Micah 4:10-13

10 Writhe and groan, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor, for now you shall go out from the city and dwell in the open country; you shall go to Babylon. There you shall be rescued; there the Lord will redeem you from the hand of your enemies. 11 Now many nations are assembled against you, saying, “Let her be defiled, and let our eyes gaze upon Zion.” 12 But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand his plan, that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor. 13 Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion, for I will make your horn iron, and I will make your hoofs bronze; you shall beat in pieces many peoples; and shall devote their gain to the Lord, their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth.

Introduction

Someone may say: “I don’t want to wait till Kingdom come for you to make up your mind.”

Those words usually spoken with a degree of impatience.

Fact is, for some things we will have to wait till Kingdom comes.

But, There are many activities that we are part of - till Kingdom comes.

Question: Do you want more people to be saved?

Is it your desire to see more of your friends and family come to that place where they meet and follow Jesus?

Any and every Christian would say: “Yes”.

Why would we want our friends and family members to become Christians?

Is it because we want them to have better lives?

Is it because we want to have an improved relationship with them?

Why would you want anyone else to become a Christian?

Good life is better than bad life.

Good news is better than bad news.

To have is better than to not have.

But is that enough, and is having better in this life, what attracts people to Christ?

Let me make the problem bigger:

You may have heard someone say: “Joe is such a nice person, and he is not even a Christian”.

A very popular comment recently is: “Islam is a religion of peace. It is only the radical part that is bad.”

Upsetting statements for the same reason.

Mahatma Ghandi said: ““I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

Looking at all the good that is done over the world in the name of Jesus makes you wonder why more people do not turn to Him.

Listening to all the miracles that are reported every Sunday, makes us ask: “Why not more Christians?”

But then, some churches claim hundreds and thousands of conversions every Sunday - then we have to ask, where is the proof of the converted lives in society?

Why do we not see more good done by Christians, so that Ghandi can be silenced?

Gift of the Givers, a Muslim based organisation, has “delivered life saving aid in the form of Search and Rescue teams, medical personnel, medical equipment, medical supplies, medicines, vaccines, anti-malarial medication, high energy and protein supplements, food and water to millions of people in 43 countries, South Africa included”.

That is good.

Is it good enough?

Here is another question?

If you know God, and you are not a bad person, is that good enough?

My “good enough” is an open ended question for a specific reason.

Because, that question is the essence of existence.

What is “good enough” for you?

What is “good enough” for a good life?

What is “good enough” for God?

In 700BC Jerusalem, people probably asked that question, but in a slightly different way:

“Am I not ‘good enough’ for God?”

Is our way of life not “good enough” for you, Prophet Micah?”

Micah starts here in chapter 4 with his preparation of the answer to the question: “Am I not ‘good enough’ for God?” by explaining the foundation of the answer.

To help us understand, and because we can “time travel” to a later day than when Micah spoke the words of , let’s read “THE ANSWER”.

Micah 6:6–8 ESV

6 “With what shall I come before the Lord, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” 8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Three actions that will get the LORD to respond with: “Well done, (good enough), good and faithful servant, enter the rest of your LORD (Master)”,

In the history of man, only One person ever lived Who were faithful and true to these three actions.

Only Jesus was.

But what about us then?

Micah tells Jerusalem then, and us now, that We can expect three events that will happen to God’s people while they wait for the Kingdom to come.

Destruction (v10a)

Deliverance (v10b)

Victory (v11-13)

Destruction (10a)

Micah 4:10 ESV

If you have read any of the history of Israel, you will know that Micah specifically prophecies here about the Destruction of Jerusalem around 587BC by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar.

But, at the same time, in Micah’s world and words he also prophecies about events leading up to the ultimate salvation of God’s people.

As it was for Jerusalem, the church, made up of individual members who are collectively called Christians, must also face destruction.

Why destruction?

Because like Jerusalem, the church, made up of individual members who are collectively called Christians, did not listen to God’s word.

Now, here is the grace of the LORD.

Unlike Jerusalem, the Church is made up of individuals who did not listen to God’s word but relies on The Word of God for deliverance.

But, in Jerusalem, even the remnant faced the destruction.

Their homes and gardens were destroyed.

Their lives turned upside down.

So, how does this warning of “destruction” apply to you, if you are a Christian?

