Micah is writing about 700 BC. It’s a time when immorality is rampant. The economy is uncertain. The leadership is corrupt. War is immanent. In many ways - times like our times. And Micah asks, “Where is God in all this? What is God doing? What kind of God do we believe in?” What we’ve been seeing is that God - in the midst of all that is happening around His people - God is concerned first with the heart of His people. God - rather than wiping out His people because of their sin - is actually using all of the threatening circumstances to turn the heart of His people back towards Him.

We’ve seen that God has been judging the hearts of His people - pointing to their spiritually idolatry - their worship of other gods and themselves rather than the one true God. Judging their motivations which are self focused. In judgment God has shown how their treatment of others is leading the nation away from Him. Through judgment after judgment God calling to His people to change their hearts towards Him.

Which brings us to Micah 4:1 - Micah writes, Verse 1: And it will come about in the last days that the mountain of the house of the Lord will be established...

That first word “and” is crucial. In the last 3 weeks we’ve listened as God - through Micah - has pronounced one judgment after another against His people. That’s been hard to listen to. When we left chapter 3 - because of God’s judgment Jerusalem was to become a heap of ruins. The stones that Jerusalem had been built would be thrown into the valley below. The Temple area would be plowed as a field and then the top of the Temple mount would become a forest. Enemies are invading and God’s people are being dragged off into exile. Then chapter 4 - “and” - there’s a connection - there’s more to this story.

And it will come about in the last days that the mountain of the house of the Lord will be established…

Micah looks down the ages of history - past the coming invasions of Assyria and Babylon - past the Greeks, and Armenians, and Romans - to the “the last days” which began with the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Days which continue even now. This prophecy of Micah which is yet to be fulfilled. After all this judgment and coming destruction - 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.

There’s hope here - a great contrast with what has come before. Jerusalem and God’s people will be established. Verses 1 to 4 describe what’s coming.

First, going on in verse 1: Jerusalem will be raised above the hills, and the peoples will stream to it. In the last days Jerusalem will be exalted above all the other cities of the world. This hasn’t happened - even in the days of David and Solomon. The people of the nations will "stream" to Jerusalem. “Stream” in the original Hebrew has the idea of desire. The nations will desire to come to Jerusalem.

Verse 2: Many nations will come and say, “Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord and to the house of the God of Jacob, that He may teach us about His ways and that we may walk in His paths.” For from Zion will go forth the law, even the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

Second, Jerusalem will become a city of unmatched influence. People will not come there as tourists or pilgrims or terrorists - they will come to hear the word of God. All the nations will desire to be taught by God - to hear God’s word and to live in obedience to Him. The center of this teaching and influence will be Jerusalem.

Then third - in verse 3 - we see that Jerusalem will become the center for world peace. That’s hard to imagine these days. But, look at verse 3: And He - the Lord Jesus - He will judge between many peoples and render decisions for mighty, distant nations. Then they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks; nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they train for war.

As the nations follow God’s law the result is peace. Jesus will remove the reasons for war - the hatreds and genocides and conflicts will be gone. The weapons of war will be turned into instruments of peace and prosperity - instruments to cultivate life.

Verse 4: Each of them will sit under his vine and under his fig tree, with no one to make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.

In contrast to judgment - invasion and exile - we're given this beautiful picture of God’s coming restoration and peace. Before we move on we need to let the importance of this contrast sink into our hearts.

The prophet Isaiah and Micah lived at the same time. Verse 3 - here in Micah is almost identical with Isaiah 2:4. We should be impressed with the importance of God giving this vision to two of His prophets - at the same time - speaking to His people.

On the United Nations headquarters' building in New York is this quote from Isaiah - Isaiah 2:4: “And they will hammer their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, and never again will they learn war.” Certainly these are words of hope and one great aspiration of mankind.

Thinking about the United Nations and the world today - and all that has gone on in our history - the United Nations has not been as successful as we’d hoped. Its activity only serves to highlight our frustration. Contemplate human history and we see our inability to rise above our nature. Governments and peoples have vainly tried to overcome the core issue of “man’s inhumanity to man.” The result has been and will continue to be failure.

Within the larger picture of “humanity” are the issues we face closer to home - the day-to-day issues of life. Anxieties that settle into our hearts and burden us with fear. The struggles we face in our own relationships. How will we live and care for our families? Are we adequate for all that is expected of us? Can we keep up with our daily schedule? Growing older, we fear loosing control - loosing our minds - loosing control over our bodies - over our lives. Ultimately, perhaps the greatest fear is death.

Did you notice what was missing in the quote? “And He will judge between the nations, and will render decisions for many peoples.” That statement occurs in both Isaiah and Micah. But, somehow never made it to the wall of the United Nations. Put simply - the reason mankind lives in fear and inability to deal with our inhumanity is because we have turned away from accountability to God. We so much desire the blessing - the peace - the presence of God. But, we forget that first comes openness to God’s judgment of our hearts.

That “and” in verse 1 - that contrast - is so crucial. To know real peace - to know the blessings of God’s presence - we must first be willing to be evaluated by the Judge who will speak honestly to the condition of our hearts. He will judge between many peoples and render decisions for mighty, distant nations. Then - the blessing of His peace which comes from His presence in our lives.

