Come to the Mountain

intro

Dave Arrell - my transgression and repentance - after the service, some asked me if he ever forgave me. Indeed he did. We continued to have a good relationship through the rest of high school and even into college and beyond. He participated in our wedding, I got to coach baseball with him and have maintained periodic contact over the years. I have grown in my respect and love for Dave.

there is something beautiful about restoration. When it happens, it is sweet. When it is anticipated sometime in the future, it brings hope. This future hope is the subject of the five verses of Micah’s prophecy that we are considering today.

Over the last few weeks, we’ve looked at the ways that Micah has called out the people and the leaders of Israel and Judah for their injustice, idolatry, and covetousness. Micah has talked about the coming judgment and destruction that will come on the people and the nation. He also provided a bit of hope the the promise of God’s faithfulness for a remnant of the people. This was the promise of restoration, the promise of a future hope.

Here in chapter 4, Micah makes a turn in his tone. Micah’s comments in the verses that we’re looking at today are nearly identical to Isaiah 2:1-3. It’s possible that one prophet was quoting the other. It’s also possible that they used the same source for their sermon. In any case, in both chapters (Micah 4 and Isaiah 2), we get to see promise of a future, hope for God’s righteous rule over the remnant is Israel and Judah. This is what restoration would look like. It’s an invitation to come to the mountain of the Lord.

As we walk through this today, we’ll consider the message of these verses and then we will conclude with some meditations on how we can apply what Micah is saying.

Micah begins by sharing...

God’s Promise - the supremacy of His ways (1)

How do you view your parents?

Our perspective regarding parents changes:

as children - we often see them as super smart and wise

as teenagers - for some we may see them as ignorant and stupid.

as adults - we begin to understand the wisdom of their ways

In this part of Micah’s prophecy - the same will be true of the nations and people of the world in relation to God.

Micah 4:1 ESV

It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it,

latter days - sometime in the future

maybe after the exile

maybe in segments during the time of Christ or in the age of the church

will be in eternity

mountain - is a figurative/metaphorical mountain - the mountain is where God dwells, where He reigns

people will flow to it - people will come to realize that God’s ways are superior - that his standards are just and right - just as young adults or young parents begin to see the wisdom of our parents - so too the people of the world will see the wisdom in God’s reign.

Micah has an interesting play on words - normally a rivers flow FROM mountains.

ILL: California - often struggles with drought. They recently were dumped on with 6-8 feet of snow. an overwhelming amount. In time, as the snow melts on the mountains - rivers of blessing will flow to feed the valleys and provide much needed water to the lowlands

Here however, Micah says that the river, the flow will be TOWARD the mountain - people will stream or flow toward the mountain of God so much that it will be like a river. They will go not as a river of blessing (which is what we would receive FROM God), but to learn.

So Micah begins with God’s promise. He then moves to help us understand...

The People’s Perspective - let’s go to learn and live (2)

With the wisdom and supremacy of God’s ways being realized as prosperous and valuable, the people stream to the mountain of God - to his reign.

Micah 4:2 ESV

and many nations shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

they are coming to learn God’s ways

learning requires humility

learning requires submission

What are they leaning? In the ESV it says the law.

The Law here refers to God’s teaching.

All that God instructs about doctrine and life in every part of scripture

The Torah

Historical books

poetry

prophecy

apocalyptic sections

the Gospels

When we read the Gospels - we get to see hear the message of the Lord - we get to learn his ways

Sermon on the Mount - Jesus recasts the vision and application of what was taught on Mount Sinai - when God gave the initial covenant to Moses.

Acts and the letters to the churches

the pastoral letters

Revelation

every part of God’s word is wisdom, truth, knowledge of Him and His ways

Do you see the treasure that is the Word of God?

After communicating about God’s word reign and the flow of the nations, Micah discusses the product of this coming to the Lord, of his reign…

The Product - justice, peace and prosperity (3-4)

When the nations finally come to the realization that God’s ways are right, just, and good; when they, when we stop fighting against Him - then we will realize the product of God’s ways - justice, peace, and prosperity or flourishing.

Micah 4:3–4 ESV

He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore; but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.

In 2006, responding to a variety of voices over the decisions of the Defense Secretary, George W. Bush famously said “I’m the decider.” He had decided to support the changes the Defense Secretary. He stood firm.

In a more majestic manner, Micah is essentially saying that in the future - “God’s the decider”

God will judge bringing...

Justice

the people will finally realize that God’s the decider.

Not decisions based on our whims or cultural trends - but justice that depends on His righteous standard.

Because of God’s righteous judgment and justice, there will be

Peace

weapons of warfare (swords and spears) will be converted into farm and vineyard implements - we won’t need them to fight

plowshares and - this is an ancient tool used to plow up the ground - to create rows for planting.

pruning hooks - this was “a long-handled pruning device with a curved blade at the end.”

the lessons of warfare will no longer be needed

people will be able to sit in perfect peace - there will be no need to fear.

Think about how often we might fear

for our children - their safety, their learning

for our safety in travel

global events - wars

weather patterns - major snow storms or hurricanes

political turmoil

Oh what a glorious time that will be when we no longer have to fear.

