November 29: Micah 4
1 Chronicles 26–27; 2 Peter 1; Micah 4; Luke 13
The complete fulfillment of Micah’s vision here must certainly come at the end of time (“the latter days” - Rev. 21:1-4), when Jerusalem comes down out of heaven and is “highest” above all the mountains (1). Only then will wars cease (3).
The Vision’s Emphasis
But this vision’s emphasis is not so much when but how we get there. Just HOW will swords be turned into plowshares? When we come to famous passages, we must discipline ourselves to first ask what syllAble is this passage emphAsizing?, before we head off in other directions.
The fulfillment will come by God’s people walking in His Word, in the name of the Lord (5), and through them, the Word of the Lord going out into the world (2). Only then will the nations come to Jerusalem, seeking its peace (4), being judged by the God of this Word (3).
Here is the emphasis - the only way this world comes to know true peace is by being ruled over by the Word of God, under the reign of the King of this Word (4). But how will they know those words, unless they are taught them?
Now our minds go to a different New Testament passage: not Revelation, but the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20). Now we understand better why Paul could describe his own generation, 2,000 years ago, as that upon which “the end of the ages has come” (1 Cor. 10:11). Yes, Micah’s vision will be fulfilled in the “latter days”, but we are part of that age. We play a part in bringing it about - by our proclaiming the gospel.
Pursuing Now What Will Be Then
Now, we need to think with open minds about the trip between now and then. On the one hand, there will be great opposition (11). This much we assume. But we must also remember again: the only way peace will come will be under the rule and reign of Christ and His Word. Why then do we seek it today, under neutral, third ways that are inherently secular? The resurrection authorized His Word, as the fountainhead of the life that the nations seek. Why then do we seek life under other governing documents that do NOT acknowledge His resurrection? Can blood come from turnips?
The heady days after World War II tempted us to think that we could establish a new, liberal world order, where the Judeo-Christian worldview would reign supreme, just by its inherent goodness. But we are seeing that consensus dissolve today before our eyes. Unless the risen Christ reigns over a people and a nation, the alternative is, we see everywhere, chaos.
If we love the nations, especially our own, then our goal must be that they be ruled by the Word of God, authorized by Christ’s resurrection from the dead. For He is a gentle and humble King, who gathers the lame and seeks those who have been driven away and afflicted (6). Whether it be the weakest or the strongest nations (7), when He reigns over them, with His people reigning with him (8), there is true peace (4).
The Hard Way or the Harder Way
Now, the nations can come under His reign the hard way or the harder way. They can either come to Jerusalem, and sue for peace, or be trampled (12-13). Those are the choices. In this season, the end of the ages, if they come to King Jesus, they will find him to be gentle and humble of heart (Matt. 11:29), being himself born in a manger (see tomorrow). But if not, they will find their wealth beaten out of them and scattered to the nations (13).
This means that when we obey the Great Commission, we are not like vacuum salesmen, knocking at the door hat in hand, trying to sell something. We are emissaries of the King, coming in advance of that awful day, with terms of peace:
Psalm 2:10–12 (ESV): Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.