The Peace Bringer

Intro: Gene Roddenberry, Star Trek, utopia

What in all the history of mankind would make you think that we are capable of producing something like that for ourselves?

The first oracle had two chapters of judgment and two verses of hope. This oracle has one chapter of judgment and two chapters of hope.

Judgment of Jacob - Judgment

Civil Leaders (3:1-4)

“Hear now” - introduces a new section

“Is it not for you to know justice” - what they should have been

Justice should be a government’s chief concern.

Micah calls them out because justice not a concern at all unless it is for their own benefit.

If you steal from a thief does he feel wronged?

“You hate good and love evil” - What they actually were

Graphic depiction of their sin

these leaders showed about as much consideration for the people as a butcher does for a carcass.

Micah probably has cannibalism in view. They are eating their own.

They will be judged: They will cry out to God but he will not hear them.

Spiritual Leaders (3:5-12)

They give messages of peace to the ones who fill their bellies, but messages of war to those refuse to bribe them.

Leading the people astray - shepherding metaphor which also contrasts with 2:12, 13

Twist that which is straight (3:9 NASB)

Violent injustice

Bribery - (3:11) forbidden in Exodus 23 and Deut. 16

Rebellion

Destruction

They will be judged:

Darkness

Shame

Embarrassment

They will cry to God but he will not answer them

Calamity - The temple and Jerusalem's destruction (3:12)

Micah contrasts them with himself (3:8)

Contrast with 2:12-13

Peace for the People - Hope

If we are not capable of producing peace for ourselves then to where can turn if we are to ever find peace? - God must intercede for us.

The Lord will rule in Zion

Jerusalem - A future rebuilt Jerusalem and temple. (4:1, 2)

The mountain of the house of Yaweh = the temple

From here the Lord will reign.

The world will flock to him there

When God is King we will have peace

His judgments will bring peace

Swords to plowshare

Spears to pruning hooks

War will be but a memory

Community

What will happen in the meantime? - 4:9-13

The Babylonian Exile: These verses refer to the Babylonian captivity and later return to Palestine under Cyrus. In Micah’s time Babylon was only a vassal of powerful Assyria, making this an even more startling prophecy.

This period will be painful like a woman in childbirth.

But those nations who have oppressed Israel will be judged one day.

Birth in Bethlehem - Hope

His First Coming

The Way Breaker - 2:12, 13

The Peace Bringer - chap 4

The Messiah King will be born in Bethlehem.

It is these verses quoted in Matthew to reveal to Herod where the Messiah would be born.

Based on this verse (5:2) should Israel have known that their Messiah would be divine?

His Second Coming

He will reunite Israel

He will care for Israel

He will keep Israel (safe) - from Assyrian types 5:5

He will give Israel peace

He will judge Israel’s enemies

Theology of Judgment

Wrath is defined as “the emotional response to perceived wrong and injustice,” often translated as “anger,” “indignation,” “vexation,” or “irritation.” Both humans and God express wrath. But there is vast difference between the wrath of God and the wrath of man. God’s wrath is holy and always justified; man’s is never holy and rarely justified. In the Old Testament, the wrath of God is a divine response to human sin and disobedience. Idolatry was most often the occasion for divine wrath. Psalm 78:56-66 describes Israel’s idolatry.

56  Yet they vtested and wrebelled against the Most High God

and did not keep his testimonies,

57  but turned away and acted treacherously like their fathers;

they twisted like xa deceitful bow.

58  For they yprovoked him to anger with their zhigh places;

they amoved him to jealousy with their bidols.

59  When God heard, he was full of cwrath,

and he utterly rejected Israel.

60  He dforsook his dwelling at eShiloh,

the tent where he dwelt among mankind,

61  and delivered his fpower to captivity,

his gglory to the hand of the foe.

62  He hgave his people over to the sword

and ivented his wrath on his heritage.

63  jFire devoured their young men,

and their young women had no kmarriage song.

64  Their lpriests fell by the sword,

and their mwidows made no lamentation.

65  Then the Lord nawoke as from sleep,

like a strong man shouting because of wine.

66  And he oput his adversaries to rout;

he put them to everlasting shame.

The wrath of God is consistently directed towards those who do not follow His will (Deuteronomy 1:26-46; Joshua 7:1; Psalm 2:1-6). The Old Testament prophets often wrote of a day in the future, the "day of wrath" (Zephaniah 1:14-15). God’s wrath against sin and disobedience is perfectly justified because His plan for mankind is holy and perfect, just as God Himself is holy and perfect. God provided a way to gain divine favor—repentance—which turns God’s wrath away from the sinner. To reject that perfect plan is to reject God’s love, mercy, grace and favor and incur His righteous wrath. The New Testament also supports the concept of God as a God of wrath who judges sin. The story of the rich man and Lazarus speaks of the judgment of God and serious consequences for the unrepentant sinner (Luke 16:19–31). John 3:36 says, “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on Him.” The one who believes in the Son will not suffer God’s wrath for his sin, because the Son took God’s wrath upon Himself when He died in our place on the cross (Romans 5:6–11). Those who do not believe in the Son, who do not receive Him as Savior, will be judged on the day of wrath (Romans 2:5–6). The wrath of God is a fearsome and terrifying thing. Only those who have been covered by the blood of Christ, shed for us on the cross, can be assured that God’s wrath will never fall on them. “Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him!” (Romans 5:9).

Theology of Hope

Most people understand hope as wishful thinking, as in "I hope something will happen." This is not what the Bible means by hope. The biblical definition of hope is "confident expectation."

Hope is a firm assurance regarding things that are unclear and unknown (Romans 8:24-25; Hebrews 11:1, 7).

Hope is a fundamental component of the life of the righteous (Proverbs 23:18).

Without hope, life loses its meaning (Lamentations 3:18; Job 7:6) and in death there is no hope (Isaiah 38:18; Job 17:15).

The righteous who trust or put their hope in God will be helped (Psalm 28:7), and they will not be confounded, put to shame, or disappointed (Isaiah 49:23).

The righteous, who have this trustful hope in God, have a general confidence in God’s protection and help (Jeremiah 29:11) and are free from fear and anxiety (Psalm 46:2-3).

The New Testament idea of hope is the recognition that in Christ is found the fulfillment of the Old Testament promises (Matthew 12:21, 1 Peter 1:3).

Christian hope is rooted in faith in the divine salvation in Christ (Galatians 5:5).

Hope of Christians is brought into being through the presence of the promised Holy Spirit (Romans 8:24-25).

The certainty of this blessed future is guaranteed through the indwelling of the Spirit (Romans 8:23-25), Christ in us (Colossians 1:27), and the resurrection of Christ (Acts 2:26).

Hope is produced by endurance through suffering (Romans 5:2-5) and is the inspiration behind endurance (1 Thessalonians 1:3; Hebrews 6:11).

Along with faith and love, hope is an enduring virtue of the Christian life (1 Corinthians 13:13), and love springs from hope (Colossians 1:4-5).

Hope produces joy and peace in believers through the power of the Spirit (Romans 12:12; 15:13).

Paul attributes his apostolic calling to the hope of eternal glory (Titus 1:1-2).

Hope in the return of Christ is the basis for believers to purify themselves in this life (Titus 2:11-14, 1 John 3:3).

1 Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”