Micah is writing about 700 BC. It’s a time when immorality is rampant. The direction of the economy is uncertain. The leadership is corrupt. War is immanent. In many ways - times like our times. In the midst of these uncertainties Micah asks, “Where is God in all this? What is God doing? What kind of God do we believe in?”

I recently came across the book, “How To Make Yourself Miserable - a vital training manual” (1) The book contains useful information like seven basic pessimistic philosophies and seventeen masochistic activities for the beginner. There’s a section that includes hints about worrying about everything from noises in the night to flying.

This is really helpful stuff. Try this - while you’re sitting there - think about your home. Picture the faucet you probably forgot to turn off and the water as it cascades over the sides of the sink or tub, seeping out into the rest of the house, drowning your carpets, then your furniture, then your clothes, and finally bursting out of your windows and onto the street. Isn’t this fun?

One more. Picture the lights or the stove you probably forgot to turn off, the overheating of the electrical circuits or the build-up of gas, and the inevitable flaming holocaust and explosion.

Now that we’re all stressed out about our homes and not thinking about Micah. Anybody want to go home and check the lights?

In the first three chapters of Micah we’ve been looking at God judging the hearts of His people - their worship of other gods and themselves rather than the one true God - judging their motivations - judging the ungodly way they were treating others. Three chapters of hard to hear - soul wearying - dire - depressing - judgments.

Thinking about these judgments - stressing about coming disaster - everything going on around us - would make us miserable - if we weren’t reminded of one fact. Which is what? Behind the judgment is our loving God. God is concerned first with the heart of His people - the relationship of God and His people. God - rather than completely wiping out His people because of their sin - is actually using all of the threatening - challenging - circumstances to call for His people to turn back towards Him. Through judgment after judgment God calling to His people to change their hearts towards Him.

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

Before we go on we need to see that that first word “and” is crucial. Last Sunday - as we finished 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. 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 than all this judgment - this death and destruction.

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

Standing in the ruins of his nation - Micah looks down the ages of history - past the coming invasions of Assyria and Babylon - past the Greeks, and Romans - to the “the last days” which began with the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Days which continue even now.

This part of Micah’s prophecy 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 - meaning Jerusalem - 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 are a description of coming restoration and peace. There are four descriptions here of 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 flow to Jerusalem. “Flow” 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 - with Israel building walls and settlements and Palestinians blowing up people - with what’s going in Iraq and all over. 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 is a great promise to each of God’s children: 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 implications of this contrast sink into our hearts. The prophets Isaiah and Micah lived at the same time. Verse 3 - here in Micah is almost identical with Isaiah 2:4. That should make an impression on us. God giving this vision to two of His prophets at the same time. God making a point here He doesn’t want His people to miss.

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 restoration and peace - hope and one great aspiration of mankind.

Thinking about the United Nations and the world today - and all that’s gone on in our history - how successful has the United Nations been? The UN only serves to highlight the frustrating reality of human history. Governments and peoples that 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 - the things we make ourselves miserable with. 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 on the UN Building? “And He will judge between the nations, and will render decisions for many peoples.” That statement occurs in both Isaiah 2:4 and Micah 4:3. But, somehow that part of the verse 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.

Going on to verse 5. Verses 5 to 8 are like a public service announcement - a commercial interruption of the prophecy - a reminder to trust God. 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.

Verse 5 is present tense. In the midst of what’s going on - a present tense question: To what - or to whom - are we looking to for the answers to what we’re struggling 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. Are you awake? Do you see what God is doing? Have you chosen to give your life to Him? 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 the future - 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)

Don’t miss the personal application of that truth. All this restoration and peace hasn’t happened yet. But, it will. Verse 4: “The mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken it.” Verse 6 - the Lord “declares” it. God speaks. It will happen. Try that with me, “God speaks. It will happen.”

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 be removed from the final goal that God has for His people. That promise is here in Micah for Israel. In Scripture we see the promise applied to all 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’re reminded - 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)

In verses 9 to 13 God reminds His people of His purposes. In verse 9 God asks His people, 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 misery. 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. Let’s remember the purpose for all this.”

Verse 10: 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.

Labor is painful. Never done it. But I’ve seen it up close 4 times. Labor is painful. Israel is in labor. Like birthing a child - 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.

Verse 13: 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 will raise you up and establish you and obliterate your enemies before you. God is with His people!

By way of application - thinking about how chapter 4 applies to our lives. What we’ve been looking at is a chapter long appeal of God for His people to trust Him in the midst of the worst of what brought fear and misery to their hearts.

As I’ve been thinking about this I’ve become 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.

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1.  Dan Greenburg with Marcia Jacobs, How To Make Yourself Miserable - a vital training manual, Random House, New York, 1966.