Micah 4 – God will rescue his people!
Micah 4 – God will rescue his people!
By Pastor Lee Hemen
October 30, 2016
Remember last week I related that when politicians or preachers try and tell you that mankind can bring about peace that they are either misguided or lying? The real peace we will ever know is that God can provide and is found in Jesus alone. Armies, machines of war, speeches, treaties or promises by nations will never bring about the peace mankind longs for, only faith will. Only God will rescue his people!
Micah’s words resonate in our ears and resound in the longing of our hearts and souls. We find in them hope for our future and the real reason for our existence. Israel was going to be brought down because of their arrogance and sin. They would be overthrown by their enemies and hauled away into slavery; but in the midst of this horrible dark news was a beam of light; a hope for their future and for the entire world. In it we discover God will rescue his people! Let’s see what hope Micah's words have for us this morning…
READ: Micah 4
God through Micah begins to share with his people what would occur because of their refusal to repent and turn back to him. He tells them that God will rescue his people…
I. By making his presence known to everyone! (Vv. 1-5)
In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken. All the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.
1. Micah begins God’s promise by letting the Hebrews know that Jerusalem and specifically Mt. Zion, the Temple Mount, the future kingdom will become a spiritual focal point for future generations: “In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it.” End time enthusiasts speculate that the Temple will be rebuilt but they totally ignore “we are the temple of the living God.” (2 Corinthians 6:6 NIV) The coming kingdom is the kingdom of God found in Jesus. The entire focus of Scripture is Jesus. Jesus is our new Temple Mount, the focus of worship, and thereby why “Many nations will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.’” Peace will be found in the word of God, Jesus, and his “law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide.” In fact when the nations of the world come to know Jesus as Savior only then will the world know true peace; Micah promises that in fact “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” What Israel had hoped for would come true and “Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken.” Entering God’s kingdom does this fantastic thing! Paul would state “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” (Romans 8:22 NIV) The present time, what Micah promised, is now found in Jesus. God had spoken and while other “nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever.” Micah promised that God will rescue his people by making his presence known to everyone!
EXAMPLE: When one needs help in an emergency there is nothing more comforting than to know that EMTs or Firemen are there. Often they tell those in need of their help to remain calm that they are there to help. They make their presence known. This is the comforting words Micah had for his people and for us today. God will rescue his people by making his presence known to everyone!
We often forget that God is not bound by the constraints of time; he always has been and always will be. For him the moment is now. The millennium has already begun. Therefore we discover that Micah promised God will rescue his people…
II. By restoring them completely! (Vv. 6-8)
“In that day,” declares the LORD, “I will gather the lame; I will assemble the exiles and those I have brought to grief. I will make the lame a remnant, those driven away a strong nation. The LORD will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and forever. As for you, O watchtower of the flock, O stronghold of the Daughter of Zion, the former dominion will be restored to you; kingship will come to the Daughter of Jerusalem.”
1. Those that have been removed, disenfranchised, or exiled will be restored by God when they enter into his kingdom. He tells Micah “In that day” that it would be him alone who would “gather the lame” and he would “assemble the exiles and those” he had “brought to grief”! Yes God held them accountable for their sin and it would be God who would fulfill his promise. God told every one of his prophets that he would gather his people to himself again. He told Zephaniah, “At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you; I will rescue the lame and gather those who have been scattered. I will give them praise and honor in every land where they were put to shame.” (Zephaniah 3:19 NIV) God tells Micah, “I will make the lame a remnant, those driven away a strong nation.” The “lame” are those caught in sin, those unable to rescue themselves, those “driven away” would become a “strong nation” in God! How would this be possible? What Micah could only guess at we know for sure; that it is through Jesus we become the nation of God! This is why Peter would declare that we “are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9-10 NIV) This is how “The LORD will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and forever.” The next statements of Micah are exciting because it is God speaking about Jesus: “As for you, O watchtower of the flock, O stronghold of the Daughter of Zion, the former dominion will be restored to you; kingship will come to the Daughter of Jerusalem.” All of sinful broken creation, the “former dominion”, will be made new “restored” because of Jesus! God’s promise is that “Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:16-17 NIV) Micah shared that God will rescue his people by restoring them completely!
EXAMPLE: There are some cute commercials on TV that the retired NFL quarterback Payton Manning does. One is where he is sitting in a restaurant and everyone there is using the Nationwide Insurance ditty to sing their orders and such. Their motto is: “Nationwide is on your side.” It is supposed to conjure up the feeling of safety and security. Micah’s words to his people and for us this morning do the same thing! God will rescue his people by restoring them completely!
None of us like discipline or to suffer the consequences of our sin, yet in order to be the people of God that he desires, sometimes it has to happen. Israel would suffer but there was hope. Micah teaches us that…
III. God will rescue his people! (Vv. 9-13)
Why do you now cry aloud-- have you no king? Has your counselor perished, that pain seizes you like that of a woman in labor? Writhe in agony, O Daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor, for now you must leave the city to camp in the open field. You will go to Babylon; there you will be rescued. There the LORD will redeem you out of the hand of your enemies. But now many nations are gathered against you. They say, “Let her be defiled, let our eyes gloat over Zion!” But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD; they do not understand his plan, he who gathers them like sheaves to the threshing floor. “Rise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion, for I will give you horns of iron; I will give you hoofs of bronze and you will break to pieces many nations.” You will devote their ill-gotten gains to the LORD, their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.
