Series in Micah - “In That Coming Day” Pt.2

 

“In That Coming Day” Pt.2

Micah 4:5-8

Micah used the Jewish idiom in the first sentence of the text, “To walk in the name”. Its literal meaning is to walk in the authority or live in the reliance and protection of that name. In the NLT, the translation of this Hebrew idiom is “we will follow”. A people who walk in the name of Yahweh, walk in power and in reliance upon Him for their strength; and in the manifestation of His presence in all His attributes as they follow, (IE. as the Isrealites in the wilderness). What a thought for today! We coin a similar idiom from Paul’s writings, “to walk in the Spirit.” Sounds very similar.

Now Micah recalls the days of King David and Solomon, as he has heard God reference Jerusalem and the Jewish people in the oracle that it will be established and it will be recognized by the world as the City of God and the Israelites as the people of God. This is the divine picture and oracle of God in the Millennial Kingdom with King Jesus reigning in all authority and sovereignty on that appointed day. So let’s read the first portion of the text. “Though the nations around us follow their idols, we will follow the Lord our God forever and ever. “In that coming day,” says the Lord, “I will gather together those who are lame, those who have been exiles, and those whom I have filled with grief. Those who are weak will survive as a remnant; those who were exiles will become a strong nation.”

Micah understands from God that the regathering of the remnant of the Jewish people from the times of Jacob’s trouble or the great tribulation; that they are saved, protected, and delivered by God through this troublesome time and restored to their country and capital, Jerusalem. As did Isaiah and Jeremiah hear a similar oracle from God. “In that day the remnant left in Israel, the survivors in the house of Jacob, will no longer depend on allies who seek to destroy them. But they will faithfully trust the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.” “In all history there has never been such a time of terror. It will be a time of trouble for my people Israel. Yet in the end they will be saved!...For I am with you and will save you,” says the Lord. ‘I will completely destroy the nations where I have scattered you, but I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you, but with justice; I cannot let you go unpunished.’” (Isa. 10:20; Jer. 30:7,11)

In the Millennium, the people of Israel now trust in their God and rely on His strength and guidance. They are not trusting in the world and their alliances or in the idolic harlotry of their past to false gods. They have been saved through the tribulation by God’s miraculous deliverance and protection as foretold by the prophets, Jesus and the apostle Paul later.  “Immediately after the anguish of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will give no light, the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.” “I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ. And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say, “The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem, and he will turn Israel away from ungodliness. And this is my covenant with them, that I will take away their sins.’” “The Lord has promised to rescue the city of Zion and Jacob's descendants who turn from sin. The Lord says: “My people, I promise to give you my Spirit and my message. These will be my gifts to you and your families forever. I, the Lord, have spoken.(Matt; 24:29-31; Rom. 11:25-27; Isa 59:20-21) NLT

“In the coming day” signifies the appointed day of God, who Micah understands from the Torah that God is the God who keeps His promises and doesn’t change. “God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?” “This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.” (Numbers 23:19; Hab. 2:3 NLT)

The people of the remnant are weary, lame, and filled with grief from the ordeal of surviving through Jacob’s trouble and being exiled, yet their spirits are pick up at the seeing of their Messiah in glorious majesty, the return and restoration of their Capital, the beautiful City of Jerusalem, and the rebuilding of the temple of God, where the Messiah Jesus will reign in sovereignty over the whole world on Earth. They will have again become a strong nation under God. This is the Kingdom of God on the Earth.

Application - The appointed times of God are written for us to give us hope for our future. We walk by faith in our God and Lord Jesus as the prophet Habbaakuh also stated, “But the righteous will live by their faithfulness to God.” “For we live by faith, not by sight.” (Hab. 2:4b; 2 Cor. 5:7 NIV) And later quoted by the apostle Paul in the second letter to the Corinthians. 

Like Micah in the times of exile in Babylon, and the Jewish people in the times of Jacob’s trouble, we wait patiently for the promise of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. The apostle Peter spoke it with assurance another way, “But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” (2 Pet. 3:8-9 NLT) 

God the Father has appointed this day and hour in His infinite wisdom and the foreknowledge of the end of the age. “I want you to understand this mystery, dear brothers and sisters, so that you will not feel proud about yourselves. Some of the people of Israel have hard hearts, but this will last only until the full number of Gentiles comes to Christ. And so all Israel will be saved. As the Scriptures say, “The one who rescues will come from Jerusalem, and he will turn Israel away from ungodliness. And this is my covenant with them, that I will take away their sins.’” “The Lord has promised to rescue the city of Zion and Jacob's descendants who turn from sin. The Lord says: “My people, I promise to give you my Spirit and my message. These will be my gifts to you and your families forever. I, the Lord, have spoken.” (Rom. 11:25-27 NLT; Isa 59:20-21 CEV) And God the Father wants all mankind to have the opportunity to believe in His Son, Jesus (John 3:16-17) Our God is more patient and gracious than we are. He sees the end from the beginning, and we must trust in his wisdom, understanding, patience, and discernment. 

