Maranatha Baptist Church
The Lord Reigns in Zion
  • Come Behold The Wondrous Mystery

      • Psalms 138:1-3ESV

      • Psalms 138:4-6ESV

      • Psalms 138:7-8ESV

  • What Child Is This
  • Christmas Sanctus (Holy Holy Holy)

      • Isaiah 40:1-3ESV

      • Isaiah 40:4-5ESV

      • Isaiah 40:6-8ESV

      • Isaiah 40:9-10ESV

      • Isaiah 40:11ESV

      • Micah 4:1ESV

      • Micah 4:2ESV

      • Micah 4:3ESV

      • Micah 4:4-5ESV

      • Micah 4:6-7ESV

      • Micah 4:8-9ESV

      • Micah 4:10ESV

      • Micah 4:11-12ESV

      • Micah 4:13ESV

  • Page 776, between Jonah and Nahum.
    This text is a bit of “I have good news and I have bad news. But I’m going to give you the bad news first.” And then the good news will come with encouragement for dark days.
    This text demonstrates to us a lot about the character of God.
    As I have been studying this passage, I am reminded of Matthew 12:20…
    Matthew 12:20 ESV
    20 a bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory;
    This passage is a quote of Isaiah 42:3, and in Matthew’s gospel, this is Matthew adding editorial commentary concerning the ministry of Jesus. And how Jesus fulfills the prophesies of the Old Testament. This verse has been on my mind a lot lately, as I am reading Richard Sibbes The Bruised Reed. In Sibbes’ work he expands on the idea that Christ will not break a bruised reed, and snuff out a smoldering wick. Though the source of the reed’s bruising and the wick’s smoldering may come from various sources - Christ is not going to press the reed further so that it breaks, nor douse the wick so that it is extinguished.
    At times Christ will discipline the believer so that he might make them strong and that he might make them more holy.
    Now let me bring that into common language… the bruised reeds and smoking flaxes are the broken, the crushed, the spiritually weak, the wounded, suffering, those humbled by their own sin… the desperate… the smoking flax is the picture of one who is barely burning, one who is producing more smoke than flame. And Sibbes takes this to say that though they seem worthless - Christ will not discard them.
    And though we see this from the Matthew quotation, we can also see this by the kind of people who Jesus calls to himself. When Jesus finds his disciples he doesn’t find first round draft picks… he finds fisherman, tax collectors, a zealot or two. Jesus’ disciples do not need to be marked by significant status but by faith in him and obedience to his commands. Jesus is the good shepherd who heals wounded sheep.
    Another phrase that is a simplified version of this idea is that “sometimes God uses crooked sticks to make straight lines.”
    We learn a lot about the heart of Jesus from Matthew 12, as well as Isaiah 42. But we see the same characteristics here in Micah 4.
    In this text we see sheep and shepherd themes, as well as themes of redemption.
    Let’s bring that back to our text in Micah. Even though these people will be The Lord is not going to cast of the lame, the driven away, the afflicted and cast off… but rather he is going to call them to himself, and build them into a strong nation.
    Micah 4:6–7 ESV
    6 In that day, declares the Lord, I will assemble the lame and gather those who have been driven away and those whom I have afflicted; 7 and the lame I will make the remnant, and those who were cast off, a strong nation; and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion from this time forth and forevermore.
    Verse 6, in that day. This is the same day as in verse 1. So we see the connection to the earlier portion of this chapter, where Micah speaks of The Lord judging between people, and nations coming from all over to worship the Lord. So he is still speaking within the same context. Micah has told of the destruction, but now he picks up with what happens next. And the Lord speaks a message of hope to be given to a people who have been crushed.
    God has promised that he will gather up once again those who are lame, afflicted those who have been driven away. But the Lord does not give the credit for the affliction to the nations. Babylon is not given any credit for their destruction - though the Lord will use them in that manner - God is the afflicter. He takes credit for the exile.
    The Lord will gather the lame, the afflicted, the driven away, the cast off. The Lord does not disregard the broken. But rather, he uses them. He promises that he will build the lame, the cast off, the broken into a strong nation.
    But in verse 7, there is a slight change in the language. The Lord has been speaking in the first person. I will assemble… whom I am afflicted… I will make the remnant… but then in the end of the verse… The Lord states that “The Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion.” And while the Lord does often refer to himself in the third person… I think there is an intent in this verse that we connect The Lord reigning over his people in Zion to the Ruler from Bethlehem in chapter 5.
    And this ruler from Bethlehem is promised to be a shepherd king, like David. When the Lord comes to reign, he will reign as King, but he will be the good shepherd of the sheep.
    In John 10, we see a clear picture of Jesus as the good shepherd. However, we further see the heart of Jesus when we look at passages like Matt 9:36.
    Matthew 9:36 ESV
    36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
    Jesus is the good shepherd. And this text in Micah is filled with shepherd language. The language of gathering and assembling that we see in verses 6-7 is that of what a shepherd does. And in verse 8, we see a reference to the tower of the flock. This is making a comparison to Jerusalem as the watch tower of God’s flock. (NAC) This is demonstrated by the language daughter of Zion and daughter of Jerusalem. So Jerusalem is that tower of the flock. And as we read in last week’s text from Jerusalem the word shall go forth. The King’s ministry will spread from Jerusalem.
    However, there is also a significant promise for the people.
    Micah 4:8 ESV
    8 And you, O tower of the flock, hill of the daughter of Zion, to you shall it come, the former dominion shall come, kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem.
    The former dominion shall come… They will have a king once again. But it is also conveying a certain kind of King. Now, as you may remember from the introduction to this book - they still had a king at this time. But this is a promise to once again have a king like David. But connecting with the language that is above, God will be their King as he reigns from Zion. Chapters 4 and 5 are one section so it seems that at minimum the Lord is dropping hints about God taking on flesh to reign as King, in the person of Jesus.
