The Two Attacks of the Assyrian and the Restoration of Israel
The book of Micah has its importance in that it shows that the restoration of Israel will take place between the two attacks on the land of Israel by the Assyrian. Joel has also shown this, but Micah gives further details of it. As mentioned already, the first attack by the Assyrian on the land of Israel (a foreshadow of the King of the North) will be successful, but the second attack of the Assyrian (a foreshadow of Gog) will not be.
Micah uses the Assyrian, who was a great northern threat to Israel in his day, to depict these coming attacks. He gives clear evidence that there will be two attacks by this enemy. This use of the Assyrian is in keeping with the prophecies of Isaiah who was Micah’s contemporary.
Daniel 8:24 indicates that the King of the North and his confederates are linked in a larger coalition of confederated armies. It says that “his power shall be mighty, but not by his own power,” meaning that the King of the North will have the backing of another super-power. This could only be that of Gog, because the prophets speak of both of these confederacies as the Assyrian (Ezek. 38:17). It is not that the ancient nation of Assyria will literally rise up and be a dominant world power again; the Spirit of prophecy uses that enemy as a figurative foreshadow to denote the northeastern coalitions in a coming day. Babylon is used similarly as a figure of the western nations (the Beast).
The Inroads of the Assyrian Armies—a Foreshadow of the King of the North
Chapter 1
Micah begins his prophecy by announcing that the Lord was about to come in with judgment upon Israel. He would execute His judgment on them indirectly, using the Assyrians, who were His willing instrument. The chapter gives an animated account of the inroads of that ancient enemy. Micah speaks poetically of the Lord as though He were the personal Leader of these invading armies (Mic. 1:3; Isa. 10:5-6; Joel 2:11 – “His army”). Though these things were historically accomplished by the Assyrian (first by Shalmaneser, then by Sargon), they are a foreshadow of the future invasion of the land of Israel by the King of the North (Dan. 11:40-42).
Samaria, which was the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel, would be desolated first, as the Assyrians came down from the north (vss. 1-7). This prefigures the Jews in the north end of the land being hit first by the King of the North. The armies would proceed southward to Judah and come against Jerusalem (vss. 8-9). Divine history indicates that the Assyrians did not take Jerusalem at that time, but that is not mentioned here, for in the future the city will be destroyed (Psa. 79:1-3; Zech. 14:1-2). Other cities in the land along the way would also be devastated by the invasion (vss. 10-16).
The Moral Causes That Call For the Judgment by the Assyrians
Chapter 2
The next two chapters disclose the moral causes of God’s judgment on His people through the Assyrian. The people were engaged in wicked practices (vss. 1-6), and they had rejected the Word of God (vss. 7-11). In the latter part of chapter 2, Micah shows that even though the people had forsaken the Lord, His purpose to bless Israel was still going to be fulfilled. He will re-gather (“assemble”) the “remnant of Israel” (vs. 12). The Lord (“the breaker”) is seen as breaking open “the gate” that has held His people captive and delivering them. They will go out with the Lord (“their King”) leading them into their millennial rest (vs. 13).
Chapter 3
Micah goes on to expose an even more serious evil in the third chapter. “The princes” (the civil leaders of the nation) and “the prophets” (the spiritual leaders) were corrupt (vss. 1-7). God would not stand for this any longer; He would cause Zion (Jerusalem) to be “plowed like a field” so that it would “become heaps.” In history, the Assyrians never touched Jerusalem, much less did they plow it like a field—but the Babylonians did. This shows that the Spirit really had the future day in mind when the King of the North will come in and devastate the land.
Restored Israel Attacked Unsuccessfully by the Assyrian—a Type of Gog
Chapter 4
Micah then sees Israel in their “last days” restored and blessed of God. This is another proof that the foregoing prophecies were intended to portray more than just those immediate circumstances of the Assyrian inroads in history; for what we have in this chapter was not accomplished after the Assyrian passed through the land. The restoration of Israel will be consequent upon the Lord’s Appearing and His execution of judgment upon their enemies. Micah does not speak of that here, but rather, focuses on Israel’s millennial blessings when they are restored.
