Micah 4:1-13
Q.1. How prominent will the house of God on Mount Zion be in the last days? Who will benefit from the teaching of the Lord? How will God rule over the nations? – (Mic.4:1-3 c.f. Is.2:1-4)
This is the kingdom reign of Messiah that Israel and the apostles were anticipating during the lifetime of Jesus. It was ‘interrupted’ by the church age (Acts 1:3-7; Eph.3:3-11). What we term as ‘the Millennial reign of Christ’ will involve features that have never yet been fulfilled – 1 And it will come about in the last days that 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. 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 (Mic.4:1-2). All nations will benefit from the direct teaching of Christ. The saints will join Him in His reign (Rev.20:4 & 6). This has never yet happened.
Q.2. From where will the Lord reign? Who will bring the change? How will God provide for a remnant of Israel? How will the nation respond to the Lord? – (Mic.4:4-8)
Christ will reign and judge between many people and distant nations, from the prominent Mount Zion (Is.4:3). This will probably form as the result of the massive destruction and re-landscaping during the Great Tribulation (Is.4:3 c.f. Zech.14:4; Rev.16:17-21). Micah was given a vision like that of Isaiah’s. It was of a world without war, that will be sustained by agricultural pursuits (Mic.4:3-4; Is.2:1-4). The nation of Israel will have a change of heart – 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 (Mic.4:5 c.f. Zech.12:10-13:1; Rom.11:25-27). The Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion. This has never yet occurred (Mic.4:6-7). This is a solemn promise by God almighty. (Mic.4:4b).
Q.3. What was the immediate plight of Israel? How would she be treated by the nations? How would God deal with these arrogant oppressors? – (Mic.4:9-13)
In the immediate, Judah was to be taken captivity to Babylon for seventy years, and downtrodden by godless nations until God had fulfilled His purging purpose. Little did the gloating enemies of Israel realize – “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 (Mic.4:12). In time, the tables would be turned, and these arrogant oppressors would be brought down.