The Mountain of the House of the LORD (Isaiah 2:1-4)
“In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and the peoples will stream to it. And many nations will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways, so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. Then He will judge between many peoples and arbitrate for strong nations far and wide. Then they will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor will they train anymore for war. And each man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, with no one to frighten him. For the mouth of the LORD of Hosts has spoken. Though each of the peoples may walk in the name of his god, yet we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever.
The Restoration of Zion (Zechariah 8:1-23)
“On that day,” declares the LORD, “I will gather the lame; I will assemble the outcast, even those whom I have afflicted. And I will make the lame into a remnant, and the outcast into a strong nation. Then the LORD will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and forever. And you, O watchtower of the flock,
O stronghold of the Daughter of Zion—the former dominion will be restored to you; sovereignty will come to the Daughter of Jerusalem.” Why do you now cry aloud? Is there no king among you? Has your counselor perished so that anguish grips you like a woman in labor? Writhe in agony, O Daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor. For now you will leave the city and camp in the open fields. You will go to Babylon; there you will be rescued; there the LORD will redeem you from the hand of your enemies!
But now many nations have assembled against you, saying, “Let her be defiled, and let us feast our eyes on Zion.” But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD or understand His plan: that He has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor. Rise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion, for I will give you horns of iron and hooves of bronze to break to pieces many peoples. Then you will devote their gain to the LORD, their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.”
At first, this chapter seems confusing. God makes wonderful promises about a future time when the House of the Lord will be established and all nations will flock there. This future time will be a time of peace in which each man will sit quietly under his vine and his fig tree “with no one to frighten him.” At the same time, God is warning the Jews that they will be carried off to Babylon. But wait! God is also promising that those in captivity will be delivered and will be brought back. God is also promising that eventually, the Jews will conquer many people and will “devote their gain to the Lord, their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.”
The fundamental problem is the Jews themselves. Were the Jews to repent, there would be no need for them to be carried off into captivity in Babylon. But most of the Jews, including the judges and the rulers, are playing religious games. These highly educated people have deluded themselves into believing that they can court any pagan deity they choose and still enjoy protection from the God of Israel. Later, God will use the prophet Jeremiah to rebuke such foolish people for rejecting Him, the Source of living water, to carve empty leaking cisterns instead. God has warned the Israelites many times that if they forsake Him, they will lose their nation and become slaves in another country.
APPLICATION: Currently, some friends are touring Israel with what’s called a “Birth of a Nation” tour. The tour visits many of the sites most important in the founding of the State of Israel. Years ago, one friend from my parents’ generation told me that it was the return of the Jews to Israel and the founding of Israel as a nation that led to her conversion as she witnessed Biblical prophecy coming true. But there are many prophecies that have yet to be fulfilled. Although there are many Jews who believe in the God of Israel, there are also many others who have rejected God entirely. Israel continues to be bombarded by hundreds of missiles daily. The promised time of peace has yet to arrive.
We live in a world of miracles. As I am writing this, the wind is switching directions and in a few minutes it will begin raining. Our farmers have begun plowing and will soon plant, hoping for a variety of crops. Sadly, some of the people in our area believe only in local deities and are willing to make sacrifices. Several years ago, I cared for a handsome five-year-old boy who suffered terrible burns when his mother attempted to sacrifice him so that the farming season would be successful. “Horrible!” you say. But is such a practice any more horrible than the ancient Israelites sacrificing live children to Molech? Or proponents of “post-birth abortion” arguing that healthy live babies can be slaughtered? When we sink so low that we are willing to murder innocent infants, we destroy the willingness of society to protect even older children. Morals are caught as much as being taught, especially in this age in which many people get their values from social media. Weapon control will not prevent disasters in schools; only revival and the return of regard for the sanctity of human life will accomplish that.
The Book of Micah is a short book with a great deal to say and much to think about. As we continue to study Micah, let us ask God to show us what He wants us to learn.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to realize that Your Words are timeless and just as applicable for us today as for the ancient Israelites. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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