Micah 4:1-13.  Yesterday we saw Micah predicting the downfall of the nation of Israel and particularly the Southern Kingdom.  But in the Old Testament there are many promises to Abraham, David, and others about a forever kingdom, what about that?  In today’s reading we will see an answer to that question.  If you read the “Intro to Micah” you might remember that Micah gave his messages during the reign of three kings of Judah.  Those kings reigned from 750 BC to 686 BC.  Some scholars think that he originally gave the message in today’s reading about 700 BC.  In Micah 1:6 Micah predicted the fall of the Northern Kingdom.  Since the event is still future in that verse that part had to be written before 722 BC when the Northern Kingdom fell to the Assyrian army.  In the book of Jeremiah some elders in Judah quote Micah 3:12 and tell us that he spoke those words in the “days of Hezekiah the king” (728-686 BC).  That message could have been just before or sometime after the Assyrian conquest of the north.  However the messages worked out we know that the Northern Kingdom fell in 722 BC the Southern Kingdom was besieged but Jerusalem was net conquered at that time.  The fall of Jerusalem would not happen until 586 BC and it would not be the Assyrians who conquered it.

In today’s reading verses 1-5 give us hope that God will keep his promises to Israel for a forever kingdom but there is more.  Not only will the kingdom of David be reestablished but God will be the ruler.  And it won’t just be a kingdom for the Jewish people, all the people of the earth will be part of it.  But wait there’s more!  Not only will God be king over all the earth, but all the people on the earth will seek to know God and there will be no more war.  In fact all of the effort to have and use weapons will be transferred to useful effort like farming.  Each person will be secure in their own vineyard or orchard or whatever place they work. (v. 4).  But this will not be until the “last days”.  This is a time at the end of our current historical period.  In the book of Revelation (Revelation 19-20) we learn that this kingdom of God will initially last for 1000 years, then it will extend into eternity.  No one will fear because God is in control.  It is interesting that the second half of verse 3 is the motto for the United Nations, the world wants peace but they fail to understand that only when God is in control of the world will there be any hope for peace.

Verses 6-8 assure the Jewish people that Jerusalem will be that capital of this new worldwide kingdom and that the promise about David’s former kingdom will be fulfilled.  There is another interesting little point here though, the part about the lame person.  Under the Law of Moses physically deformed people were excluded from entering the Temple to worship God.  Here in the end though we see the “lame” person and the outcast will be a part of God’s kingdom right there where the Temple was and will be on Mount Zion.  It’s not that God doesn’t love and accept people who have physical handicaps he used them as a way of pointing out his perfection and holiness, but here in the end they will have a special place in his forever kingdom.

Verses 9-10 return to the present reality of Micah’s day, a kingdom moving ever farther away from God.  So Micah warns them that destruction is coming to the Southern Kingdom too.  Micah even named the conqueror that God would use, Babylon.  Babylon was a minor group at that time and was no match for the mighty Assyrians.  In the late 600’s BC that power would shift to Babylon and in 586 Nebuchadnezzar would invade and conquer Judah and Jerusalem would fall.  It appears that verses 12-13 return to the future kingdom.  The book of Revelation tells us of attacks on Israel both at the beginning of the 1000 year reign of God and at the end in both cases the attackers lose.  After the final battle God judges all those who failed to trust Him for their eternity and they are banished forever.

This secton of Micah is one of hope but also of reality.  God is pure and holy but he is also reliable and merciful.  I like it that he has a place for the lame in his kingdom because we are all spiritually lame.  God will keep his promises and he will make that forever kingdom but it will only be for those who have put their lives in his hands.  Trust Jeus today and be ready for the greatest eternity ever.

God thank you for having a place for me in your forever kingdom in spite of my spiritual deformities.  Thank yo for the holiness of Jesus and that it can be applied to me.  Thank you for your care and love.  Help me love you back as I wait for your perfect kingdom.

Micah 3:1-12.  We need to remember some things as we read this section.  First Jacob is the name of a man who’s name was changed to Israel by God.  Israel had twelve sons.  The descendants of those twelve sons make up the nation of Israel (named after the father).  Solomon was the last king of the nation before it split into two kingdoms.  The Northern kingdom is often called Israel in the Bible.  The descendants of ten of the sons made up that kingdom.  The Southern Kingdom is usually called Judah in the Bible and the descendants of two of the sons made up that kingdom.  Judah is the name of the ancestor of the larger of the two “tribe” making up the southern kingdom.  Sometimes the Northern Kingdom is referred to using the name of one of the “tribes” that were a part of it, like Ephraim.  Samaria was a city which was one of the capitals of the Northern Kingdom.  Jerusalem was the capital of the original nation, the capital of the Southern Kingdom and ultimately will be the capital of the restored nation under the leadership of Jesus.  Sometimes the name Zion is used to refer to Jerusalem.  In today’s reading it appears that Micah is talking to the whole nation when he uses the names Jacob and Israel in verse 1 because in verses 10 and 12 he refers to Zion and Jerusalem.  Remember too that Micah was from the Southern Kingdom but that he was bringing a message to both kingdoms from God.

Verse 1 starts off with a question.  The question is basically an accusation, “Shouldn’t you know how to treat other’s right?”  From verses 2and 3 it is clear that they did not know how to treat each other right,  Although some people might like to think that Micah is using exaggerated language here to make his point there were times in Israel’s history when they resorted to cannibalism during a siege so it’s at least possible that these verses are literal (See 2 Kings 6 for an example).  It is more probable that Micah is making a comparison here to point out how evil the people had become, especially the political and religious leaders.

Verses 5-11 point out the evil actions of the spiritual and political leaders (Prophets and seers were spiritual leaders and Heads and rulers of house were political leaders).  According to these verses the people who were supposed to help the people understand and follow God would have no real understanding.  The were “kissing up” to those who would pay them and proclaiming disaster for those people who would not or could not give them something.  According to verse 12 Jerusalem would become a barren field, there would be no nation to be a leader of.  So the leaders are the focus of this statement of coming judgment and punishment from God.

Paul told the believers in the region of Galatia (Galatians 6:7) that you cannot fool God, he knows our actions and he will pay us back if we continue to do things which displease him; and God is very concerned how we treat others (see Matthew 22:34-40).  Two things that I think are important to keep in mind as we read this very serious section predicting judgment.  First notice that sin and disobedience creates a barrier in our relationship with God (Micah 3:4).  Second and maybe more important is that god doesn’t want that barrier between us and him.  The very words Micah spoke, warning the people, show us that God want us to turn from our evil ways and honor him with our lives.  From history we know that the Northern Kingdom was destroyed and scattered not to long after Micah gave them theses warnings.  About 150 years later the Southern Kingdom was taken captive, although they would return eventually just after the time of Jesus Jerusalem was destroyed by the Roman army.   But from other prophesies in the Bible we also know that one day God will restore both Israel and the kingdom.  In the mean time God is patient with us (his new people, Christians, the church) not wanting any to perish but all to turn back to him (2 Peter 3:9).  So we need to be practicing justice, treating others right; giving them a taste of the wonderful future that can have with Jesus.

God thank you for the privilege of being your representative ere on earth (2 Corinthians 5:19-20).  Let me be a good ambassador and help the world see and know you.  Help me do right by others and trust you for the outcome.  Be honored by my efforts.