Unlikely Origin, Unmatched Results

In our first message of this prophet we saw that things were about to get worse before they get better. In Chapter 2 we found that the reason they were about to get miserable was because the people were disregarding God’s plan and bullying each other. In today’s grouping we find that, not only were the people unjust, but that they were unjust because they had awful leaders. The only remedy for bad leaders would be the perfect leader, King Jesus.

TRANSITION: If the bullies took because they desired and had strength, the leaders devour because they disregard the Lord as the standard.

Bad Rulers Devour their People (Micah 3)

When have you felt like a pawn to be used and discarded?

I understand that threat assessments are part of planning military operations. Each Memorial Day I rewatch Saving Private Ryan. It begins with the horrendous losses in Normandy and the rest of the movie is focused on one soldier whom the brass is unwilling to lose. Others in the patrol debate if this one soldier’s return is worth their personal risk. To the families of our servicemen ANY loss is too great. Sometimes to leaders 6 in Benghazi, or 13 in Afghanistan, or thousands at Normandy become “acceptable”. Every single soldier or first responder wants to believe that he or she is not an acceptable loss just for the ego of a leader.

Today’s text tells us it is unacceptable for leaders to prey upon their own constituents.

This weekend we celebrate Labor Day. In a “Right to Work” state like Kansas this is a recognition of the hard work of good people to pursue the American dream and make our quality of life possible. In other places it is the organization of labor that is celebrated. The emphasis is upon the abuses of ownership and management so that labor was able to revise circumstances through shared interests of the workers. It did not take long for many to realize that their organization did not weaken management, but the workers now found themselves under the selfish rule of a new order of representatives, stewards and union bosses. To this day many rank and file members do not march in lock step with either the power of stockholders or the manipulation of those who are supposed to defend their interests.

Both in Micah’s day and in ours, many feel as if their bosses don’t care about them, their leaders don’t listen to them, and their party is more concerned with tallying “wins and losses” than promoting the values of the citizens.

God permits His people to stew in their own juice (v.4)

Those who do not learn from History are bound to repeat it.

As the people had become bullies (Micah 2) and accepted bad leaders (Micah 3), God knows that the only way to help people remember this, is to refuse to rescue too quickly.

The “wisdom” of the age leaves people in darkness (v.6)

Many of us recall the Y2K scare. Several accumulated food and water because of fear that all the computers of the world would crash on New Years Day and interruptions to supply chain would devastate the world.

Well, it wasn’t a line of computer code on 1-1-2000, but Covid interrupted supply and created a rush on bathroom tissue and bleach. We have been exposed to bots and AI to the extent where we can no longer believe what we see. And hoaxes are promoted if a buck can be made.

The darkness of v.6 sure looks plausible when we see how our society can be interrupted by malicious players!

Those who are supposed to SERVE, find opportunities for profit (v.11)

One doesn’t have to look very far to find politicians living a lifestyle that did NOT come from the salary assigned to their role. Money is in the game and power/wealth prompts too many leaders to lose focus.

Those who run on term limits, get a sip from the cup and quietly abandon that idea.

John Martin writes, “Micah warned the people and leaders about impending judgment so that they would see the folly of their ways and turn back to God. This true prophet warned them of the coming doom in hope that they would change their ways. Micah then described what their leadership was like (vv. 9b–11). They despised (tā‘aḇ, a strong word meaning “to abhor or regard as an abomination”) justice (cf. vv. 1–3) and distorted (‘āqaŝ, “twisted”) all that is right”[i]

TRANSITION: As Micah continues this second oracle, he contrast the poor human leaders with…

The Good Ruler Delights in Peace and Provision (Micah 4)

Where – Zion’s Mountain (Micah 4:1-5)

The mountain of v.1 is identified as Zion in v.2.

ISBE describes Zion as“An ancient name attached to different sites within Jerusalem in various periods of the city’s history”[ii]

2. As a nickname, we refer to “the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave” which describes anything from the original 13 colonies, to the current 50 states plus other territories. It is a concept without a border. Likewise, some may use the term Dixie to describe their region, but that name can be used with many different borders.

3. Zion is thought to be derived from ancient Semitic root preserved in Arabic meaning protector fortress [iii].

4. Today Zionist has a negative connotation, but at its root it means anybody (Jew or Gentile) who believes that descendants of Abraham deserve to be protected within the land that God gave them.

Why – Rescue of Zion (Micah 4:6-13)

Since moving to the Flint Hills I have become more interested in TV Westerns. Currently I am watching reruns of Death Valley Days that ran from 1952 until I was 5 years old. Several of these true episodes involve a Calvary Fort. The fort did not protect everyone, but it was available to any who would seek refuge within her walls.

