Tag: Micah

Posted on

Extraordinary promise fulfilled

Reading Time: 2 minutes

“In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house will be the highest of all— the most important place on earth. It will be raised above the other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship. People from many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God. There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.” For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion; his word will go out from Jerusalem.” ‭‭Micah‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“End times” certainly gets my attention! I’m a product of the sixties and came to Christ, late in the seventies. I completely remember our church teaching that Jesus return was IMMINENT! So soon, that my wife, Robin, felt that Jesus would come back before we were married. The very cultural push in the church was definitely the results of what was happening on the global stage. Fuel shortages, price hikes, and wars along with an explosion of films that predicted certain apocalyptic themes – it was obvious to the church, Christ second coming is near!

Here in Micah however, a spokesperson for God, wasn’t writing about the end of the world. Micah was writing about the coming of the Messiah and what the “end” of the old ways, old covenant would look like. The Old Covenant that covered the Jewish people would be fulfilled by the Messiah and usher in a new covenant, which would now fully embrace the Gentiles as well! Yes, these Old Testament prophecies can have dual fulfillments. One that takes place in their near future AND one that takes place at the end of time. Micah writes about the historical moment when ALL will come to Jerusalem and gather to hear the teachings of God’s ways.

This actually took place, when Jews gathered in Jerusalem at the time of Christ’s final week before His death. And the Sabbath Day during that time, the one in which Jesus meets his disciples for the “last supper,” was also the last Sabbath, the last “high” Sabbath. Truly all people from many nations arrived in Jerusalem for this special “Feast of Unleavened Bread” which was combined with the festivities of a regular Sabbath made it a multi-day, “High” Sabbath. Micah’s prophecy continues to talk about God’s intervention during this time, “The Lord will mediate between peoples and will settle disputes between strong nations far away.“ He was speaking of the Messiah’s ability to judge and make peace between Jews and Gentiles and clearly bringing salvation even to the heathen, the non-Jew.

This prophecy is ongoing even today! And it will continue to be so until Christ returns and brings a finality to all things. Micah is uniquely special during the season of Advent or Christmas because he had declared in Micah 5:2 EXACTLY where the Messiah would be born. “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

Prayer

Dad,
It is so amazing to see the historical accuracy of your plan, your will being done. However, it is multiple times more spectacular that you keep your promises! They are guaranteed and witnessed throughout history. And we are the beneficiaries or your grace! Thank you.

Posted on

Hope’s anticipation.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

“How miserable I am! I feel like the fruit picker after the harvest who can find nothing to eat. Not a cluster of grapes or a single early fig can be found to satisfy my hunger. The godly people have all disappeared; not one honest person is left on the earth. They are all murderers, setting traps even for their own brothers.” ‭‭Micah‬ ‭7‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Certainly anyone who has read through the books of the prophets (spokespersons) in the Old Testament get a huge dose of reality.

Just a thought; there seems to be a constant comparison in modern days with the idea that one is either an extrovert or an introvert. But, there is another comparison not talked about yet is very apparent in our conversations. Am I an optimist or a pessimist? Do I live in a world that is awful getting worse, or a world that is good getting better.

The ancient prophetic series of authors are both – but the darkness, wickedness and harsh outlook always goes first.

This section title in most Bibles is labeled to reflect that truth. This chapter is titled, “Misery Turned to Hope.” I personally like a true assessment of the situation before even thinking about how God will show up and make everything right. Micah lets us know exactly how he feels! His illustration, his comparison, is like a field worker after the field has been picked over! There are no leftovers, not even the godly expectation of something being left on the edges for the poor.

Micah even tells us about a specific fruit that Jesus himself mentioned in a story about the cursing of a certain fig tree. Micah reveals the key to the fig tree curse. He mentions the “first ripe” or “early fig.” There is a fig that will produce a small “pre-fig” bud that is eatable but not that tasty. In Micah’s illustration it means that there is absolutely nothing left on the field, not even these pre-fig buds that the poor were sadly satisfied to pick and eat so they didn’t starve! In Jesus’ story, the fig tree was cursed because it was a complete fake, never able to produce ANYTHING useful, not even these pre-buds.

Micah’s illustration tells us that, in his opinion, his outlook – there was nothing left that looked like the people belonging to God. They ALL disappeared! He lost sight of what God calls, “the remnant,” or the “root of Jesse.” Even though Micah can’t see them, there are just a few who were still there, who were godly. Those who acted with justice and mercy.

Isn’t it interesting that the bar of spirituality came down to the level of how the Israelites treated one another and their neighbors? When looking for any signs of hope, the small threads of a remnant, God looked at their behavior towards each other and not to their behaviors towards Himself. Some were still bringing sacrifices, but God told them to stop because they were meaningless when even their acts of holiness betrayed them by poor behavior towards others.

If you want to see the hope at the end of Micah’s brutal assessment, then read the few verses at the end of this chapter. “Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love.” Micah‬ ‭7‬:‭18‬ ‭The only hope is that God forgives and restores – which even today, God is willing and able to do. Hope is not in anticipation that WE get better, it’s in the reality that God keeps His promise and gives us many opportunities to turn towards Him. Our hope is in our ability to really trust that God is as good as He says He is.

Prayer

Dad,
As I look over the state of our country’s spiritual health and your Church’s ability to be fruitful, making disciples, I also feel like Micah. What’s left? Where’s the harvest? Is it still coming? Will there be willing workers to bring it in? Our American fields look desolate. Yet, there is still something stirring. There is a sense of desperation and need. Not to return to former outpourings and glory days of big church attendance and some kind of political power in numbers. No, there is a growing hunger just for your presence. A desire to know that you would move on us, our cities, our brokenness. How desperate are we? I’m not sure, but I feel it coming.