Micah sees Jerusalem as rebuilt and being the center of worship and of learning the knowledge of the Lord on earth (vss. 1-5). He also speaks of the ten tribes of Israel that were scattered far off, being gathered back into their land (vss. 6-10).
Then, when a remnant of all twelve tribes of Israel are found situated in their land under the blessing of the Lord, Micah tells us that there will be another confederacy of nations that will gather against them. “Now also many nations shall be gathered against thee” (vs. 11). This could only be the Russian confederacy under Gog who will come up against restored Israel (Ezek. 38). The Lord will cause them to come into the land at that time so that He may judge them (vs. 12). The armies of restored Israel are seen as participating in the clean-up of any remaining people after the judgment of the Lord on these assembled nations (vs. 13).
A Review of the Two Attacks of the Assyrian
Chapter 5
In this chapter, Micah enlarges on the two attacks of the Assyrian. At the time of the first attack on Jerusalem by the Assyrian (the King of the North – Daniel 11:40-42), the prophet portrays the work of the Spirit of God in the remnant, bringing the matter of the Jews' guilt of rejecting the Messiah to their consciences. Many years earlier (but still future from the time when the prophet spoke) the nation smote "the Judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek"—that is, they insulted and rejected Him (vs. 1). Verse 2 is a parenthesis identifying who this great Person is. He was born in the insignificant town of “Bethlehem,” but was destined to be "the Ruler in Israel." His "goings forth are from of old, from the days of eternity," indicating that He is an eternal Person. This could be none other than the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Consequent upon His humiliation and rejection, the prophecy states: "Therefore will He give them up" (vs. 3). This means that God would break off His dealings with the nation. It would be a temporary thing, as indicated in the next phrase, "Until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth." The prophet does not state how long Israel would be given up, but he assures us that the Lord will re-establish His connections with the nation after it travails. Israel's time of travail is the "time of Jacob's trouble"—the Great Tribulation (Jer. 14:8; 30:7). The bringing "forth" of the nation is its rebirth by the grace of God (Isa. 66:7-8). The prophet states that at that time "a remnant of His brethren" (the Jews) will come forth out of the Great Tribulation and will be restored to the Lord. They will then be re-united to "the children of Israel" (a remnant of the ten tribes) who will be brought back into the land after the Great Tribulation (Matt. 24:29-31). Hence, the two parts of the nation which have been separated for nearly 3000 years will be re-united in that day and will enter the millennial kingdom of Christ together as one people and one nation (Isa. 11:12-13; Ezek. 37:1-28).
Vss. 4-5
When they are united under the Lord, “the Assyrian shall come into the land” again with the intention of overthrowing newly restored Israel (Ezek. 38:10-12). But the Messiah, the great Shepherd of Israel, will defend the land and destroy this last enemy—Gog. The armies of Israel will also go out in a victorious campaign over their enemies after the Lord has destroyed the Assyrian. Their military power at that time will be as a lion devouring its prey (vss. 5-9).
The latter part of chapter 5 shows that all idolatry and corrupt human wisdom will be removed in Israel in that day, and the restored nation will wholly rely upon the Lord (vss. 10-15).
An Appendix
Chapters 6-7
These last two chapters are an appendix to the book, describing the moral side of Israel’s restoration. It contains the exercises the remnant will go through on their way to full restoration. In the troubles they will face in that coming day they will hear the Lord’s voice speaking to them. “Hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it” (chap. 6:1-16). As a result of a deep exercise of soul, the remnant will pour out their hearts to the Lord in a penitential prayer (chap. 7:1-10). This is followed by the Lord’s gracious response to their humble confession. He promises restoration and blessing, forgiving their iniquities and casting their sins into the depths of the sea (chap. 7:11-20).