27 Nov. Micah 4:1-5,5:1-5

27 Nov. Micah looks ahead to a time of peace

“In the last days the mountain on which the LORD’S Temple stands will become the most important of all mountains. It will be raised above the hills, and people from other nations will come streaming to it.”

“Many nations will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD. To the Temple of the God of Jacob, so that he can teach us his ways and we can obey his teachings.’ His teachings will go out from Jerusalem, the word of the LORD from that city.”

“The LORD will judge many nations; he will make decisions about strong nations that are far away. They will hammer their swords into plough blades and their spears into hooks for trimming trees.”

“Nations will no longer raise swords against other nations; they will not train for war any more. Everyone will sit under his own vine and fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, because the LORD All-powerful has said it. All other nations may follow their own gods, but we will follow the LORD our God for ever and ever…”

“People of Jerusalem, strain and be in pain. Be like a woman trying to give birth, because now you must leave the city and live in the field. You will go to Babylon, but you will be saved from that place. The LORD will go there and buy you back from your enemies…”

“So, strong city, gather your soldiers together, because we are surrounded and attacked. They will hit the leader of Israel in the face with a club.”

“’But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are too small to be among the army groups from Judah, from you will come one who will rule Israel for me. He comes from very old times, from days long ago.’”

“The LORD will give up his people until the one who is having a baby gives birth; then the rest of his relatives will return to the people of Israel. At that time the ruler of Israel will stand and take care of his people with the LORD’s strength and with the power of the name of the LORD his God.”

“The Israelites will live in safety, because his greatness will reach all over the earth. He will bring peace.”

(Micah 4:1-5,10, 5:1-5)

In Chapter 4, Micah looked forward to a time when many nations would look for spiritual guidance from the teachings coming from Jerusalem. But before that, he predicted the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians and looked further ahead to a time of peace when the exiles returned from Babylon.

After the return from exile, Micah prophesied that the LORD would establish a new ruler born at the birthplace of King David: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are too small to be among the army groups from Judah, from you will come one who will rule Israel for me.” (Micah 5:2)

In the New Testament, Matthew says this prophesy was fulfilled over 700 years later when Jesus was born in Bethlehem in the days of Herod the Great (see Matthew 2:1-6).

In Chapter 6, The LORD makes his case against the corruption in Israel: “Can I forgive people who cheat others with wrong weights and scales? The rich people of the city do cruel things. Its people tell lies; they do not tell the truth.” (Micah 6:11-12) Micah reminds the Israelites that what the LORD requires is “to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

In the final chapter, Micah condemned the moral corruption found in Israel. But he also prophesied that the LORD would bring light into the darkness and the nation would rise again (see Micah 7:1-10). He predicted the return of the exiles to Jerusalem, and prayed that the LORD would have compassion on the remnant of his people and lead them like a shepherd (see Micah 7:11-20).

The photo (by Maysa Al Shaer) shows a view across Bethlehem.