The
Overcomer
Micah 5:1 “Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek."
1. The Troops
2. The Judge
1. The Troops
The first part of verse one: “Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us:”
When the men of this world band together, whether in a multitude or in organized military units, they can be called “a troop”.
Most of the time in Scripture [The Bible], the word troop or troops refers to the enemy.
This is exactly what is seen in Genesis chapter forty-nine, verse nineteen: “Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.” [Genesis 49:19]
Jacob prophesied that it will go badly for Gad for the interim [in the near future] but in the end, he [Gad] will overcome the enemy.
Now the tribe of Gad is our example today.
It is the same path for many of the believers in this age as it is for the tribe of Gad. The “troops” of our enemy many times will get the best of us in the here and the now but in the end … we will overcome our enemy.
Who or what is the enemy?
Why the BOOK tells us who the enemy is for the Christian.
It is the flesh, the world and the Devil. [1 John 2:16] [1 Peter 5:8]
In the end we will have run through the troop and leapt over the wall! Amen! “For by thee I have run through a troop; and by my God have I leaped over a wall.” [Psalm 18:29]
Now here is a promise for all of us [the true believers in Jesus Christ, who are living in the latter times] from God Himself according to the Apostle John in First John chapter two, verse thirteen and fourteen: “I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father. I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.” [1 John 2:13-14]
Now, let’s go back to our verse in Micah chapter five. Notice the “he hath laid siege against us”.
Who is the “he” in our verse? The “he” is Judah’s enemy. Notice what “he” does. He does this. He lays siege to the people of Judah. God directs the enemies of Judah to lay siege to them. God for the interim has become as an enemy to Israel … and for a reason. [It is a strange situation.] The reason is for judgment. Why is there judgment brought to God’s people? Here following is the answer.
When we as a nation or as a people get into trouble with sin, and we refuse to make it right with God, then judgment comes to us.
It is … as it says it is … in the book of Jeremiah chapter eighteen. Read verse seven: “At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.” [Jeremiah 18:7-8]
Now, here is a question for you. What happens when a nation, or a people [or anyone for that matter] refuses to get things right with God? The answer is right in front of you. Read verse ten: “If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.” [Jeremiah 18:10]
God REPENTS!
God’s changes His mind concerning them [that nation].
Furthermore, God begins to “frame evil” towards that same nation, or that same people. This thing is shown so clearly in verse eleven: “Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.” [Jeremiah 18:11]
The people of God [Judah] here have turned to the doing of evil and would not hearken to God’s prophets. So in turn, God had in His mind … to frame evil … to destroy them.
Now the TROOP comes for them! “Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them: for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet.” [Jeremiah 18:22]
Read our verse again: “Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege against us:”
HE brings the troop upon them!
Do you see it now?
2. The Judge
The second part of verse one: “they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.”
Notice there is more involved here than the smiting of the leaders of Israel in Micah’s day. There also, is a prophecy located here in this verse of Scripture concerning the true JUDGE of Israel. There is something prophetic here in this verse that is pointing to a future event that occurs in the First Advent of Jesus Christ to this earth.
There are others who have seen something coming by the way of prophecy through the Holy Ghost even if they did not fully understand it.
Consider Job. Job saw something in his day by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, when he said this … in Job chapter sixteen, verse ten: “They have gaped upon me with their mouth; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.” [Job 16:10]
Now, Job was not speaking merely of himself. Job was, without necessarily knowing of what he was speaking, was speaking concerning Jesus Christ at the Cross of Calvary.
Then, David by the Holy Ghost said this in Psalm 22: “They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.” [Psalm 22:13]
David was, without necessarily knowing of what he was speaking, was speaking concerning Jesus Christ at the Cross.
Also, Isaiah by the Holy Ghost said this in Isaiah fifty-three: “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.” [Isaiah 53:4]
The Judge of Israel was smitten by them [the troop] [the enemy] … yet at the same time, according to the Bible, he was “smitten of God”.
“The judge of Israel” has taken it upon the cheek for us all!
“The judge of Israel” has been “smitten of God” for us all!
“The judge of Israel” has run through a “troop” for us all!
“The judge of Israel” has leapt over the wall of death for us all, so that HE might give us life eternal
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” [John 3:16-18]
Jesus Christ is the overcomer for us all!
Have you put your faith and trust into Jesus Christ?
If so … then … “because ye have known the
Father” … “ye have overcome the
wicked one.” Amen!