Micah 4:1-7

Micah 4:1

But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.

 

Many look at this passage and believe it is speaking of a physical thousand year reign of Christ but the Bible does not teach such a myth.  Micah is now looking to the future when Christ would come and by his death, resurrection, and ascension the last days would be ushered in.  The last days commenced at the time of the cross and will be completed when the Lord returns on the last day.  Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;  (Hebrews 1:2)  If you notice Hebrews 1:2 speaks about the last days which already commenced at that time.  The book of Hebrews was written about 41-45 A.D. making it one of the earliest books of the New Testament.

 

The mountain of the LORD is referring to the kingdom of God which shall be established by the teaching of grace and those who become saved will become part of the kingdom of God.  Mountains in scripture sometimes refer to kingdoms and if you notice the mountains in this verse is exalted above the hills.  We have all seen hills and realize that mountains themselves are much taller and more majestic than hills.  This is teaching that the kingdom of God will supersede every earthly kingdom as was prophesied by Daniel.  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.  (Daniel 2:44)  The verse then states that people will flow into it which means that the gospel of grace will go throughout the world and many will become saved and as they do they will flow into the kingdom of God by means of salvation only.

 

Micah 4:2

And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

 

This verse speaks about the prophecy which came from God to Abraham.  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. (Genesis 12:3)  The Gospel will go forth throughout the entire world and there will be not one nation on earth where there is no gospel witness or those who have become saved.  Those who are the Elect of God will want to seek out the kingdom of God and to the house of the God of Jacob which is the true body of believers.  The one who will teach us his ways will be the Lord Jesus Christ himself through his teachings, the scriptures, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit given to each believer.  As a result of receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as personal Savior, each Christian will be able to walk in the paths that Jesus walked in obedience to God.  The law which will go forth from Zion will be the royal law and not the law of Moses since that would be abolished.  If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:  (James 2:8)  The word of the LORD will go forth from Jerusalem.  It first came forth on Pentecost in the physical city of Jerusalem which was the beginning of the evangelization of the world and since that day the word has gone forth from the New Jerusalem which is the body of Christ.  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  (Revelation 21:2) 

 

Micah 4:3

And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and 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.

 

The word “judge” in the Hebrew can also be taken to have meaning of rule.  The Lord Jesus Christ will have rule among many people and that judgment will be in then household of God.  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?  (1 Peter 4:17) Judgment began at the house of God when Christ went to the cross and became the vicarious sacrifice for the sins of his people and they were judged and found not guilty because they were in Christ.  He will also rebuke strong nations which are the Gentile nations.  Those who have persecuted his people and would not allow the preaching of the gospel in their countries.

 

The first part of this verse seems to be leading up to Judgment Day when the sins of the unbelievers in all the world will be brought to light.  And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:  (Matthew 25:32)  The second part of this verse seems to begin a section describing life in the New Heaven and New Earth.  The weapons of war, the swords and spears will be melted down and turned into farm implements.  No longer will there be any war between nations or people and war will not be learned anymore.  One of the biggest wars in history is the ongoing war between God and the unbeliever.  A person who is an unbeliever is at perpetual war with God until they become saved and once they are saved, there is peace between them and God.  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:  (Romans 5:1)  To not learn war anymore also means to stop sinning against the Lord because when a person is unsaved, they concoct many ways to sin against the LORD. 

 

Micah 4:4

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.

 

Then we see a scenario of peace.  A person who sits under their vine or tree is sitting in the shade and it is a figurative expression which shows a setting of national peace and domestic contentment.  In the East the grape vine is used for shade because of its big leaves.  Then the fig tree with its thick branches and broad leaves makes it great for sitting under them to get some shade from the scorching sun.  Nathanael was under the fig tree when Christ saw him.  Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.  (John 1:48)  There will be no fear anymore because all will be saved and the enemies of Christ and the Christian has been judged and sent to eternal damnation.  The LORD has decreed this eternal peace for his redeemed children.

 

Micah 4:5

For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.

 

This verse is speaking about the one true living God.  There will be no more false gods in the New Heaven and New Earth so this is speaking of Micah seeing others in the same kingdom just pointing out that that person or this person will walk in the name of their god and we will walk in the name of our God forever.  The first part of this verse may also be talking about those who followed false gods and that caused them to be judged and sent to eternal damnation and the contrast is that those who walk with the LORD will be the truly redeemed who will walk with the LORD forever in glory.

 

Micah 4:6

In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted;

 

In deporting both Israel and Judah, there were many who would become true believers and here God is promising those that were halt which would be called disabled today and those who were driven outside the border of Israel such as those whom the Lord warned about concerning the Roman destruction of Jerusalem where all the Christians obeyed and left and not one Christian perished in that siege.  Then those who were afflicted by the LORD, that is, those who endured disasters would be gathered.  I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.  (Isaiah 45:7 ) The word “evil” in Isaiah 45:7 means “calamity or adversity.”  The Lord makes this promise in the New Testament also. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.  (Luke 14:21)  This does not mean that because a person is disabled or afflicted they are guaranteed Heaven.  Only those who have been chosen in Christ will receive the gift of eternal life.  Those who are saved that endured the tribulations which come in this life will be gathered together in the New Heavens and the New Earth.

 

Micah 4:7

And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.

 

Those who were halted which means “lame.” The LORD is going to make them a remnant which means he is going to bring them into the kingdom of God.  Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.  (Romans 11:5)  There were many in Israel who would become true believers and before salvation their theology was lame meaning “to one side.”  It was the theology of the law which cannot save anyone and the way many had twisted the law to suit themselves, it was like the law was lame and could not do what it was intended to do.  The truth of the law was literally handicapped by their disobedience.  God would make Israel a strong nation, not a physical nation but a spiritual nation because we read in the second half of this verse that the LORD is going to reign over them forever.  Whenever we read about forever in a verse, it points to the eternal gospel of grace not a temporary strip of land.

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