08/24/2026 – “The breaker is come up before them.” Micah 2:13. (Matthew commentary below, the last sentence is a bookend to this title like no other!)
“Inasmuch as Jesus has gone before us, things remain not as they would have been had he never passed that way. He has conquered every foe that obstructed the way. Cheer up now thou faint-hearted warrior. Not only has Christ travelled the road, but he has slain thine enemies. Dost thou dread sin? He has nailed it to his cross. Dost thou fear death? He has been the death of Death. Art thou afraid of hell? He has barred it against the advent of any of his children; they shall never see the gulf of perdition. Whatever foes may be before the Christian, they are all overcome. There are lions, but their teeth are broken; there are serpents, but their fangs are extracted; there are rivers, but they are bridged or fordable; there are flames, but we wear that matchless garment which renders us invulnerable to fire. The sword that has been forged against us is already blunted; the instruments of war which the enemy is preparing have already lost their point. God has taken away in the person of Christ all the power that anything can have to hurt us. Well then, the army may safely march on, and you may go joyously along your journey, for all your enemies are conquered beforehand. What shall you do but march on to take the prey? They are beaten, they are vanquished; all you have to do is to divide the spoil. You shall, it is true, often engage in combat; but your fight shall be with a vanquished foe. His head is broken; he may attempt to injure you, but his strength shall not be sufficient for his malicious design. Your victory shall be easy, and your treasure shall be beyond all count.”
“Proclaim aloud the Saviour’s fame,
Who bears the Breaker’s wond’rous name;
Sweet name; and it becomes him well,
Who breaks down earth, sin, death, and hell.”
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Soli Deo Gloria!:
Micah 2: 12-13 is a section entitled the “The Remnant Regathered”. Let’s read through these two verses, and then look at the Matthew Henry commentary for these two verses:
“I will indeed gather all of you Jacob; I will collect the remnant of Israel. I will bring them together like sheep in a pen, like a flock in the middle of its fold. It will be noisy with people. One who breaks open the way will advance before them; they will break out, pass through the gate, and leave by it. Their King will pass through before them, the LORD as their leader.” (Micah 2: 12-13)
Micah prophesied in the later half of the 8th Century B.C.E., the impending fall of Israel and Judah and the Messiah to be born at Bethlehem, some 700 years before its time. Halley’s Bible Handbook notes in Chapter 7 – The Final Triumph, that “Micah closes with a vision of the future when God, and His people shall be supreme, and the promise to Abraham be fully accomplished.”, the 2nd coming.
Now, let’s take a look at Matthew Henry’s commentary for just Chapter 2, Verses 2 & 3:
“The chapter concludes, as is usual in the prophets with promises of mercy, which were in part fulfilled when the Jews returned out of Babylon. and had their full accomplishment in the kingdom of the Messiah. 1. Whereas they were dispersed, they shall be brought together again (v. 12): “I will surely assemble, O Jacob! all of thee, all that are named of the house of Jacob (v. 7) now expelled your country, v. 10. I will surely gather the remand of Israel. I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah.” (comment insert: 1947- Israel becomes a nation again, with the 2nd coming in front of us)
“Sheep are sociable creatures; they shall be as the flock in the midst of their fold, their own fold, where they are safe under the shepherd’s eye and care; and they shall make great noise (as numerous flocks and herds do, with their bleatings and lowing) by reason of the multitude of men, not by reason of their strifes and contentions, but by reason of their great numbers. This was accomplished when Christ by his gospel gathered together in one all the children of God that were scattered abroad, and united both Jews and Gentiles in one fold and under one Shepherd. 2. Whereas God has seemed to desert them and cast them off, now he will help them through all the difficulties in the way of their return and deliverance (v. 13): The breaker has come up before them; to break all opposition, and clear the road for them; and under his guidance they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, the door of escape out of their captivity. Their King shall pass before them, to head them in the way, even Jehovah (he is their king) on the head of them, as he was on the head of the armies of Israel through the wilderness. Christ is the church’s King; he is Jehovah; he passes before them, brings them out of the land of their captivity, into the land of their rest. Bishop Pearson applies it to the resurrection of Christ. The breaker has gone up before us out of the grave, and has carried away its gates, and by that breach we go out.”