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"But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, though you be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall He come forth unto Me that is to be Ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been of old, from everlasting. Therefore will He give them up, until the time that she which travails has brought forth: then the remnant of His brethren shall return unto the children of Israel." (Micah 5:2).
There is an inworking of God taking place in a people which can rightly be termed HIS REMNANT-- for "AT THIS PRESENT TIME also there is a remnant according to the election of grace." (Romans 11:5). These are they who have been CALLED OUT of the world, CALLED OUT of the religious systems of man, and CALLED INTO a relationship with Christ-- to become one in Him. It has been a deep inworking of His grace as each CALLED ONE then "goes forth therefore unto Him without the camp, bearing His reproach." (Hebrews 13:13) Not to forever dwell in a wilderness-- not to forever be outside the camp-- but once they have been fully changed into His image, brought to maturity in Christ, "complete and proficient, well-fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work," (2 Tim. 3:16, Amplified), then shall they RETURN TO THE CAMP, for the ministry whereunto they have been called.However, "That in all things He might have preeminence," (Col. 1:19), we first turn our attention to our Lord Jesus Christ-- for HE is the SEED through whom all nations will be blessed. He is the PEACE. HE is the Ruler that now rules in us for the distinct purpose that He might bring us into oneness with Himself, so that we also IN HIM become a part of that seed to bless all nations, bring-peace to the nations, and rule with Him. Thus we would EXALT OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, and all that is fulfilled IN HIM. He is the Mighty One! He is our Redeemer and Lord!
"Whose goings forth have been from old, from everlasting." GOING FORTH-- the Hebrew verb used here has been applied to the rising of the sun, the flowing of a fountain, the springing up of plants. "His going forth is prepared as the morning ..." (Hosea 6:3). His GOING FORTH always bespeaks of the upsurge of LIFE and LIGHT. LIFE is the CAUSE, LIGHT is the EFFECT. "In Him was life; and the life was the light of men." (John 1:4). And to see the "light" is proof enough that there is LIFE behind the manifestation. There can be no light without His LIFE. Thus every burst of divine revelation within means that HIS LIFE IS QUICKENING WITHIN YOU to bring forth this new understanding. It is all a part of "His goings forth," for "HE IS that True Light which lights every man that comes into the world." (John 1:9). His goings forth-- the upsurge of life and light, is destined for YOU-- that He might become the Life and Light of your life. But His "goings" is in the plural-- for personal as it might be in every individual, it is purposed "for every man." "Who is the SAVIOUR OF ALL MEN, specially of those that believe." (1 Timothy 4:10). Praise God!
But for all His "GOINGS FORTH" to save, redeem, restore, etc. there is an outworking of a purpose-- and so we read on, "THEREFORE WILL HE GIVE THEM UP, UNTIL ... " (Micah 5:3). This was not an easy doing! And through a prophet He asks, "How shall I give you up?" (Hosea 11:8). And yet again, "Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of My people?" (Jeremiah 9:7).
The "giving up" was to work out a special discipline and correction, "MELT THEM, AND TRY THEM." Such self-willed rebellion as was in them must be purged out. They had a propensity for going after other gods. They played the harlot in spiritual adultery. He had to "put them away" until they could be changed. So Paul clearly writes in Romans 11:12 about "the fall of them... and the diminishing of them..." Thus, "For a small moment have I forsaken you-- in a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment." (Isaiah 54:7-8). But, THANK GOD, He also said, "But with great mercies will I gather you-- with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on you, says the Lord your Redeemer."
In the outworking of the process, the "fall of them, and the diminishing of them," is vitally involved in the reconciling of the nations. Even as Paul writes in Romans 11:15, "For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?" In the "giving them up" there was a dispersing of them among all nations. But Israel was destined for ultimate salvation, "And so all Israel shall be saved," (v. 26). Therefore Paul advances the argument, "If the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy." (v. 16). Israel was called His firstborn. (Exodus 4:22). Set apart by God to be unto Him a peculiar people. And now, scattered among the nations, the whole lump (mixed mass) becomes set apart unto salvation, for "a little leaven leavens the whole lump." So God set apart a people for Himself, then scattered that people among all nations, and in doing so sanctifies ALL NATIONS to be gathered unto Him. Everywhere He scattered an Israelite, He sanctifies (sets apart) that whole community for reconciliation unto Himself. Therefore, in the "giving them up" He is working out a divine purpose, and only the omnipotent God can sow the seeds of gain in loss itself. What appeared to be a heart-rending loss and the disgrace of a nation being diminished, has literally been a part of God's plan for the ultimate gain of bringing the whole world to Himself. Thus we also read, "For God has concluded them all in unbelief (Israel, and all other nations), that He might have mercy UPON ALL. (v. 32).
