Spurgeon Morning and Evening February 27 PM

Biblical Context

The prophet Micah delivered his message during a turbulent time, roughly in the late 8th century BC. He spoke primarily to the kingdoms of Judah and Israel, just before the northern kingdom of Israel fell to Assyria. Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah, Amos, and Hosea. He wasn’t afraid to speak hard truths, calling out the leaders and people for their corruption, social injustice, and idolatry. He saw the coming judgment, a direct result of their turning away from God.

But Micah’s message wasn’t all about warning. Mixed with judgment was a powerful thread of hope. He spoke of a time when God would restore His people, purify them, and establish justice. Micah 5:2 is a shining example of this hope. It’s a stunning prophecy, pointing directly to Bethlehem – a small, seemingly unimportant town – as the birthplace of a Ruler. What makes this prophecy so special is the description of this Ruler’s origin: “Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” This wasn’t just any king; it was someone with an existence stretching far beyond human history, someone divine, a promise of a Messiah who wasn’t bound by time or space.

Key Word Study

Let’s look closely at the word “everlasting” from Micah 5:2. In Hebrew, this word is ‘olam (עוֹלָם). It’s a rich word that doesn’t just mean a really long time, like ‘forever’ in a human sense. Instead, ‘olam’ speaks of a deep past and an unending future, often implying eternity itself, a time beyond human comprehension. It describes something ancient, continuous, and without end. When applied to God, or in this case, the Messiah, it points to His existence as having no beginning and no end. It tells us about a timeless nature, stretching back before creation and continuing without interruption. It’s a word that calls for wonder, reminding us of a reality far bigger than our own.

His Goings Forth: Before Time Began

Think about Micah 5:2: “Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” The Lord Jesus wasn’t just thinking about you when you came into the world. His connection to His people, acting as their representative before God’s throne, goes back way before any of us ever appeared here on earth. It was from “everlasting” that He made a deal with His Father. He said He’d pay blood for blood, suffering for suffering, agony for agony, and death for death for His people. It was from “everlasting” that He simply gave Himself up, without a single complaint.

Imagine this: from the very top of His head to the soles of His feet, He would sweat great drops of blood. He knew He’d be spit upon, pierced, mocked, torn apart, and crushed under the awful pains of death. All of these things, His willingness to stand as our Helper and Protector, these “goings forth” were from everlasting.

A Love That Began Before You Did

Stop, my soul, and just be amazed! You have a part in Jesus, a connection that began “from everlasting.” Christ didn’t just start loving you when you were born. His joy was with the children of men even before there were any children of men. He thought about them so often. From everlasting to everlasting, He had His affection set on them. Think about that! My soul, He’s been working on your rescue for so long. Don’t you think He’s going to finish it?

He’s been going forth to save you from everlasting, and now He’s going to lose you? No way! Has He carried you in His hand like a precious jewel, and now He’ll let you slip through His fingers? Did He choose you before the mountains came to be, or before the deep channels were dug, and now He’s going to turn you away? That can’t happen!

An Everlasting, Changeless Lover

I am sure of this: He wouldn’t have loved me for so long if He wasn’t a Lover who never changes. If He could get tired of me, He would have been tired of me a long, long time ago. If He hadn’t loved me with a love as deep as hell and as strong as death, He would have walked away from me ages ago. Oh, what a joy, more than any other joy, to know that I am His everlasting and something He can’t give away, given to Him by His Father before the earth even existed! Everlasting love is going to be the pillow for my head tonight. You can rest in that love, knowing it won’t ever run out.