Micah
4 reminds me of that moment of realization that something must
change. Actions have consequences, and sometimes they bring us to
that painful place of decision. That low-point could be called a
Babylon Moment. It can follow words like, “I want a divorce”, or
“I’m sorry, there is nothing more we can do”. For me, it was
sheer loneliness. I had built up walls of emotional protection, and
there I was, alone in a crowd. Today’s chapter describes an
entirely different gathering; unlike anything that has preceded it.
The chapter begins, “In the
last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple
will be established… it will be
exalted… and peoples will stream to it“.
I believe Micah is describing a time during the thousand year reign
of Messiah. Each of us individually, however, can have our own
re-gathering experience right now. The book of Revelation concludes
with a promise that Christ will return for His Church, but in the
meantime, “The Spirit and the
bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let
the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free
gift of the water of life”
(Revelation 22:17). Micah continues, “Many
nations will come… to the temple of the God of Jacob“.
When the people of faith gather, we are not left to figure out our
own path, “He will teach us His
ways, so that we may walk in His paths“.
Are you missing God’s instruction?
It
is interesting to note that Isaiah (a contemporary with Micah) used
almost the same wording in his writing. Three events are tied
together. First, “The law will
go out…
the Word of the Lord“. All
present will hear God’s Word. Second, Jesus Christ Himself will
dictate justice, “He will judge
between many peoples and will settle disputes“.
And third, there will be no war, “They
will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning
hooks. Nation
will not take up sword against nation“.
Please understand that this is only possible when mankind fully
submits to God. Man’s attempts to mutually disarm always leave a
cheater with all the power.
The chapter ends with an explanation of the
Lord’s plan. “I will gather
the lame; I will assemble the exiles… My remnant… The Lord will
rule over them“. God
originally was to be our Judge and King, but Israel wanted to be just
like all the other nations, with an earthly king. Humans are too
easily corrupted. To those who cry about injustice He asks, “Have
you no king?” He then creates
a step for those of us too stubborn to accept God’s authority now.
“You will go to Babylon; there
you will be rescued… There the
Lord will redeem you“. This
is not the easy path. He describes the process like shaking wheat
loose from the plant, being beat up “like
sheaves to the threshing floor“.
Clearly many will come to faith through the ordeal, but at what
cost? Even during the Babylon Moment there must be a decision to
take the hand that rescues. It is a miserable thing to learn your
“friends” will turn their back on you the minute you begin to
uphold God’s standards, “Let
her be defiled… They
do not understand His
plan“. A day will come when
Israel will be restored, but today is the day of the Gentiles. Are
you ready to stop resisting God’s plan? In the last days, God will
give the command to Israel, “Rise
and thresh… you will break to pieces many nations… for I will
give you horns of iron“. How
long will you wait in Babylon?