1. God asks the Israelites an interesting question: “Why do you now cry aloud-- have you no king? Has your counselor perished, that pain seizes you like that of a woman in labor?” They did have a king, God, and they did have a counselor, the Holy Spirit, so why were they crying aloud? It was because they were like “a woman in labor” they had forgotten in whom they were to rely on! This is why they would “Writhe in agony…like a woman in labor” and “leave the city to camp in the open field.” There was nothing they could do, they would be wanderers. While Assyria was still in power Micah foretells them they “will go to Babylon; there you will be rescued. There the LORD will redeem you out of the hand of your enemies.” Their captivity was necessary: “There the LORD will redeem [them] out of the hand of [their] enemies.” However, Israel would have to face the scorn of other nations around them because of their foolishness, so “now many nations are gathered against you. They say, ‘Let her be defiled, let our eyes gloat over Zion!’” Like the children sitting in the marketplace Jesus spoke about who were bored who wanted someone to entertain them, and here it would be Israel’s enemies! Yet God also gives them words of comfort in the midst of their shame by assuring them “they do not know the thoughts of the LORD; they do not understand his plan, he who gathers them like sheaves to the threshing floor.” In fact Israel would be the ones who would ultimately harvest their enemies so God tells them, “Rise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion, for I will give you horns of iron; I will give you hoofs of bronze and you will break to pieces many nations. You will devote their ill-gotten gains to the LORD, their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.” In the end, God’s people win! They will defeat their enemies but not in the way many of them thought. The weapons God would forge would be found in the gospel message. Israel’s enemies would end up using their ill-gotten gains for God’s glory! Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! (Rom. 14:11; Phil. 2:10) We discover therefore that ultimately God will rescue his people!
EXAMPLE: Being rescued is a good thing. Whether it is Gandalf showing up as the orc hoards surround Helms Deep or the US Mobile Cavalry Unit coming over the hill we are all glad when we are rescued. It would not happen right away and it would not happen in the way they wanted it to but it would happen. God through Micah tells his people to not lose heart, God will rescue his people!
Conclusion:
God will rescue his people by making his presence known to everyone! God will rescue his people by restoring them completely! God will rescue his people!
----
This article is copyrighted © 2016 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
By Pastor Lee Hemen
October 30, 2016
Remember last week I related that when politicians or preachers try and tell you that mankind can bring about peace that they are either misguided or lying? The real peace we will ever know is that God can provide and is found in Jesus alone. Armies, machines of war, speeches, treaties or promises by nations will never bring about the peace mankind longs for, only faith will. Only God will rescue his people!
Micah’s words resonate in our ears and resound in the longing of our hearts and souls. We find in them hope for our future and the real reason for our existence. Israel was going to be brought down because of their arrogance and sin. They would be overthrown by their enemies and hauled away into slavery; but in the midst of this horrible dark news was a beam of light; a hope for their future and for the entire world. In it we discover God will rescue his people! Let’s see what hope Micah's words have for us this morning…
READ: Micah 4
God through Micah begins to share with his people what would occur because of their refusal to repent and turn back to him. He tells them that God will rescue his people…
I. By making his presence known to everyone! (Vv. 1-5)
In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken. All the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.
1. Micah begins God’s promise by letting the Hebrews know that Jerusalem and specifically Mt. Zion, the Temple Mount, the future kingdom will become a spiritual focal point for future generations: “In the last days the mountain of the LORD's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it.” End time enthusiasts speculate that the Temple will be rebuilt but they totally ignore “we are the temple of the living God.” (2 Corinthians 6:6 NIV) The coming kingdom is the kingdom of God found in Jesus. The entire focus of Scripture is Jesus. Jesus is our new Temple Mount, the focus of worship, and thereby why “Many nations will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.’” Peace will be found in the word of God, Jesus, and his “law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide.” In fact when the nations of the world come to know Jesus as Savior only then will the world know true peace; Micah promises that in fact “They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.” What Israel had hoped for would come true and “Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken.” Entering God’s kingdom does this fantastic thing! Paul would state “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” (Romans 8:22 NIV) The present time, what Micah promised, is now found in Jesus. God had spoken and while other “nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever.” Micah promised that God will rescue his people by making his presence known to everyone!
EXAMPLE: When one needs help in an emergency there is nothing more comforting than to know that EMTs or Firemen are there. Often they tell those in need of their help to remain calm that they are there to help. They make their presence known. This is the comforting words Micah had for his people and for us today. God will rescue his people by making his presence known to everyone!
