Bible Commentaries
Micah 4

Introduction

Learning the Ways of God

Micah Four

The mountain of the Lord's house that was established in Jerusalem was the church of Christ. Isaiah and Micah were contemporary. God inspired both of them to write and identical message. Isaiah wrote, "The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." ( Isa_2:1-4 ) With the eyes of a prophet Micah sees God's word going forth from Jerusalem to bring men and women to salvation.

The Savior resolves conflict between individuals and nations. The Messiah and His message changes the hearts and actions of people. Micah wrote, “Nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." This is not a peace where people have been beat down with the sword but the peace where people have been lifted up with the gospel. In the church or kingdom of God people will be free from ignorance because "He will teach us His ways." In the kingdom or church there will be perfect peace because "Neither shall they learn war anymore." There will be freedom from want because "everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree." And all fear will be gone because "no one shall make them afraid." You will enjoy great blessing and peace if you live your life for the Lord.

In most cases the prophet first talks about the physical kingdom of Israel and the makes application to the spiritual kingdom or church. However, Micah talked about the church and then moved to discuss the restoration of physical Israel. God promised to take the lame and outcast and make a nation out of them. There would be glory for the nation, but it would only follow severe pain. A part of the pain that the nation would experience had to do with a lack of leadership. They had no king or counselor to direct the way. Many nations would oppose Israel but God would deal with the enemies of His people. The Lord promised that when he restored the Jews form Babylon that He would give them power.

Verses 1-3

The Lord house established in Jerusalem -- Mic_4:1-3 : The Lord promised that His kingdom would be established in the last days or latter days. "But in the latter days it shall come to pass that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains; and it shall be exalted above the hills, and peoples shall flow to it." ( Mic_4:1 ) Joe_2:28 and Act_2:17 both refer to that same time when the church or kingdom of Christ would be established. The last days refer to the last days of the Jewish dispensation spoken of in Dan_2:44 . "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever." People from many nations will flow into this kingdom. Concerning the birthday of the church Act_2:5 says, "And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven."

People from many nation gladly receive the word, are baptized and are added to the church. ( Act_2:41 , Act_2:47 ) Those that make up the kingdom are those that have accepted and obeyed the law of the Lord. This law is elsewhere called the gospel, the faith or the truth. Those that are saved will be those that are willing to obey God. "He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." ( Heb_5:9 ) Micah said that in the kingdom "they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." ( Mic_4:3 ) This is not a prediction that carnal warfare will cease after the kingdom of Christ is established. The Christian dispensation is strictly religious. Christians will not resort to the material sword for any benefit. The sword that they will use is the "sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." ( Eph_6:17 )

Verses 4-5

Walking in the name of God -- Mic_4:4-5 : Here God describes the spiritual safety and the security that a citizen of Christ's kingdom will enjoy. "But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it." ( Mic_4:4 ) Citizens in the kingdom of Christ find rest and they are able to live in peace. This is a certain promise because it is a solemn promise of the Lord All-powerful.

Christians make a genuine commitment to God. Other people may follow their gods, but Christians will always follow the Lord our God. Even though people from every race will be in the kingdom the majority of mankind will never follow God. Some will follow their gods and their wicked life styles but Christians will honor the Lord our God.

Verses 6-10

The Lord will redeem His people -- Mic_4:6-10 : Many times the prophets of God talked first about the physical kingdom of Israel and then moved to talk about the spiritual kingdom, the church. Here Micah reverses the order. He had first talked about the spiritual kingdom or church and now he moves to discuss the restoration of physical Israel from captivity. God gave several predictions through Micah concerning the return of Israel from bondage. "That day" is a well-known term in the Bible. Context usually has to be considered to determine what day is meant. Here it is easy to see that the day under consideration was the time of the return from captivity. God said of the remnant that would be brought back, “I will gather my people, the lame and the outcasts, and all into whose lives I have brought sorrow." The Almighty had used the heathen nations to inflict the chastisement on His disobedient people. God said, "The lame and the outcasts will belong to my people and become a strong nation."

Jerusalem was to be the tower for watching over God's physical kingdom. God had dominion over the same Jewish nation at Jerusalem before. Now He will rule over the nation again. While in captivity the Jews were in sorrow. They were crying like a woman in childbirth with no king or counselor to rely upon. God gave two certain promises to His people. First He promised that they would go into captivity. "Keep on groaning with pain, you people of Jerusalem! If you escape from your city to the countryside, you will still be taken as prisoners to Babylonia." Second, god promised that when the time was right He would bring the remnant out of captivity. "But later I will rescue you from your enemies."

Verses 11-13

The heathens did not understand God's plan -- Mic_4:11-13 : It is sad when people take pleasure in the misfortune of others. However, there were many nations that surrounded Israel that said, "We can hardly wait to see you disgraced." There are many today that would love to see the church of Christ disgraced in some way. But those nations were going to learn that the Lord would rescue His after the proper chastisement had been given.

The heathen nations misunderstood the Lord's dealings with His own people. They thought He had turned away from them. They now thought that they were and would enjoy God's favor. They were so mistaken about what God had in mind. He promised that He would gather them to grind them like grain. He would smash them to pieces. God called the Jews, "O Zion." This was a term of love and endearment that God used for His people. God promised complete devastation to those nations that He had used to chastise His people. He said to the Jews, "I will let you be like a bull with iron horns and bronze hoofs. Crush those nations and bring their wealth to me, the LORD of the earth." Let us learn that both individuals and nations are better off to follow God.