For we live in a world filled with idolatry, harlotry, and the transgression and iniquities of rebellious and unbelieving people, and the saints grow weary and impatient of the blatant sinfulness of our societies, cultures, and world, and many have fallen apathetic or asleep. “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Rom. 13:11-14)

 But God sees all mankind as His creation, and loves us as such. So let us awake and walk by faith and reliance, and follow His ways. We may feel that He has forgotten us or should I say we have forgotten Him, but our God’s eyes are ever upon His children, "The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer" "The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry; but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth." (1 Pet. 3:12; Ps. 34:15-16) and His justice and righteousness will prevail over all evil. 

Last, Lord tells Micah, I will now rule Jerusalem, Israel, and the whole world as their King, Lord, and God. So let’s read the last portion of the text. “Then I, the Lord, will rule from Jerusalem as their king forever.” As for you, Jerusalem, the citadel of God’s people, your royal might and power will come back to you again. The kingship will be restored to my precious Jerusalem.”

Micah has viewed only a microcosm of the endtimes from the oracle from God, but he knows that the Messiah will restore Jerusalem. Zechariah heralds later the oracle of a great battle; the end times battle of the destruction of Jerusalem and the Jezreel valley of Meggido and the great earthquake of the Messiah’s coming. “On that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem. And the Mount of Olives will split apart, making a wide valley running from east to west. Half the mountain will move toward the north and half toward the south. You will flee through this valley, for it will reach across to Azal. Yes, you will flee as you did from the earthquake in the days of King Uzziah of Judah. Then the Lord my God will come, and all his holy ones with him.” (Zech. 14:4-5 NLT) 

Micah is told that Jeusalem will be the citadel of God’s people, the Jewish people and the saints that come with Jesus, God’s people and His Church. “...they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him a thousand years.” (Rev.20:5b) The fulfillment of God’s promise to David and the Jewish people will come to be, Jesus, David’s line, will rule with might and power as the prophecies foretold. “You will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.’” “Darkness as black as night covers all the nations of the earth, but the glory of the Lord rises and appears over you. All nations will come to your light;  mighty kings will come to see your radiance.” “The watchmen shout and sing with joy, for before their very eyes they see the Lord returning to Jerusalem. Let the ruins of Jerusalem break into joyful song, for the Lord has comforted his people. He has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has demonstrated his holy power before the eyes of all the nations… All the ends of the earth will see the victory of our God.” “And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.  (Ps. 2:9; Isa. 60:2-3, 57:8-10; 9:1-7) (NLT)

Application - God hasn’t forgotten His unconditional covenant promises to Abraham, Jacob, or David. He claims Jerusalem as His city and Israel as His people. The nation of Israel today is small in comparison to its future majesty when the Lord Jesus comes and reigns during the Millennium. He will have rebuilt the temple according to Ezekiel’s prophecy, and the city of Jerusalem will be the capital of the world, the citadel of God’s people. And the Jewish remnant will be established as priest of God and of the Lord Jesus. And the Church saints will reign with the Lord Jesus in Jerusalem and probably in all areas of the restored world. It will be a time of peace and  security that the world has never seen. For Jesus will reign with complete sovereignty and authority from the Father. Satan will have been bound as well for a thousand years as well for the demise of his demonic minions and the false prophet and antichrist. 

Again the apple of God’s eye will be Jerusalem and all of His people will praise him there, as they bask in the manifest glory of God, and of His Son, Jesus Christ. Amen and Amen!

So we have so much to be thankful for in our Lord, God, and King. Let us remember His bountiful grace and mercy, His love and provision. And His steadfast Word and promises that will never fail.

I hear the name remnant quite often in Christian circles, that tells me we feel that there aren't many who are still walking in faith and obedience. But there is an awakening and revival of many peoples taking place all over the world, many in countries where persecution for their faith is very real, and the faith of these saints is steadfast in our Lord Jesus Christ. So let us walk in His name and be encouraged, and strengthened that God’s appointed time may be near.

I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation for all those who have not yet received Jesus Christ for salvation. For Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second,

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

I have revised my webpage on Spiritual warfare. Please give it a look. Thank you. http://uss-warfare3.webnode.com