5-6 When the Assyrians invade our land and break through our defences, we will appoint seven rulers to watch over us, eight princes to lead us. They will rule Assyria with drawn swords and enter the gates of the land of Nimrod. He will rescue us from the Assyrians when they pour over the borders to invade our land. 7-9 Then the remnant left in Israel will take their place among the nations. They will be like dew sent by the Lord or like rain falling on the grass, which no one can hold back and no one can restrain. The remnant left in Israel will take their place among the nations. They will be like a lion among the animals of the forest, like a strong young lion among flocks of sheep and goats, pouncing and tearing as they go with no rescuer in sight. The people of Israel will stand up to their foes, and all their enemies will be wiped out.

10-14 “In that day,” says the Lord, “I will slaughter your horses and destroy your chariots. I will tear down your walls and demolish your defences. I will put an end to all witchcraft, and there will be no more fortune-tellers. I will destroy all your idols and sacred pillars, so you will never again worship the work of your own hands. I will abolish your idol shrines with their Asherah poles and destroy your pagan cities. I will pour out my vengeance on all the nations that refuse to obey me.” Micah 5:4-15 New Living Translation.

I'm one of those folk who find it difficult to understand prophetic parts of the Bible. One reason is that it's not always easy to see when the prophet is speaking of an event that is near or distant, or if he means something to be taken literally or figuratively. So when Micah speaks in vs 5-6 of victories over the Assyrians, was it a physical conflict, or is it a picture of God defending His people? And in vs 10-14, is the prophet speaking of a cleansing of the land of Israel from witchcraft and fortune tellers, or is it the destruction God's judgement will bring upon all nations for their abominations? I'll have to leave you to do your own research on these things.

But even if one can't be certain of the exact meaning of a part of Scripture, there are still things we can take to heart. For example – Micah shows us that God clearly hates witchcraft, fortune-telling and idolatry – so we should repent if these have been part of our lives and steer clear of such ways. When the gospel was first preached in Ephesus (in Asia Minor) we're told that: “Many who believed came and openly confessed what they had done, and a number who had practised sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly.” (Acts 19:18-19)

Another lovely lesson is Micah's reference in vs 7-9 to a 'remnant in Israel' who would be ‘like dew sent by the Lord and take their place among the nations’. (Although, even here, he also speaks of this remnant being like 'a lion of the forest who wipes out Israel's foes!') If we take that literally it may refer to the time when God brought Israel back to Jerusalem after their long exile in Babylon.

But it has a meaningful 'figurative' application too. In Chapters 9 to 11 of Romans Paul speaks at length of how, despite so many Jews rejecting God, God always 'kept a remnant’ for Himself who responded to His word. And this remnant became a blessing to the rest of the world! The apostles were all Jews and their message was like dew and refreshing rain to the nations. But, at the end of the age, their message will also be judgement on all who have loved their abominations and rejected God. As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 2:15 “Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing. To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom! But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume.”