Not only will there be justice because of God’s judgment and peace, there will be

Prosperity

Micah says that each person will “sit under his vine and… fig tree”

a Vine is often referred to as a symbol of prosperity - each will have his own.

in a similar fashion - the Fig Tree is also a symbol of peace and prosperity.

So the promise of God results in the perspective of learning from the people and produces justice, peace and prosperity. As a result of this, Micah seems to speak on behalf the nation of Judah with...

The Progress - commitment to a Godly walk (5)

Now, of course all of this hope is in the shadow of pending judgment. The people will still be sent of into exile - they will go to foreign lands and will find themselves inundated with false beliefs around false gods. The sad reality of punishment would come to Israel and Judah.

Micah 4:5 ESV

For all the peoples walk each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.

Micah is promising a future hope a future restoration a remnant. Judah will be sent to the nations - but Micah is urging commitment to walk in God’s ways - even the face of implied hostilities (Calvin). He is urging or confessing a present walk. Why wait for the future when we can live in the name of God now?

Walking in the “name” of someone, especially God, refers to walking under His authority.

Just as Israel and Judah were exiled into the nations that Assyria and Babylon worshiped, as people who are in the world but not of it (John 15:19), we face peoples and nations who walk in the names, in the authority of their gods...

consumerism

nationalism

individualism

collectivism and progressive group think

in addition to all of the deities of various religions around the world.

Neil Shenvi - book on Christian belief - some think peace will come through universal acceptance of certain norms and ideals - or ambivalence to religious standards - but that compromises the very essence of belief. (introductory chapter)

So, how will we walk in the face of the gods of our age? Will we walk under the authority, in the name, of our Triune God?

As we close, let’s reflect on a few...

Points to Ponder: Come to the Mountain

there are a couple of ways that we should come to the mountain…

Initially - for salvation

Jesus was tried on Mt. Zion and crucified on the side of it. Though he was innocent - he was tried and crucified - he died to take on himself the sin debt that you and I deserve. In response

come humbly - recognizing we have nothing to bring, except our sin.

come repentant - turning away from sin and turning to trust in Jesus

come believing - Acts 16 - jailer asked what must I do to be saved, Paul relied - only believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

But as believers, we too are called to come to the mountain of the Lord.

How

personally - daily - reading God’s Word, praying seeking him

As a Family - reading and teaching God’s word with our families in our homes - Joel Beeke - resource “Family Worship Bible Guide” - questions to reflect on each chapter of the Bible

Beeke recommends

Prayer

Reading Scripture - whole chapter or even just a few verses

Discussing questions

Closing prayer

Song

Another recommendation: Midweek preparation - taking what’s in the midweek email and reading the sunday passage, discussing some of the questions there.

As a Congregation - we come to feast on the Lord, His Word and His ways - banquet -

we read the word,

sing the word,

pray the word,

listen to the word preached,

reflect on how the Spirit would have us apply the Word

Do you see our time together as a banquet feast before the Lord? I pray that we would value this this time.

But then this begs one final question...

Why

Why should we come to the mountain of the Lord? Why should we come personally, as a family and as a congregation?

to learn - we’re not coming just to check off a box. We’re coming to learn from our Creator. To allow His mind to be in our minds. To learn to think His thoughts, to understand His perfect wisdom. But this is not simply an academic exercise we do this...

to live

now - we will get glimpses of the peace that will come as we live out God’s ways here. As we learn to love our neighbors, raise our children, share with those in need, and so much more.

eternally - oh what a joy that will be when we get to be face to face with Jesus - when we get to live with him in eternity. When we get to the end of our lives and hear him say - well done! Rick Warren has said that this life is preparation for eternity. Preparation begins with trusting in Jesus as your savior. Have you done that? If so, are you living in His name?

At the mountain of the Lord, there is

peace

righteousness

justice

fellowship with God

Let’s pray.

Benediction:

2 Corinthians 13:14 ESV

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

During our time of silent reflection -

what is one thing that you can do this week to change how you come to the mountain of the Lord?

References:

Calvin, John, and John Owen. Commentaries on the Twelve Minor Prophets. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2010.

Dever, Mark, The Message of the Old Testament: Promises Made, (Crossway, Wheaton, 2006)

Martin, John A. “Micah.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.

Prior, David. The Bible Speaks Today: The Message of Joel, Micah & Habakkuk. Intervarsity Press, Downers Grove, IL, 1998.

Sandy, D. Brent. Plowshares and Pruning Hooks: Rethinking the Language of Biblical Prophecy and Apocalyptic. InterVarsity Press Academic, 2002.

Simeon, Charles. Horae Homileticae: Hosea to Malachi. Vol. 10. London: Holdsworth and Ball, 1832.

Um, Stephen. Micah for You. The Good Book Company, 2018.

Waltke, Bruce K. “Micah.” In New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition, edited by D. A. Carson, R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, and G. J. Wenham, 822–833. 4th ed. Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994.

https://bibleproject.com/explore/video/micah/

https://bibleproject.com/explore/category/how-to-read-biblical-poetry/

ESV Study Bible