Verse 5: Though all the peoples walk each in the name of his god, as for us, we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.

This a challenge for us. Verse 5 is like a public service announcement - a commercial interruption of the prophecy. Verse 5 is present tense. To what - or to whom - are we looking to for the answers to the deeper issues we struggle with? Today - as in Micah’s day - there are a plethora of gods and philosophies and religions that we could turn to. Verse 5 is a challenge for us to see what God is doing and to choose to give our lives - to trust and live in the name of our Lord and God forever.

Going on - verse 6: “In that day,” In what day? In that coming future day. We’re back to looking into the future. “In that day,” declares the Lord, “I will assemble the lame and gather the outcasts, even those whom I have afflicted - those I’ve allowed to go through judgment - I will make the lame a remnant and the outcasts a strong nation, and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion from now on and forever. As for you, tower of the flock, Hill of the daughter of Zion, to you it will come - even the former dominion will come, the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.

What wonderful picture of our Lord and His people. The Shepherd gathering His sheep. The injured - the sick - the exiled brought safely home. “Tower of the flock” speaks of stability and strength - a place where the shepherd would sit and watch over the sheep. God with His people. An intimate relationship that goes on forever and ever. (Revelation 21:1-7)

Let’s not miss the practical application of this truth. All this restoration hasn’t happened yet. But, it will. “The mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken it.” The Lord “declares” it. If Israel is in the land today - its there to prepare for the coming Tribulation. But, this blessing that Micah speaks of for God’s people is yet to come.

We need to get a hold of that. Whether we’re living in prosperity or famine - disaster - disease - persecution - good or bad - we can’t undo the final goal that God has for His people. And, we need to also include here - not just Israel - but also those who know and have trusted in Jesus as their Savior and Lord. We can’t undo the promises that God has for His people - for us. We know how all this ends. We need to trust God for that - even in the midst of the circumstances we find ourselves. (Romans 8:28-39)

Going on - verse 9 - knowing God’s victory and that God will get us there - God asks His people - verse 9: Now, why do you cry out loudly? Is there no king among you, or has your counselor perished, that agony has gripped you like a woman in childbirth?

Imagine a woman in labor who has no idea what’s happening to her - no idea what’s coming - no one to counsel her - no one to help her through the birth process. That’s fear. God says, “Why are you crying? Why are you afraid? Why do you act like I’ve left you alone - like a woman in labor who has no idea what’s happening.”

Verse 10 - therefore, Writhe and labor to give birth, daughter of Zion, like a woman in childbirth; for now you will go out of the city, dwell in the field and go to Babylon. There you will be rescued; there the Lord will redeem you from the hand of your enemies.

There’s purpose to the labor that Israel is going through. In Romans the Apostle Paul writes that the whole of creation - which includes us - groans and suffers the pains of childbirth - waiting eagerly for birth to occur. (Romans 8:18-25) Jesus said that the events leading to His return would be like “birth pangs.” “But,” Jesus said, “the one who endures to the end he will be saved.” (Matthew 24:4-14) The exile to Babylon is the process of through which the birth - the salvation of God’s people will take place.

Verse 11: And now many nations have been assembled against you who say, ‘Let her be polluted, and let our eyes gloat over Zion.’ - the situation looks hopeless - But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord, and they do not understand His purpose; for He has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor. Your enemies may look like a pack of wolves gathering around for the kill. They may think that victory is theirs. Israel may look defenseless - weak and wounded - ready to be devoured. But the ungodly have no idea how God works. But, you do. Arise and thresh, daughter of Zion, for your horn I will make iron and your hoofs I will make bronze, that you may pulverize many peoples, that you may devote to the Lord their unjust gain and their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.”

Take courage. Let judgment have its purpose in turning your heart to God. Then victory is yours. God is with His people!

By way application - as I’ve been praying and thinking through all this for our lives today - I’ve been focused on the image of Jesus - alone in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus agonizing over the will of God for His life - sweating blood and struggling - looking forward at the humiliation - looking to the next day being stripped naked before His enemies - the judgment - the suffering - the crown of thorns - the cross - death. The struggle of will that brought the words, “Your will be done.” (Matthew 26:42) And yet, Jesus seeing beyond the cross the resurrection - the purpose and victory of His suffering on our behalf.

All this challenges us. Can we say this? “Thy will be done?” Even in the midst of what we experience today - or what we may experience tomorrow. To turn towards God - allowing Him to speak to us about the condition of our hearts - and in trust - to give Him complete control over our lives.

In John 14:27 Jesus, speaking to His disciples, says this, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.” The peace Jesus gives is far different than the temporary peace we find in this world. Jesus’ peace comes from knowing His presence in our lives. His peace comes as we’re willing to allow Him to evaluate our lives and to make changes in our hearts. Peace that comes - in spite of our circumstances - as we place our lives and our fears into the hands of Jesus who has come, in love dying and living, for each one of us.

Do you know His peace? Do you have that reassuring hope which comes only from knowing His presence in your life? Have you turned your heart, your fears, your life, your concerns over to Him? He loves you so much. Trust Him.