could not protect Jerusalem and was helpless to save it, an amazing King would come out of a small village, thought to be little among the thousands of villages of Judah; an eternal King would enter into human history, who can save to perfection. The first king dies in shame and disgrace, whereas the second King will reign to eternity in heaven with an everlasting kingdom. The expression: “whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” applies only to the Lord Christ, being the One eternally born as the only begotten Son of the Father. That is why he says: “Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58). And the Psalmist says: “Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God” (Psalm 90:2). Some may probably say: ‘How could he say: “the One to be Ruler in Israel”, when Israel condemned Him to be crucified. He did not set Himself a King over Israel? He proclaimed: “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36); He reigned over the new Israel, the holy Church, being: “Head over all things to the Church” (Ephesians 1:22). He, who demonstrated His authority over nature, over death, and over sickness, could He not be able to reign over Israel? When they intended to set Him a King, He passed through them unseen. If both Israel and Judah fall into captivity, yet the true reform would come on the hand of the One born in Bethlehem Ephratheh, our Lord Jesus Christ, who was born in that humble location, in a village belonging to His ancestor the great King David. Some tried to refer this prophecy to ‘Zerubbabel’, a reference rejected by St. John Chrysostom, who says that on the one hand the prophet does not say: ‘the one living in Bethlehem,’ but, “Out of you shall come…”, and on another hand Zerubbabel’s goings forth have not been “from of old, from everlasting” This applies only to Jesus Christ, the everlasting Word2. In a debate between the scholar Tertullian and the Jews, he quoted this prophecy, which was literally realized in the Person of Jesus Christ, stating that now there is no one from the tribe of Judah, from Bethlehem, anymore for the prophecy to be realized in someone else3. Peace be on Bethlehem ‘the house of bread’, “where the living bread which came down from heaven was born” (John 6:51); Peace be on Ephrathah, the land of fruition and fertility, whose fruit is the Lord Himself. In the old Micah prophesied about you, saying: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of 1 Commentary on Micah 5:1 PG 71:709-712. 2 St. John Chrysostom: the Gospel of St. Matthew, Homily 7:2. 3 Tertullian: An Answer to the Jews, 13. 87 Judah …” (see also Matthew 2:6); as from you shall come the Ruler, born before Lucifer and whose birth is from the Father before time; and in you the race of David persisted until the Virgin gave birth to her Son; and to you the remnant of the people who believed in Christ returned to preach freely to the children of Israel with such words: “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the gentiles” (Acts 13:46)1. St. Jerome The truth, as revealed and written about Jesus Christ, was that “He, the rich, became poor.” That is why He chose for Himself to be born in a poor place and by a poor mother2. Origen It is not the ‘Divinity’ who came from Bethlehem, but the ‘Manhood’. It did not stop at that, but the Divinity set forth from there according to the words: “Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” 3. St. John Chrysostom By designating the location of Bethlehem the Jews were like those, who built the arc of Noah, providing others with a way to escape, while they themselves perished in the great flood; and like the sign which shows the way, but unable to go along it. When they were asked where the Christ was to be born they answered: “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet” (Matthew 2:5), quoting what is said by Micah: “But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel” (Matthew 2:6)4. St. Augustine In you, O Bethlehem, He, who has been before time, who has been with God since the beginning, who is God the Word, accepted to be born in flesh to make you famous and shining, although you are not of such importance among the thousands of Judah5. The blessed apostle Paul, as well as the evangelist Matthew, reminds us of how Judah reached perfection, saying: “It is evident that our Lord arose from the tribe of Judah” (Hebrew 7:14). The first prophesied, while the second connected the prophecy to His episode. It is amazing how the enemies of truth clearly told Herod that the Christ was to be born in Bethlehem, as according to Scripture: “You, Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not the least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you shall come a Ruler, Who will shepherd My people Israel” (Matthew 2:5-6), but let us state here what the Jews, because of their envy, have omitted from the prophecy, as the prophet says: “Out of you shall come a Ruler Who will shepherd My people Israel,” he added, “whose goings forth have been from of old” (Micah 5:2)6. 1 St. Jerome: Letter 108:10. 2 Homilies on Leviticus Homily 8: 4:3. 3 On Ps 45. 4 Sermon 373:4. 5 Commentary on Micah. 6 Dialogues 1. 