V.10 describes those who refuse to come into the safety of the fort, they stubbornly dwell in open country exposing themselves to be taken as captives in need of rescue.

Even today, God offers the security of His family as a refuge from the onslaughts of the Evil One. Yet many refuse to accept the free invitation into the fold. They insist on doing life on their terms and exposing themselves to evil invaders and temptations.

The problem of Micah’s day would only be solved by surrender to the coming good and perfect King. The problems of our day are only solved by surrender to the One who came as our good and perfect King. The One who will one day come again to Earth robed in majesty and triumph.

TRANSITION: The good and perfect King is not a choice from many options, He is one certain King who comes from a specific village. This eliminates all imposters.

The Good Ruler Delivers from Bethlehem (Micah 5)

When Micah points to Bethlehem, it would be similar to announcing that a military chief of staff would arise from Matfield Green in the lush Flint Hills and eventually become the greatest President of the country and the whole world would know about him.

Where - Bethlehem (Micah 5:1-6)

Bet (house of) lehem (bread) Ephrathah (fruitful)

Perhaps “house of Fruitful Bread” is where the Christmas tradition of fruitcake began? (As you can tell from our tin of Birthday treats, I appreciate a GOOD fruitcake). But the fruitful of Ephrathah is about production, not berries.

2. Bethlehem was a small village on a rocky spur roughly 5 miles from Jerusalem.

First mentioned in Gen 35 as the burial place of Rachel – time of Patriarchs

Mentioned in time of Judges in Judges 19 between Patriarchs and Kings.

Mentioned again in Ruth 4:11 as the threshing floor of Boaz in the book that connects the Judges to the kings. I conclude this is where the fertile (fruitful) region gets connected with bread. Boaz was David’s great-grandfather, which is what sets up Bethlehem as the city of David. Also, as fertile land, flocks may have grazed here at times when other fields were fallow.

This place of rich history after the return from Exile is very sparse. Ezr 2:21 mentions only about 125 residents.

We now understand why the boarding house had no room for all the offspring who reported for the census. Small towns tend not to have large hotels. This is why it is not a stretch to sing, “O, little Town of Bethlehem...”

Micah 5:2b even states it is too little to be named among the clans.

Why – Deliverance of the Remnant (Micah 5:7-15)

Vv 7-8 revive a word that we first read in Gen 45:7 – remnant.

Remnant is the idea of a small segment within a larger whole.

When I mentioned Zionists, I said it is any who believe the descendants of Abraham deserve to be on that property. But Micah reminds of an idea that Paul picks up in Romans 11. While all humanity are image-bearers of God (regardless of nationality), there is a subset that deserve to live on that soil. But many who live on that soil disregarded the good and perfect King who came from Bethlehem. While Gentiles who place their trust in Christ are grafted into the true root, Jews who have been cut off can also be grafted into the true remnant.

Romans 11:19–20 ESV:2016

19 Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” 20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.

Romans 11:24 ESV:2016

24 For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree.

4. Remnant realities need to shape our understanding and our expectations. I believe that all Jews deserve to be within the borders of Israel, but only believing Jews are part of the remnant. I do not believe modern political national Israel is flawless as the people of God!

5. Likewise, I believe America was founded as a place where Christian ideals could freely be practiced, but NEVER have all Americans or all of America been truly Christian.

Conclusion:

Christ came to deliver and redeem the remnant who would place their trust in Him alone for forgiveness and victory over sin.

The hope of the world was found to come from a tiny town. Only He can cast out our sin, give us new birth, and abide with us until eternity.

f God could sovereignly choose a town of a couple hundred people to be the birthplace of Messiah, don’t you think He could do something mighty with a young man or woman from Chase County, Kansas?

Many of you are aware that I attended college in Chicago at a school founded by a shoe salesman who became a traveling evangelist. Describing that shoe salesman Mark Fackler writes, “the line most frequently attributed to Dwight L. Moody (and spoken by his character in the only film on Moody’s life) is the famous quotation: ‘The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him.’ That quote actually came from Moody’s friend, Irish preacher Henry Varley. What makes the quote attributed to D.L. Moody is that he added ‘By God’s help, I aim to be that man.’”

While I am largely set apart unto God, I realize I am not “fully consecrated”. I still pray that God would raise up that man, that woman from among the people that I am privileged to pastor. Might you be that person?

[i] Martin, John A. 1985. “Micah.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, 1:1483. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books. [ii] Rainey, A. F. 1979–1988. “Zion.” In The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised, edited by Geoffrey W. Bromiley, 4:1198. Wm. B. Eerdmans. [iii] Ibid., 4:1198.