Micah 4

Introduction

-It’s easy to focus on our problems. They begin to consume us when we let them stay at the forefront of our thoughts. (tell a story or joke about a guy looking at problems?).

There was doom pronounced on Judah for her and her leader’s sins (ch. 1-3). The people have seen Assyria take their sister nation, Israel, into captivity (just as Micah said). Judah would have been all-consumed with dread because of the judgment proclaimed against them. So Micah switches to the hope after judgment.

I. Nations will Gather to God (v. 1-8)

A. Judah was facing judgment for her and her leader’s sins. But God would choose to show mercy and display His power so that, in the last days, the nations would look at what God has done and seek Him out (v. 2)

1. God was going to make things greater after the captivity. He would call all nations to Himself (v. 2-3)

a. Not just people of all nations, but people of different statuses: the poor, lame, outcasts, destitute, rich, etc.

b. People who truly wanted to seek God would find Him (Matthew 7:7)

2. Not only this, but people from different nations would be united in peace and in the name (power) of the Lord (v. 3-5). They would all listen to God and would walk in His Name (authority)

B. When we read Biblical prophecy we need to remember that God has a specific message in mind and we need to understand the statements in light of His revelation

1. The phrase “in the last days” (v. 1) is a common statement referring to the age of Christ and His followers

a. Hebrews 1:1–2 “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.”

b. 1 Peter 1:20–21 “He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”)

c. 1 John 2:18–20 “Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.”

2. Micah is trying to get Judah to shift her focus from the doom on the horizon to the glory afterward. God intended to do good to them by bringing them home after captivity and fulfill their purpose: bringing the Messiah to redeem sinners

C. The future glory described is talking about the church

1. Notice, God has established the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ

a. People of all nations can come hear the voice of the Lord and learn from Him (Acts 1:8). All who seek Him find Him. God has established something greater in the last days in Christ

b. Hebrews 12:18–24 “For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.”

2. The beautiful glory Judah was looking forward to after captivity is the church. Have you ever thought about it that way?

a. I think it’s easy to read posts on Facebook and find out bad things other churches are doing, or maybe you aren’t satisfied with the way something is happening in our church, or you heard some gossip about problems in the church down the street. Everywhere we look we see division and arguments and problems. But have you ever stopped to think about how beautiful the church really is?

1. God established the church through His Son Jesus. This was His plan

2. Bringing together a bunch of people from any and every nation with different backgrounds, experiences, opinions, and struggles and putting us into one family. We are forgiven of our sins by the blood of Christ and each have God’s Spirit in us, giving us the power to overcome sin

3. He has established us and it is greater than anything Israel ever had. Sure, they had the physical temple on Mt. Zion with God’s presence in it but now God’s presence dwells in your body. You are God’s temple; we are God’s temple, the church; we are the spiritual Zion!

4. The church is truly beautiful and glorious in God’s sight. Maybe we need to switch our perspective from looking for problems to looking for solutions, from negative things to positive things, from the ugly to the beautiful

b. 2 Corinthians 5:17–18 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;”

II. Endure Suffering and Enjoy Protection (v. 9-13)

A. That future glory for Judah was something to look forward to, but they had to endure hardship and suffering first

1. They were going into captivity for their sins and that is where God would redeem them

2. God’s purpose was to bring them home after their punishment to build that glorious future of the church.

3. The other nations were seeking harm for Judah and thought it was God’s complete plan to leave them desolate

a. But the nations that plotted evil were going to stand trial for their own sins

b. Micah bid the people to trust in God, give the evil nations over to Him for they could do nothing on their own

c. They had to endure suffering in the moment that they might enjoy the blessings of the future

B. We are living in their future hope, the church

1. We are established in Christ, we have the Holy Spirit to help us walk in God’s paths, we have the completed Word of God to teach us the Person and ways of God, we have the peace and unity of the blood of Christ and the Spirit within us, we bear the name of the Lord! It’s glorious and wonderful! Yet, we still deal with difficulties

2. It’s not always easy to be the church with each other

a. We are glorious in Christ and still struggle to be a unified family. We are adopted into Christ from different backgrounds, experiences, struggles, and opinions and we are trying to join together in unity to learn the ways of God and walk in them. We are all at different places in our spiritual walks. It can be easy to feel frustrated with someone because they don’t have the same opinion as you or don’t know something you’ve seemed to have known forever. Perhaps you had a disagreement with someone or they get on your nerves. Maybe there’s a family feud from the past that no one has resolved.

b. Here’s the beauty of the church. We are children of God seeking to please Him. We are saved by grace through faith in Christ. We are being raised to spiritual adulthood. It’s a lifelong journey that we can help each other with

1. Our goal as a church should always be to grow together into the body of Christ. Everyone is needed and everyone has a purpose in Jesus. Let’s keep going on this journey together and grow into the body of Christ

2. There are enough struggles Christians face without stepping on each other’s toes. Keep your focus on Jesus, keep learning His ways, and seek ways to do good to brothers and sisters in Jesus

C. That said, there are enemies of God and His people even today

1. People that hate the light of Christ and would prefer to dwell in the darkness of their own sins without anybody living a pure life to show them out or shine on their evil. There were enemies of Judah and there are enemies of the church today

2. Stand united in Christ

a. It seems like we are surrounded on every side and it can be hard to see past the troubles in our world. God is on our side and though we suffer right now we are going to share in the glories of Christ

b. 1 Peter 4:12–16 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.”

Conclusion

In the midst of your struggles with sin and the fears the world presses upon, keep your focus on Christ. You are part of Christ’s family, members of His body. You are glorious in Jesus. Yes, there is suffering and trouble now. But the glory of Mt. Zion today is going to grow even more beautiful at the return of Jesus.

Keep your focus on Christ and His glory. Learn the truth of His Word. Walk in His ways by His power. Grow together into the body of Christ.