88 By saying: “Out of you shall come a Ruler”, he demonstrates the ordainment of incarnation; and by adding: “whose goings forth have been from of old”, he proclaims His divinity that He is born from the Father before time1. Theodoret of Cyrus “Therefore He shall give them up, until the time that she who is in labor has given birth; then the remnant of His brethren shall return to the children of Israel” (Micah 4:3). The Lord allowed them the affliction to let them anticipate His coming, born by a virgin according to the prophecy of the prophet Isaiah, a contemporary to the prophet Micah, who designated the location of His birth. By the coming of the Savior King the believing remnant will return to set the Church of the New Testament, the New Israel. This holy remnant that accept the Savior Messiah will walk according to the spirit of the fathers, the saintly men of God; and thus “He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children” (Malachi 4:6). Some believe that the “remnant” here refers not only to the believers from the Jews, but to those from the gentiles as well; all of them will join the citizenship of he ‘New Israel’ according to the words of the apostle Paul: “And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off, and to those who were near, for through Him we both will have access by one Spirit to the Father. Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:17-19). Gathering the Jews together with the gentiles in one faith, “He is not ashamed to call them brethren” (Hebrew 2:11). He discerns between “those afar off and those who are near” (Ephesians 2:17); the Jews are definitely the ones “near,” while the gentiles are those “afar off”. Yet the Savior Himself brought the gospel to the gentiles. The apostle here refers to the fact that Christ, by His coming, has truly preached peace to those afar off, namely to the gentiles as it is clearly shown by several testimonies that those, who came to faith from a gentile origin had greater worthiness to be called children than those from a Jewish origin. However, we cannot deny that the others have got that as well, that is why he added “and those who are near” 2. Marius Victorianus 3. A CAPABLE SHEPHERD: “And He shall stand and feed His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God; and they shall abide, for now He shall be great to the end of the earth” (Micah 4:4). He Himself shall take over the task of shepherding in the name of God the Father, having the one will. The name of the Lord Jesus will be glorified and will reach the end of the earth. The prophet sees in this King, the Lord Christ, a good Shepherd for His people of whom it is said: “He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Matthew 7:9). 1 Letters, 151. 2 Marius victorinus: Epistle ti the Ephesiaus 10: 2: 17. 355 م): عالم نحو قام بترجمة أعمال الأفلاطونیین، وإذ قبل الإیمان مؤخ اً ر (حوالي 355 م) استخدم ذلك ضد الأریوسیین. - ماریوس فیكتورینوس (حوالي 280 89 The authority by which He taught greatly astonished them, and because they were overjoyed by what He told them, Jesus asked them not to leave until He finishes His talk. After He came down from the mountain the congregation stayed with Him and followed Him because of the great love revealed in His talk. What astonished them more is that, in His talk, He referred to no one else the way the prophet Moses did, but in every occasion He demonstrates that He is the One with authority to take decisions; to every statute He mentions the words: “But I say to you” (Matthew 5:22, 28, 32, 34, 39, 44). When He reminds them of the ultimate Day of Judgment, He demonstrates that He is the one to realize justice, both by punishments and rewards; something that greatly disturbed them1. St. John Chrysostom Before His ascension Jesus said to His disciples: “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). If the kings of both kingdoms, Israel and Judah, together with their princes and armies could not protect them, the divine Shepherd will certainly guarantee the peace of His kingdom and will keep His people not against Assyria and Babylon, but against the devil and all the forces of darkness. He is the amazing Shepherd who sets shepherds and grants them Himself to work in them and by them until the perfect peace is realized through His holy sacrifice. 4. AN ACTIVE SHEPHERDING: “And this Man shall be the peace. When the Assyrians come into our land, and tread in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princely men” (Micah 5:5). The two verses 5 and 6 are a piece of poetry of ten verses, which portrays the Assyrian invasion against which seven shepherds and eight princes are designated to counter and cause the enemy to retreat defeated to his land. Those princes unite together and one leader will appear to save them from Assyria. The Lord Christ is called “Peace” (Ephesians 2:14), as He realizes peace between man and God the Father; between the soul and the body; peace among men as well as among nations. St. Hippolytus of Rome believes that Assyria refers here to the anti- Christ2. Assyria has been the most dangerous enemy in those days; and here it refers to the devil, the enemy of man, the opponent to the Church of Christ, who will definitely be defeated and victory will be for the Church of Christ. Who are the seven shepherds and the eight princes appointed by the new King from among men? The figure 7 refers to perfection in this world and the figure 8 refers to entering into what is beyond the time and to crossing over to eternity. It is fitting for the ministers of Christ to be perfect shepherds in the Lord, and heavenly kings not drawn by the glory and the riches of the world. Their Law is the ‘divine peace’ and the Lord Himself is their peace, according to the words of the Lord Christ to His disciples: “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). The devil would never stop attacking our inner land by every way possible to take 1 Homilies on Matthew, homily 25: 1. 2 St. Hippolytus of Rome: Treatise on Christ and Antichrist, 57. 