Quick Hits on Tough Lines from Micah

There is a lot applicable to the New Testament Israel, the Church (us), in today's futuristic prophecies by Micah:

1. Micah 4:12-13, where it talks about threshing the nations--this is a reference to mission work in the New Testament era (the present time until Christ returns), which separates those who believe from those who don't like grain separated from the chaff. The "ill-gotten gains" at the end seems to refer to advances by the world which end up being used toward the work of the Church (money, knowledge, technology).
2. In Micah 5:5-6 "Assyrian" is symbolic for worldly powers. The seven/eight shepherds is symbolic for "more than enough" spiritual leaders (seven in the Bible is symbolic for completeness). The sword is the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. The overall gist is that spiritually the Church will overcome its enemies.
3. In Micah 5:7-9 the "remnant of Jacob" is again talking about the New Testament Church. They will be in the "midst of many peoples," sharing the gospel. The gospel is described as dew or showers "which do not wait for man or linger for mankind." (You might have heard the Luther quote where he describes God's grace as a passing shower which waters a place for a while and then moves on. Perhaps his thought was based on this verse...) Next the "remnant" is talked about as being among the nations like a lion mauling and mangling as it goes. The thought here is that for those who reject God's grace it is the Church's job to proclaim the law in judgment of these people.