Now but Later: A Surprising Savior

Introduction

H: Suffering is an inescapable reality. The question is how are we to deal with it and to understand it. Humans have tried to deal with suffering in a variety of ways. To name some:

The Stoic: Suffering is real and we must deal with it in a reserved even-keeled manner.

The Hedonist: Suffering must be escaped through pleasure.

The Nihilist: Suffering is meaningless and just a part of life.

The Relativist: Suffering is a matter perspective.

The Idealist: Suffering must be escaped by producing an ideal society.

The Prosperity Preacher/Believer: Suffering can be eliminated in this life by binding God with things we say and do.

T: If we search these views hard enough we might find there are elements of truth within them, but half-truths don’t lead us to the truth

FCF: Under difficult circumstances and in dark times, what do you need to know about God?

T: In three movements Micah helps us answer this question.

Movement 1: 4:9-10

Each one of movements in our text this morning begins with the word “now” (, , ). Now doesn’t mean right now. Each time it refers to a future event he proclaims.

Movement 1 begins with three questions: 9

Why are they crying?

Don’t they have a king?

Has their king died that they are in anguish as a woman in labor?

Scholars disagree as to whether these questions are referring to the Davidic king or Yahweh as King. If it a human king in view, then there is sarcasm involved. “Why are you crying babies, won’t your strong king save you?” The human king interpretation better fits with verse 10. The answer to these questions is sobering, their human king is unable to deliver them from what is coming: 9

Therefore, in verse 10, Micah commands the people to writhe and groan as a woman does in labor. Why? Because they are going to be exiled from their home into the fields of Babylon. They are to grown because they are going to be homeless: 10a

But this homelessness is not their final destination, for in the midst of exile God will redeem them: 10b • MP1: God’s deliverance is unexpected

I: Joseph, Exodus, and David to name a few other examples.

A: Trust God and not circumstances

Know that regardless of how difficult life gets, God is working all things together for the good of those who love Him.

Rejoice when deliverance comes in unexpected places and at unexpected times

T: As you have seen in this movement God’s deliverance is unexpected. What else do you need to know about God? The next movement provides us with another answer.

Movement 2: 4:11-13

As in movement 1, movement 2 begins with the word “now.” • After being told this is now, we are told that many nations gather to see Zion defiled: 11

Some suggest that this is talking about the siege by Assyria or the future defeat from Babylon. 2. Others suggest that it is referring to the end times where the nations gather against the New Israel—the church—and their God. Though the siege of Assyria and the defeat from Babylon may foreshadow and point to the events in verse 11, I believe this to be referring to end times. The events of verse 11-13 look very similar to ; ; , ; ; , ; . Therefore, there will come a time when the nations and groups of people who will gather against the people of God and their God. They believe they are victorious and they will witness the undoing of God’s people. •However, they have been deceived. They don’t gather to witness Israel’s judgment. Instead, they gather to be judged by the LORD. God will gather all the wicked peoples who have not trusted in His Son to face the full wrath of God: 12 • Zion will no longer be hopeless and powerless, but they will be invincible and powerful. The people of God will triumph over the nations in an embarrassing fashions. The nations will be made powerless and poor by the end of this war: 13 1. Notice it is God who gathers the nations and it is God who equips His people for victory. • MP2: God’s victory is shocking • I: Paul • A: Fear God and not evil 1. God’s judgment and salvation are forever, and evil’s wickedness is temporary. Not even death has the last word when God is involved. Therefore, we should not live in fear of evil. We should seek to do good and proclaim the message of our God to all, even those we find frightening. 2. The fear of man drives us to ♣ Isolate ourselves from people who are different than us ♣ Isolate ourselves from ideas that are different than ours ♣ To compromise on convictions for safety and security 3. The fear of God drives us to ♣ To preach boldly ♣ To live justly ♣ To never compromise • T: In movement 1 you saw that God’s deliverance is unexpected. In movement 2 you saw that God’s victory is shocking. Movement 3 will provide us with another answer to our question.

Some suggest that this is talking about the siege by Assyria or the future defeat from Babylon.

Others suggest that it is referring to the end times where the nations gather against the New Israel—the church—and their God. Though the siege of Assyria and the defeat from Babylon may foreshadow and point to the events in verse 11, I believe this to be referring to end times. The events of verse 11-13 look very similar to ; ; , ; ; , ; . Therefore, there will come a time when the nations and groups of people who will gather against the people of God and their God. They believe they are victorious and they will witness the undoing of God’s people.