90 it for him by force, and to turn it into a kingdom of darkness instead of a kingdom of light. He would never stop hoping to be able to tread on our palaces, to defile our hearts which are the temple of God and in which the Spirit of God dwells. There will always be war between God and the devil and the battle field will be in our inner depths. If we accept His care, we shall surely enjoy His conquest. The prophet Isaiah portrayed the work of this King Shepherd and His care through His ministers, saying: “Behold, a King will reign in righteousness; and princes will rule with justice; a man will be as hiding place from the wind” (Isaiah 32:1-2). It is as though this heavenly King, who became a Man, has opened Himself for us to hide in Him when the winds and storms of the devil violently blow against us! He is our stronghold and our refuge in the midst of temptations. Theodoret of Cyrus demonstrates in his interpretation of Isaiah 32:1, that this text does not apply to Hezekieh, Josiah, or Zerubbabel, saying: [We should understand that our Lord Christ is the King, and the saintly apostles and their successors are the princes having been ordained to guide the Churches, of whom the blessed David proclaimed: “Instead of your fathers, shall be your sons; whom you shall make princes in all the earth” (Psalm 45:16)]. It seems to me that he refers to the apostles, who became teachers in the Church, and concerning their authority, power, and glory, he says: “You shall make princes in all the earth” (Psalm 45:16). Remember how the apostles went to all corners of the earth and how they became princes of more authority than all the other rulers and emperors. Those emperors have authority only while alive, and then have no authority after death, whereas the apostles had authority while alive, and had more after their death. The laws of the emperors only apply within the borders of their land, whereas those of the fishermen apostles covered every corner of the earth. The Roman emperor could not issue laws for the Persians, nor could the Persians do for the Romans, whereas those Palestinians issued laws to the Romans, the Persians, the Sekithians, the Indians, the Moroccans, and the peoples of the whole world. Their laws continued to be effective not only while they were alive, but after their death as well; and those who submit to those laws prefer to die rather than to forsake them1. St. John Chrysostom “They shall waste with the sword the land of Assyria, and the land of Nimrud at its entrances; thus He shall deliver us from the Assyrians, when he comes into our land and when he treads within our borders” (Micah 5:6). The land of Nimrud is another name for Assyria; and here it refers to all the wicked nations. Fr. Victorinus, Bishop of Petao believes that Nimrud refers to the anti-Christ and that the Lord Christ sends 7 shepherds, the great seven Archangels, to strike the kingdom of the anti-Christ2. If the enemy enters our land and treads within our borders, then through the care of the Lord Christ, and His care through His apostles, the battle will turn to our benefit, the kingdom of the devil will collapse as though by a sword and we shall escape from his grasp, saying together with the Savior: “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). 1 On Ps 45. 2 Victorinus of Petau: Commentary on Apocalypse, from seventh chapter, 8. 91 5. AN ECUMENICAL EXTENSION OF THE SHEPHERDING: “Then the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples, like dew from the Lord; like showers on the grass; that tarry for no man; nor wait for the sons of men” (Micah 5:7). Having talked of the good Shepherd, who has chosen His disciples and apostles to work through them and of how the battle has turned to a victory for us and a defeat for the kingdom of the devil, the prophet presents us with an amazing portrait of the Church and its work on the ecumenical level. It is “the few remnant of Jacob” that received faith in the Lord Christ and enjoyed the dwelling of His Holy Spirit on them on the day of the Pentecost to become the leaven for the whole dough. They set forth “in the midst of many peoples” working with the Spirit of the Lord for the salvation of many from all nations, tongues, and peoples, and scattering among the world to become its salt and light, by which the spiritual kingdom of Christ is established. Being “dew from the Lord” they do not work with a human prejudiced mind, but with a heavenly mind “like dew from the Lord”; and being born from above, they present the heavenly things wishing for all to share with them the sweetness of the new heavenly life. They are “like showers on the grass that tarry for no man nor wait for the sons of men”, namely they do not depend on human support, but on the free grace of God. They water others with the water of the Spirit as a heavenly rain from the Lord “that tarry for no man”. Speaking of the new flock under the care of the divine Shepherd, he proclaims the spiritual conquest filled with sweetness. The Church becomes “like dew from the Lord” to the world and “like summer showers on the grass”, beautiful, delicate, refreshing, and shining. The remnant of Jacob is the spiritual Israel, namely the congregation of true believers, who become like divine dew, the secret of blessing and growth for many. These blessings do not come from men, but “from the Lord”. 