[Warning for us:]

Stray from God’s word, and God may even destroy in order to get you back on track.

God may - not God will.

Some of us can testify that the LORD brought us to destruction before we turned to Him.

And some can testify that the LORD uses trouble, even destruction to turn us back to Him.

Health - destructed

Bank account - destructed

Relationships - destructed

Unless you get to that place where what you worship more than the LORD is not destroyed, you will not be able to worship the LORD fully.

[Everything must be of no value compared to the worship of the LORD]

That is why, you will only be able to worship the LORD fully when everything in this life is destroyed - including your body.

English Standard Version Chapter 4

you shall go to Babylon.

Prophetic words of warning in the middle of verse 10.

Till Kingdom comes - you will experience your destructions.

Getting old;

Loosing loved ones;

Illness,

Poverty,

etc

Now, here is the grace of the LORD.

Unlike Jerusalem, The Church is made up of individuals who did not previously listen to God’s word but relies on “The Word” - Jesus for deliverance. (,)

More importantly, till Kingdom come, have you been delivered?

Because Micah declares deliverance in the second part of verse 10.

Destruction must and will happen, but God gives deliverance.

Deliverance (10b)

Micah 4:10 ESV

What wonderful words: “There you shall be rescued.”

In your Babylon - out of your trouble You shall be rescued.

God does not promise to give you back whatever you lost.

God makes a promise that the ruler will change.

Your life will belong to the LORD and not the ruler who took you away from the LORD and true worship.

Often - The false prophet is me.

Often the Corrupt thinking is my own selfishness and greed.

Often The hope is in my things and not in my LORD.

If the LORD is most valuable in my life, then I will even be glad if He destroys everything, as long as I can have more of Him.

But, He does not.

“There you shall be rescued”

you shall go to Babylon.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Peter and John visits the temple in Jerusalem - 40AD

It was rebuilt during the time of Nehemiah - remember?

There is a portico - a corridor on one side.

A cripple man asks for money.

Jesus, through Peter gives him his destructed legs back.

Many people, amazed at what just happened, gather and Peter tells them about not only rising from the floor but rising from the dead.

5,000 people receives the gift of everlasting life.

Acts chapters 3.

Then in Chapter 4 the caretaker and the Sadducees confront Peter and John.

The Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection of the body and like any false teacher, they got upset.

Peter and John lands in the Temple jail until the next day.

The judgement question is: “By what power or by what name did you do this?”

Referring to the miracle - not the mass conversion of people.

Peter explains in verse that all was done in the name of Jesus of Nazareth - in case they got confused with which Jesus Pater adds: “whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead...”.

How is that for a defence?

In we find the climactic summery of our deliverance:

Acts 4:11–12 ESV

11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Rejected = attempted destruction

Salvation = deliverance

Saved = delivered

You must know, that Only by the Name of Jesus will you be delivered.

Only Jesus is “good enough” to save you from destruction.

“there the Lord will redeem you from the hand of your enemies.”

The last words in verse 10.

“Redeem” is important.

What does “redeem” mean?

New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries: Updated Edition 1350 גָּאַל (gaal)

1350. גָּאַל gaal (145b); a prim. root; to redeem, act as kinsman:—avenger(13), bought back(1), buy back(1), claim(1), close relative(3), closest relative(3),

Jesus delivers you by;

Jesus delivers you,

Paying the price to buy you out of slavery,

Bringing you in as an honorary member of His family,

Claiming you as a close relative.

Without the LORD - that is Jesus - your destruction can not be turned into deliverance.

You will be a failure - for ever.

Nothing you do will be “good enough”.

Till Kingdom come.

But thank the LORD that what Jesus did was “good enough” till Kingdom come.

Once you are given your access badge to the new place of worship - saved - delivered,

You will never be deported.

But, till Kingdom come - there is more than just deliverance.

There is victory.

Victory (11-13)

Micah 4:11–13 ESV

11 Now many nations are assembled against you, saying, “Let her be defiled, and let our eyes gaze upon Zion.” 12 But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand his plan, that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor. 13 Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion, for I will make your horn iron, and I will make your hoofs bronze; you shall beat in pieces many peoples; and shall devote their gain to the Lord, their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth.