However, they have been deceived. They don’t gather to witness Israel’s judgment. Instead, they gather to be judged by the LORD. God will gather all the wicked peoples who have not trusted in His Son to face the full wrath of God: 12

Zion will no longer be hopeless and powerless, but they will be invincible and powerful. The people of God will triumph over the nations in an embarrassing fashions. The nations will be made powerless and poor by the end of this war: 13

Notice it is God who gathers the nations and it is God who equips His people for victory.

MP2: God’s victory is shocking

I: Paul •

A: Fear God and not evil

God’s judgment and salvation are forever, and evil’s wickedness is temporary.

Not even death has the last word when God is involved.

Therefore, we should not live in fear of evil. We should seek to do good and proclaim the message of our God to all, even those we find frightening.

The fear of man drives us to

Isolate ourselves from people who are different than us

Isolate ourselves from ideas that are different than ours

To compromise on convictions for safety and security

The fear of God drives us to

To preach boldly

To live justly

To never compromise

T: In movement 1 you saw that God’s deliverance is unexpected. In movement 2 you saw that God’s victory is shocking. Movement 3 will provide us with another answer to our question.

Movement 3: 5:1-5a

Verse 1 of chapter five begins with a word that should be familiar, “now.” The NIV omits this word for reasons I don’t know. However, it is definitely there in the Hebrew. Removing it makes picking up Micah’s overall structure unnecessarily difficult. That said, what point in time is Micah referring to when he says “now”? The text gives us a clues. It is a time when they are under siege and a time when their king is at the complete disposal of the enemy. To strike someone on the cheek is to utterly humiliate someone and communicates they are defenseless (; ; ). Historically, this fits best with Babylonian conquest, for Assyria never had the king of Judah in such a bind. Judah and her king will be given into the hands of the enemy and the Davidic line broken, or so we think.

Again suffering and judgment don’t have the final word for God’s people. Though the capitol is decimated and the king killed, a small insignificant town will be the birthplace of a new king. Bethlehem is the city of David. Therefore, it is implied that this ruler will be from the line of David: 2a • Until the new king is born, Israel will be given up: 3a

Micah supplies us with truths about this king:

He will be from the line of David: 2b

There is disagreement as to what is meant by the phrases “from of old” and “from ancient of days.”

Some think they are referring to the eternality and deity of the ruler: ;

Others think they are referring to the Davidic nature of the ruler: (Conquest); (Abraham); (Golden age of David and Solomon);

In context, it is best to take it as referring to the Davidic nature of the king not the divinity of the king. There are plenty of other places we find that truth such as and . But we want right doctrine from the right text not right doctrine from the wrong text.

He will be born to a woman: 3a

He will gather His people: 3b

He will stand and shepherd His people in God’s strength and name: 4a

He will make their dwelling secure: 4b

He will be their peace: 5a

MP3: God’s savior is astonishing

A: Behold Jesus and not glamour

Conclusion

H: Suffering always has a purpose, and it never has the final say for the people of God

FCF: Under difficult circumstances and in dark times, what do you need to know about God?

BI: Since God’s deliverance is unexpected, His victory is shocking, and His savior is astonishing, then you should know your God is a surprising savior.

God’s most unexpected deliverance and shocking victory comes through Jesus Christ. Who could manufacture such an astonishing savior? The eternal Son of God who became a son of man that sons’ of men might become sons of God. Jesus, he accomplished this by living in perfect conformity to law and dying as a substitute for all who would trust in Him. God was satisfied with His sacrifice and rose Him from the grave and ascended Him to the right hand of the Father, where He now sits. He will one day return to give victory to His people and judge the wicked. Yes, Jesus is the astonishing savior of our text.

His deliverance is unexpected in that He saves the least of these and in He is not the king the Jews expected.

His victory is shocking in that the Jewish leaders thought they silenced a renegade rabbi; the Romans thought they dealt with political difficulty, and Satan thought he foiled God’s plan, but their perceived victory was their demise and God’s victory. Indeed, it is our victory when we trust in Jesus. That alone separates a Christian from the wicked.

He is astonishing. In both His person and work. If you trust Him with your eternity, then you should trust Him with everything. If you don’t trust Him, then trust Him while there is still time.

Your God is a shocking savior, trust Him no matter what you have faced, are facing, or will face.