We often forget that God is not bound by the constraints of time; he always has been and always will be. For him the moment is now. The millennium has already begun. Therefore we discover that Micah promised God will rescue his people…
II. By restoring them completely! (Vv. 6-8)
“In that day,” declares the LORD, “I will gather the lame; I will assemble the exiles and those I have brought to grief. I will make the lame a remnant, those driven away a strong nation. The LORD will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and forever. As for you, O watchtower of the flock, O stronghold of the Daughter of Zion, the former dominion will be restored to you; kingship will come to the Daughter of Jerusalem.”
1. Those that have been removed, disenfranchised, or exiled will be restored by God when they enter into his kingdom. He tells Micah “In that day” that it would be him alone who would “gather the lame” and he would “assemble the exiles and those” he had “brought to grief”! Yes God held them accountable for their sin and it would be God who would fulfill his promise. God told every one of his prophets that he would gather his people to himself again. He told Zephaniah, “At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you; I will rescue the lame and gather those who have been scattered. I will give them praise and honor in every land where they were put to shame.” (Zephaniah 3:19 NIV) God tells Micah, “I will make the lame a remnant, those driven away a strong nation.” The “lame” are those caught in sin, those unable to rescue themselves, those “driven away” would become a “strong nation” in God! How would this be possible? What Micah could only guess at we know for sure; that it is through Jesus we become the nation of God! This is why Peter would declare that we “are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9-10 NIV) This is how “The LORD will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and forever.” The next statements of Micah are exciting because it is God speaking about Jesus: “As for you, O watchtower of the flock, O stronghold of the Daughter of Zion, the former dominion will be restored to you; kingship will come to the Daughter of Jerusalem.” All of sinful broken creation, the “former dominion”, will be made new “restored” because of Jesus! God’s promise is that “Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:16-17 NIV) Micah shared that God will rescue his people by restoring them completely!
EXAMPLE: There are some cute commercials on TV that the retired NFL quarterback Payton Manning does. One is where he is sitting in a restaurant and everyone there is using the Nationwide Insurance ditty to sing their orders and such. Their motto is: “Nationwide is on your side.” It is supposed to conjure up the feeling of safety and security. Micah’s words to his people and for us this morning do the same thing! God will rescue his people by restoring them completely!
None of us like discipline or to suffer the consequences of our sin, yet in order to be the people of God that he desires, sometimes it has to happen. Israel would suffer but there was hope. Micah teaches us that…
III. God will rescue his people! (Vv. 9-13)
Why do you now cry aloud-- have you no king? Has your counselor perished, that pain seizes you like that of a woman in labor? Writhe in agony, O Daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor, for now you must leave the city to camp in the open field. You will go to Babylon; there you will be rescued. There the LORD will redeem you out of the hand of your enemies. But now many nations are gathered against you. They say, “Let her be defiled, let our eyes gloat over Zion!” But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD; they do not understand his plan, he who gathers them like sheaves to the threshing floor. “Rise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion, for I will give you horns of iron; I will give you hoofs of bronze and you will break to pieces many nations.” You will devote their ill-gotten gains to the LORD, their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.
1. God asks the Israelites an interesting question: “Why do you now cry aloud-- have you no king? Has your counselor perished, that pain seizes you like that of a woman in labor?” They did have a king, God, and they did have a counselor, the Holy Spirit, so why were they crying aloud? It was because they were like “a woman in labor” they had forgotten in whom they were to rely on! This is why they would “Writhe in agony…like a woman in labor” and “leave the city to camp in the open field.” There was nothing they could do, they would be wanderers. While Assyria was still in power Micah foretells them they “will go to Babylon; there you will be rescued. There the LORD will redeem you out of the hand of your enemies.” Their captivity was necessary: “There the LORD will redeem [them] out of the hand of [their] enemies.” However, Israel would have to face the scorn of other nations around them because of their foolishness, so “now many nations are gathered against you. They say, ‘Let her be defiled, let our eyes gloat over Zion!’” Like the children sitting in the marketplace Jesus spoke about who were bored who wanted someone to entertain them, and here it would be Israel’s enemies! Yet God also gives them words of comfort in the midst of their shame by assuring them “they do not know the thoughts of the LORD; they do not understand his plan, he who gathers them like sheaves to the threshing floor.” In fact Israel would be the ones who would ultimately harvest their enemies so God tells them, “Rise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion, for I will give you horns of iron; I will give you hoofs of bronze and you will break to pieces many nations. You will devote their ill-gotten gains to the LORD, their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.” In the end, God’s people win! They will defeat their enemies but not in the way many of them thought. The weapons God would forge would be found in the gospel message. Israel’s enemies would end up using their ill-gotten gains for God’s glory! Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! (Rom. 14:11; Phil. 2:10) We discover therefore that ultimately God will rescue his people!
EXAMPLE: Being rescued is a good thing. Whether it is Gandalf showing up as the orc hoards surround Helms Deep or the US Mobile Cavalry Unit coming over the hill we are all glad when we are rescued. It would not happen right away and it would not happen in the way they wanted it to but it would happen. God through Micah tells his people to not lose heart, God will rescue his people!
Conclusion:
God will rescue his people by making his presence known to everyone! God will rescue his people by restoring them completely! God will rescue his people!
----
This article is copyrighted © 2016 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
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