If you should study Micah you will probably agree that these verses talk about the period between the exile of the Northern kingdom and the final exile of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar.

It may even talk about eternity.

In eternity, no other nation - or false faith will have victory over God’s people again, may be what Micah is saying.

Both can be true.

I do however believe that there is an application in these verses for us today.

Look at:

Micah 4:11 ESV

11 Now many nations are assembled against you, saying, “Let her be defiled, and let our eyes gaze upon Zion.”

I experienced this kind of thing during the last week.

People may say: “Christians are hypocrites”.

“Muslims are peaceful”.

These words are spoken by: “Nations assembled against you”.

And the “you” in this context is not singular but plural.

The action against the church - you - is aggressive.

But, Any act of aggression aimed at one of us, is against all of us.

Ideas, philosophies and arguments all aimed against the Biblical truth.

The warning by Micah of the assembly of nations against Jerusalem also warns the New Testament people of God;

Christians There is an assembly (organised action) against all Christians because the assembly is against Christ.

The words spoken by the enemy: “Let her be defiled, and let our eyes gaze upon Zion.”

The desire of the enemy is to harm the people of God in such a way that the suffering is prolonged and visible.

It refers to a torture that causes a slow death.

But The enemy knows nothing about God.

So verse 12 warns the enemy and encourages us:

Micah 4:12 ESV

12 But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand his plan, that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor.

It may look as if God is unable or unwilling to help His own people in their trouble.

But they do not know what God is planning.

What is God planning?

What are His thoughts?

“he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor.”

Micah gives an image of total subversion:

Past tense, as if it already happened:

Sheaves of grain would be gathered on the threshing floor and trampled under foot until broken up.

The Hebrew word for sheaves is actually singular.

All the nations who think they can outsmart God is to God like a single sheaf ready to be threshed.

Jeremiah 51:33 ESV

33 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor at the time when it is trodden; yet a little while and the time of her harvest will come.”

Jeremiah 51:

Because God is fighting this battle, and we, His people are but instruments in His hands - guarantees the victory.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 4

gather them as … sheaves—them who “gathered” themselves for Zion’s destruction (Mic 4:11) the Lord “shall gather” for destruction by Zion (Mic 4:13), like sheaves gathered to be threshed (compare Is 21:10; Je 51:33). The Hebrew is singular, “sheaf.” However great the numbers of the foe, they are all but as one sheaf ready to be threshed [CALVIN]. Threshing was done by treading with the feet: hence the propriety of the image for treading under foot and breaking asunder the foe.

Micah 4:13 ESV

13 Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion, for I will make your horn iron, and I will make your hoofs bronze; you shall beat in pieces many peoples; and shall devote their gain to the Lord, their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth.

This verse is the final victory verse.

Its meaning may surprise you.

The last part helps us to understand how God’s victory works:

The image is of a strong ox trampling the wheat with strength given by God.

Many people shall be broken (in pieces).

What happens to then?

The strong ox - Gods victorious people - “shall devote their gain to the Lord, their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth.”

Let’s put into context of God’s New Testament plan.

How do we, Christians fight for our faith?

Christians fight for our faith by living a life that glorifies our God.

To be Christ-like.

People who hate that lifestyle, and harm you because of that lifestyle, with words or actions will one day pay the penalty.

But, some will turn to Jesus because of you and will be won over by the attraction of the character of Jesus.

So, for the people in Jerusalem, presenting their gain and wealth to the LORD means to give Him glory for victory over their enemies.

For us, today at SDG - Presenting our gain and wealth to the LORD means that everything we have and are is to be used to glorify Him;

Especially the gain and wealth in enemies who turned into family.

Victory over our enemies is not in more people in Hell,

but more people in heaven.

Conclusion

Many people and organisations do good with the hope that their “good deeds” will be “good enough”.

The LORD reminds those who are faithful that We have reason to continue the fight against self love or people pleasing.

The LORD helps us by delivering us from certain destruction.

But then He goes further and He gives us victory.

Be careful how you live.

Ephesians 5:15–17 ESV

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Ephesians 5:15 ESV

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

Verse 17 of sums up the general warning and wisdom of the Prophet Micah.

I don’t want to wait till Kingdom come, but;

We will all do well to listen to the words of Micah till Kingdom come.

Amen.

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