What we see in this marvelous working of grace among all nations, we also see working in the life of individuals. When God diminishes us, strips us, reduces us to what seems as "nothingness," know that HE has sown the seeds of GAIN into that very loss, so that when He has worked all things together into good, it will redound to the glory of God, and thus the latter end is greater than the former.
This is a divine working so glorious, that Paul bursts out, "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out." v. 33). Bless His name!
The "giving them up" has a divine time limitation, it is UNTIL-- "Until the time that she which travails have brought forth." (Micah 5:3).
Here we have a twofold application. Mary brought forth her firstborn Son, so this immediately ties this verse with the preceding one. Jesus Christ is the One whose goings forth have been of old. "Before Abraham was, I AM." (John 8:58). The "I AM," the Jehovah of the Old Testament is surely to be found in the Jesus of the New Testament, "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself." (2 Cor. 5:19). But, while Mary did bring forth "He who is to be Ruler in Israel," yet it is very evident that Israel still remains "given up," still scattered among the nations, unidentified, still in disgrace, etc. BECAUSE there is ANOTHER "she that travails," and is yet in the process of bringing forth. So while we read this historically, referring to Mary bringing forth Jesus, and connecting it all to the preceding verses, yet we read it also with another application of "she that travails" which connects it to all the following verses, and the birthing of "the remnant of His brethren" which shall return "to rule (Greek, shepherd) with a rod of iron." (Rev. 2:27), as they share Christ's throne, in their oneness with Him.
The travailing woman is noted in Revelation 12:2,5, "And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. - And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to His throne."
Manchild-- the Greek word is "huios" meaning: one strong to bear, a son-- not an infant male, but one who is developed, a mature one. While the word "child" denotes being newly born, just birthed. It is again a description of the OVERCOMER of whom it is written, "The Lord shall send the rod of your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of your enemies. Your people shall be willing in the day of Your power, in the beauties of holiness FROM THE WOMB OF THE MORNING." (Psalm 110:2-3). These are "caught up unto God, and to His throne." They are lifted into the realm of power and authority.
What travails have been endured to bring forth this new creation species. Matthew 24:8, All these things are the beginning of sorrows (birthpangs)." One can view it all negatively, how that everything that can be shaken is being shaken, and see it all for pain and sorrow, grief and woe, as death throes; or, one can view it positively, AS BIRTHPANGS, to bring forth that new life which is found in His "overcoming remnant."
"For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn of many brethren." (Romans 8:29). The BRETHREN are of the same quality as the Firstborn, for they are all CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF THE SON. In all of their development, growth processings, they are beholding Him, and are being "changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Cor. 3:18)
There is a rightly "discerning the Lord's body." (1 Cor. 11:29). Our Lord Jesus Christ is THE HEAD OF THE BODY, while the corporate brethren make up HIS BODY. "He that is JOINED TO THE LORD is one spirit." (1 Cor. 6:17).
We ought not be so hasty in trying to RETURN to "Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for My name's sake," until first "He shall appear to your joy," (Isaiah 66:5), and given you a message which goes beyond the sorrows of the ending of this age-- giving you a message of the MERCY and the GRACE of the new age to come, when He shall restore all things to Himself. There is a MESSAGE OF HOPE, that we can come through the processings, but we need to first be partakers of its inworkings, and be BIRTHED FROM THE WOMB OF THE MORNING, so that we as the messenger, and the message, do become one, with a state of being that verifies what we declare!
We are reminded again of the sequence of His workings. "God at the first did visit the nations (tribes) to take out of them a people for His name, AFTER THIS I WILL RETURN, and build again the tabernacle of David." (Acts 15:14, 16). Presently He is TAKING UNTO HIMSELF A PEOPLE FOR HIS NAME! it is a remnant-- a firstfruits-- an overcoming people. After this, after they have been birthed into His fulness, there shall be a RETURNING-- He shall return, the Head and the body which are now ONE shall return, and "build again the tabernacle of David." Why? Because they are BUILDERS! They are truly "laborers together with God." (I Corinthians 3:9).
