Title Micah 4
Content Micah Chapter 4
The prophet leaves the former gloomy and sad scene and looks to the future beautiful world. Standing here, the glory of the future is revealed. The above character is very similar to Isaiah 2:2-5.
1. The Mountain of Jehovah's Temple Appears
“In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will stand firm on the top of the mountains” (verse 1).
This mountain becomes the center of all nations and turns into a source of glory. This passage is a picture of the messianic age “In the last days” is used 13 times in the Old Testament in Genesis 49:1, Numbers 24:24, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Hosea 3:5, etc. “Mount of the Lord” does not mean Mount Zion above the other mountains, but rather reminds us of the majestic appearance of Zion, which is superior to all other mountain temples.
2. There is an attitude of the nations
“Many Gentiles will go and say, Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord and come to the house of the God of Jacob” (verse 2).
This means that the nations go on a pilgrimage towards Zion. Mount Zion in Jerusalem becomes the only place to worship Jehovah, and people come there.
(1) They flock.
(2) They declare, “Come.”
(3) They say, “Let’s go up to the mountain of the Lord and come to the house of God.”
(4) They try to learn the “Tao” there.
(5) They promise to “walk in that way.”
They know and obey “the law and the word of the Lord.”
3. There is a result of the nations' acceptance of Jehovah's word
“They will strike their swords into plowshares, and their spears into sickles” (verse 3).
The results of the nations' acceptance of the word of Jehovah are striking. ① The Lord becomes the judge and decides the judgment ② The crowds strike a plowshare with their swords ③ They make a sickle with their swords ④ There is no war between nations. Furthermore, there is no “fight” among the nations, and there is a state of peace, ① each one resting under his own vine ② a fig tree, and ③ there is no one to fear them (verse 4).
It is completely different from the miserable and depressing situation before. There is hope, there is peace, and the comfort of the Lord is with them.
4. Have a strong determination
“We will walk forever in the name of the Lord our God” (verse 5).
All nations call upon their gods, but Israel lives by calling on “the name of the Lord” (v. 5). “Being in your name” is an expression of loyalty to Jehovah that does not appear anywhere else. Although Israel pays a high price, it does not change in serving Jehovah.
“Walking in the light of the Lord” (Isaiah 2:5) was the basic attitude of the house of Jacob. “Do it forever.” It is an expression of unchanging determination and a statement of a firm stance. This was foreshadowed in “the mountain of the house of the Lord is established on the top of the mountains” (v. 1).
First, the fate of the captives is revealed (6-10), followed by the victory of Israel (11-13).
It is the privilege of God's people to be able to enjoy God's grace even in times of dire need.
5. There is a state of captivity and recovery
“In that day, saith the LORD, I will gather the lame” (verse 6).
(1) Israel is in a desperate state.
“I am the one who was cast out.”
(2) There is God's grace
“Let the lame become a remnant of a people” (verse 7), and we see God's wonderful providence. ① The lame become a remnant of the people ② The outcasts become a strong nation ③ The LORD rules over them.
(3) There is a change in the situation.
“The kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem” (v. 8) is restored to Israel. This is an expression of captivity and recovery
6. Jerusalem is in Peril
“Now why do you cry” (verse 9).
It is a state of crisis when people cry, the king is gone, the counselor dies and suffers like a woman in childbirth.
Jerusalem is in danger of captivity or is already in captivity.
The pain of a woman giving birth means severe physical pain
The fall of Jerusalem is inevitable before the coming of the promised kingdom (v. 8).
Zion is compared to a tower of sheep (v. 8)
This watchtower is common in the fields of Palestine.
Now comes the time for the tower to fall and the sheep to scatter.
7. There is a promise of hope in the midst of suffering
“There the Lord will redeem you from the hand of your enemies” (verse 10).
“The hand of the enemies” means that they are in the hands of the enemies. God took them out of his hand
Redeem and deliver This is done in Babylon” (verse 10).
Until that day they (1) go out of the city, (2) dwell in the fields, and (3) come to Babylon.
The hope of the people is here to God
The information about Babylon is amazing. When Micah wrote this prophecy, it was not Babylon.
Assyria was an important enemy of Israel.
8. There is a victory for Israel
“Arise, daughter Zion, and strike” (verse 13).
This place consists of two contents. One, many Gentiles have gathered to strike you down, saying (verse 11),
The Gentiles gather against Israel, but it is the will of the Lord that Israel will strike against them.
The Gentiles want to witness Zion being defiled. But God's will was that 1) Zion would rise up 2) strike them 3) break the people 4) offer their spoils to the Lord 5) offer their offerings “to the high ruler of all the earth” (verse 13).
The “great rulership of all the earth” comes from this and a few other places (Joshua 3:11.13; Psalm 97:5 Zech 4:14.6:5). Micah 5:1 is a continuation of Micah 4:13.
The adversary of Israel surrounded “us.” The expression “we” identifies the prophet with others.
And they gathered together on this day in protest and “slap the judge of Israel on the cheek” (Micah 5:1).