6. A VICTORIOUS SHEPHERDING: “And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of many peoples, like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who if he passes through, both treads down and tears in pieces, and none can deliver” (Micah 5:8) In this phrase he portrays the Church in its delicateness toward the peoples presenting the living fellowship with God, yet is powerful in spirit and destroys the strongholds of darkness. The prophet likens the believers to the dew which peacefully refreshes the plant as well as like showers that irrigates the fields, and now he likens them to lions among the beasts of the forest, feared by all. The believer is characterized by pure love coming from his depths, as the gift of the Holy Spirit to him, as well as by firmness against evil, iniquity, and corruption. That is why the apostle Paul provokes his disciple Timothy to strive as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. The Lord Christ refers to the power of the believers in the truth, saying: “… which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist” (Luke 21:15); and the apostle Paul, speaking of the opposition of the believers against the devil and his hosts, says: 92 “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4). “Your hand shall be lifted against your adversaries; and all your enemies shall be cut off” (Micah 5:9). Conquest shall be realized for the new Israel to become like a lion and a capable warrior, who can destroy his spiritual enemies. This battle is consummated when God puts the enemies under the feet of Christ, the Head of the Church (1 Corinthians 15:25- 28). The Psalmist, seeing the multitude of demons collapsing before the Church, praises saying: “The peoples fall under you” (Psalm 45:5). “And it shall be in that day, says the Lord, that I will cut off your horses from your midst, and destroy your chariots” (Micah 5:10). When the Lord dwells and reigns in the heart, the believer becomes in no need for a military might, but for the great power of God. He can then strongly say: “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me” (Psalm 23:4). As the secret of the power of the Church is the mighty Lord and not the human arm nor the human ability, the Lord cuts off the horses from her midst and destroys her chariots to let her enjoy the Spirit of the Lord, who lifts her from glory to glory, and to make her walk through the world as though riding on a fiery chariot. The Church -the new Israel- enjoys the following divine blessings: 1. He will cut off the material tools of war, the horses and the chariots [10] so that the Church would only depend upon the exalted grace of God. “I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim, and the horse from Jerusalem” (Zechariah 9:10). 2. He will cut off from her the earthly cities to grant her heavenly cities; He will destroy her temporal strongholds to become her fiery wall [11]. 3. He will cut off the vain worships with all its sorceries and soothsayers [12]. 4. He will cut off every idol in the heart, so that the Lord can set His throne in it and completely occupy it [13]. 5. The devil and his hosts will fall under the divine wrath [15]. “I will cut off the cities of your land, and throw down all your strongholds” (Micah 5:11). The Lord will cut off from His Church her land turning her into a second heaven, where He dwells; and throws down all her temporal strongholds, to become a fiery wall around her. It is as though her cities would turn from military strongholds into cities for habitation, which will be guarded by the Lord being “her rock, her fortress, and her deliverer” (Psalm 18:2). “I will cut off witchcrafts from your hand, and you shall have no soothsayers. Your carved images I will also cut off, and your sacred pillars from your midst” (Micah 5:12-13). The Lord will cut off from her every sorcery and soothsaying claiming to prophesy future events by the power of Satan; and will open her eyes by His Holy Spirit to recognize the divine secrets instead of the satanic works. “And you shall no more worship the work of your hands. I will pluck off your groves from your midst; thus I will destroy your cities” (Micah 5:13-14). The Lord will pluck off the groves, the wooden images, the symbols of Asheroth 93 the goddess of the Canaanites. “And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury on the nations that have not heard” (Micah 5:15). He ends his talk by warning those who reject faith in the Savior the Shepherd of souls. They will fall under His wrath and would not enjoy His heavenly blessings. 94 AN INSPIRATION FROM THE BOOK OF MICAH 5 WHO WILL CARE FOR ME BUT YOU? I wonder who will care for my soul, but You? No one would love me and deliver Himself for me except You! The care of humans without you is destruction for my soul. Your care is unique and amazing. You came to me in Bethlehem to make it the house of heavenly bread. Whoever eats it would never get hungry. And whoever drinks from Your love would never thirst again. You came to us, O You old in days and eternal! To carry me with You to Your eternity. You were born from a virgin, O the Creator of the world. And made me, I servant, a little brother. And granted me sonship to Your mighty Father. You chose for Yourself disciples and apostles. You set of them princes and shepherds to carry the spirit of Your care. I see You in them. And enjoy Your amazing work through them. You granted them an authority over the forces of darkness. Through You they crushed the devil under their feet. You granted them Your Holy Spirit to shepherd Your people. They drew souls from all nations, tongues and peoples. They became for the world like the dew that gave fatherly compassion. Like the showers that turns the desert into a heavenly garden. They became like sheep among wolves. Devouring them, the wolves turn into mild sheep. You granted them the spirit of strength to confront vanity. And they became lions that have no fear. By Your shepherding You granted Your people an exalted peace. You have cut off their horses from their midst and destroyed their chariots. Having become for them a heavenly fiery wall to protect them; You have cut off every sorcery and soothsaying from their midst. You have instead revealed to them the secrets of Your heavens. How an amazing divine Shepherd You are!
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