Far too many these days are a part of a "destroyer company," that tear down this, and tear down that-- bring an end to this, and an end to that. But the REMNANT OF THE BRETHREN that return are a BUILDER company. It may well be that there needs to be a tearing down of the old, but not until we are equipped to bring forth the new. It was said to Jeremiah, "See, I have set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, TO BUILD, AND TO PLANT." (Jer. 1:10). When we "come to do Your will, O God," then "He takes away the first, THAT HE MAY ESTABLISH THE SECOND." (Heb. 10:9). It is for the JOY set before us of the building, the planting, the establishing of the new, that sustains us through the removal of the old order. But tearing down, without the hope of BUILDING the new, would leave man devastated, condemned to despair.
Jesus said it very plainly, "The thief comes not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy; I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." (John 10:10).
"'And they that shall be of you shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in." (Isaiah 58:12). This is the ministry of the called out that return!
Yes, all Israel shall be saved, and all nations among whom Israel has been scattered, but not before the REMNANT BRETHREN are brought forth-- a people for HIS NAME-- one in His nature, character, image and likeness. There must needs be a BRIDEGROOM COMPANY first, before there is the bringing forth of the bride. The bridegroom has THE NAME, and then gives his name to the one prepared to be his bride. First He visits the nations to take out a people for HIS NAME, to become His name, become His own body. Then later it can be said to the bride, "As a young man marries a virgin, so shall your sons marry you: and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you." (Isaiah 62:5). It is a vital truth, that of the corporate bridegroom, that must come first, before there is a return to the nation which becomes the bride. He that has ears, let him hear! Many are confused on this issue, and teach for brideship, which is fine in its place, but they have not been quickened to see the manchild, sons, groom company in its distinction from the bride. (Shelve this, if you must, but precious is this truth when He makes it life within).
Bring forth this REMNANT BRETHREN, this corporate man of which Christ is the Head, "And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth." (Micah 5:4). Praise God, these are they that shall minister solely in the "strength of the Lord." For they have learned that it is "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord." (Zechariah 4:6). They have been JOINED TO HIM, and receive out from Him all that is needed for the occasion. Gone will be the days of the works of the flesh, with all its self-effort. Ended will be the soulish projection of the ego of man, and all his psychic aberration and psychology. For "by the Spirit of the Lord" precludes all the soulish schemes and devices of man, when HE becomes our wisdom and strength.
They stand to FEED-- for having brought them "one of a city, and two of a family" to Zion, He is now able to "give pastors and teachers after Mine own heart WHICH SHALL FEED with knowledge and understanding." (Jer.3:14-15)
It is true, we have had glimpses of "apostles, prophets, evangelists, and teaching pastors," but the fulness of these ministries cannot be realized until first He has BROUGHT HIS REMNANT TO ZION, and then, in full union with Him, they shall be able to rightly FEED the flock of God. Presently, it must be said, "For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." (1 Cor. 13:9-10). How we yearn to be brought to Zion, where in the fulness of HIS STRENGTH, we shall be able to stand and feed. Praise God for that fulness which shall fully meet every need! We see the goal set before us. Yet "I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.,' (Phil. 3:13-14).
Truly, "His going forth is prepared as the morning: and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter former rain unto the earth." (Hosea 6:3).
"For it is time to seek the Lord, till He come and rain righteousness upon you." (Hosea 10:12).
Significant that the Hebrew word for "former rain" is "yarah" and literally means: to TEACH, or, a teacher of righteousness ministry. He will come and RAIN, HE WILL COME AND TEACH RIGHTEOUSNESS! Desperately we need this rain! Ethics, morality, integrity, honesty, etc. are at an all-time low in the world today. Leaders are frustrated, and they try to pass laws which will bear upon people to clean up their act and be more upright, but righteousness cannot be legislated. We try ever so hard to "make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess." (Matt. 23:25). For "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jer. 17:9).
But there is a RAIN that is coming that is unlike all other rains, for it is a TEACHING OF RIGHTEOUSNESS that changes the INSIDE of the cup. "I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their
hearts ..." (Heb. 8:13)Herein is a ministry that shall "Teach (yarah) My people the difference between the holy and profane, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean." (Ezekiel 44:23). Then, "My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distill as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass: because I will publish the name of the Lord and ascribe greatness unto our God." (Deut. 32:2-3). All this has nothing to do with a carnal creed of how to dress (a clothesline religion), nor of all the religious works we have known-- for such dogmas have only produced a self-righteousness which is as filthy rags. But when it is OF and BY the Spirit, "He, the Spirit of truth ... will guide you into all truth: ... He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." (John 16:13, 8). How effective shall be that TEACHING-RAIN.
Furthermore it is enduring, for "They shall abide: for now shall He be great unto the ends of the earth." (Micah 5:4). Again the thought is twofold: first of all, it is a ministry that shall abide-- not come and go, rise and fall-- but steadfastly abide, until they have seen every man fully reconciled to God. The Levitical priesthood was temporary-- for the priest would serve for a time, and die; and another would arise to take his place. But when we are ONE IN CHRIST, we become part of the Melchizedek order, to minister out of "the power of an endless life." An abiding priesthood!
Secondly, the inworking salvation shall produce a change that shall last. Jesus said, "I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and THAT YOUR FRUIT SHOULD REMAIN." (John 15:16). No more falling away, no more back-sliding. No more "going out from us, because they were not of us." When it is done IN THE STRENGTH OF THE LORD it will produce an abiding fruit! Thank God for such glorious victory!
Then "He shall speak peace unto the heathen: and His dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth." (Zech. 9:10)
"And this shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against him seven shepherds, and eight principal men." (Micah 5:5).
Seven is the number of perfection and completeness, and thus it is promised that there shall be a perfect shepherd, TEACHING PASTOR ministry, that in love and compassion will build-- feed-- nurture the flock of God.
Eight is the number of new beginning, or resurrection life. While the Hebrew word here for "principal" literally means: anointed. A company that is anointed with resurrection life to see the new beginning-- establishment of HIS KINGDOM in all the earth. God shall RAISE THESE UP!
In conjunction with these "seven shepherds, and eight principal men," we read, "Seek Him that makes SEVEN STARS and ORION, and turns the shadow of death into the morning." (Amos 5:8). Seven stars refers to Pleiades, while Orion is made up of eight principal stars called THE MIGHTY HUNTER. Significant that "written in the stars" is this promise of this ministry of the REMNANT BRETHREN that return to bring life to mankind, TURNING THE SHADOW OF DEATH INTO THE MORNING.
"Can you bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?" (Job 38:31). SWEET INFLUENCES-- not to condemn, not to impute sin, but to show mercy, reconciliation. There is no power that will be able to BIND, resist these sweet influences, for HIS LOVE never fails. Nor shall any be able to loose the bands-- i.e. the drawing together that which the anointed ministry unites. Who can tear apart that which the mighty hunter has drawn together? Truly, when He opens the door, no man can shut it. And "whatsoever you shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matt. 16:19). This is the ANOINTED ministry of the new covenant, of resurrection, which shall "gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth, even in Him." (Eph. 1:10)
How gloriously effective these brethren will be-- for "They shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall He (this corporate anointed man) deliver us from the Assyrian, when he comes into our land, and when he treads within our borders." (Micah 5:6). Going forth "conquering and to conquer," there will be a subjugation of all evil, all negativity, to the kingdom of God.
Furthermore, the next verse goes on to state, "And the REMNANT of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people AS A DEW FROM THE LORD, as the showers upon the grass, that tarries not for man, nor waits for the sons of men." (verse 7). What a ministry of LOVE, GRACE, REFRESHING-- gentle as the dew, tender as the showers-- freely giving to all. When the dew is distilled is makes no preference whether it falls upon the lovely rose, or upon the weed-- it is freely given everywhere. Such is the mercy of our God, that "He makes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust." (Matt. 5:45). In fact, He says, "I am found of them that sought Me not." (Isa. 65:1). The outflow of His love and grace shall reach to every man, sweet influences that change the heart, bringing forth a deliverance that no man can disannul. Yes, every one that has been CALLED OUT from the religious systems of man, purified and made one in Christ, shall then RETURN with His life to bless all nations. Amen!
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