    Micah 4:9–10 ESV
    9 Now why do you cry aloud? Is there no king in you? Has your counselor perished, that pain seized you like a woman in labor? 10 Writhe and groan, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor, for now you shall go out from the city and dwell in the open country; you shall go to Babylon. There you shall be rescued; there the Lord will redeem you from the hand of your enemies.
    Now verse 9, is a bit more perplexing of a verse. As I mentioned a moment ago, at the time this was written the King had not yet been deposed. But it is demonstrating to them that they will not have a king. The removal of a King was a devastating thing for Israel. And the passing of that king, that counselor, is thus compared to a woman in labor.
    They are further promised that they shall go to Babylon. This is remarkable because at the time Micah was writing Babylon was not yet a superpower. Assyria is the main aggressor to Israel at this time. We see that in the 8th century exile of the Northern Kingdom and the attack on Jerusalem two decades after that. Thus when Babylon does come and thus Micah’s prophesy is shown to be true.
    No King. No land.
    And even in that, we see not only does the Lord not neglect them in Babylon, he is with them. He has a plans for them to give them a hope and a future. That’s the context of Jer. 29:11…
    Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
    11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
    It’s not really the cosy passage that we think it is. It’s a great message of hope for the people who are in exile. And God shows himself faith to his promises, both the promises of Micah and Jeremiah. God promises to sustain them in exile and save them from Babylon, but they have to make their way into the hands of their enemies first. And when Persia conquers Babylon, they soon after are free again.
    Micah 4:11–13 ESV
    11 Now many nations are assembled against you, saying, “Let her be defiled, and let our eyes gaze upon Zion.” 12 But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord; they do not understand his plan, that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor. 13 Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion, for I will make your horn iron, and I will make your hoofs bronze; you shall beat in pieces many peoples; and shall devote their gain to the Lord, their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth.
    Now in this last section of 11 through 13 we see a summary of sorts. They are given a picture of what they will face, but comfort in the midst of darkness. Though may nations will gather against Israel. The enemies will think that they have prospered, they will taunt Israel in their victory. But God is not finished. Verse 12 comforts Israel to let them know that though Babylon will rejoice, God will turn their war against them. And this happens when Persia takes over. But there is a greater promise to the people. That not only will God redeem them, he will build them up. He will strengthen them. This language of horns and hoofs is symbolic for power. So though they are overtaken and surrounded by enemies God will strengthen them.
    And similarly in Isaiah 41
    Isaiah 41:8–10 ESV
    8 But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; 9 you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, “You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off”; 10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
    And all of this is still true for those who are in Christ. God is working all things for the good of his people.
    In the realm of spiritual warfare, the enemy may think they have you but they do not know what God is doing.
    Even in the aspect of cultural warfare. Or in the workplace, or the neighborhood. Whatever you opponent may be, they may think they have won - but if God is working things for your good - then the Lord is strengthening you. Even when you think your stress, your hardship, the effects of sin on your body, etc. have won - God is working in you.
    When life is in despair but God is working for an immeasurable weight of glory. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of hope. If God is able to work in exile to bring about this good of his people, then he is able to work in whatever is happening in your life for your good. Your good may not be fun or enjoyable. Sometimes your good is accomplished in misery. If you afflictions draw you closer to God in desperation it is for your good. If your afflictions cause you to pray they are for your good. If your afflictions lead you to church they are for your good. If your afflictions lead you to open your Bible they are for your good. If your afflictions lead you to greater Christian fellowship it is for you good. Good does not always mean happy.
    But the Lord is the ruler of all the earth. v 13.
    Rejoice the Lord is King. Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Though this present darkness and the spiritual forces of evil (Eph 6:12) may seem at times to be prevailing take comfort the Lord is King. Know that he has conquered sin, death and defeated the devil. He is all good, he is all knowing, he is all powerful. Lay your cares and anxieties at his feet.
    Though everything else may be seeking to break you and to snuff you out the Good Shepherd, King Jesus, will not break you nor snuff you out.
    If you this morning are tired and weary. If the cares of this world have warn your down, if the spiritual forces of darkness have you near the end of your rope.
    Come to Jesus, he will give you rest. His yoke is easy, his burden is light. He will not stomp you out. For he is gentle and lowly in heart.
    But the King will return, and he will return to conquer and he will return as a judge.
    On this side of the cross, we look back and and are reminded that Christ is the King who will reign for ever. So when we read is there no King… we now rejoice in knowing that the King has come, and that Christ will reign for ever. So where the Lord promised in verse 7 that he will reign over them in Mount Zion from them and forevermore - we know that is King Jesus. Our counselor has not perished, but he has risen again. The Lord has redeemed us, not merely from political enemies, but from our greatest affront from death. Though our sins earn us a punishment of death and judgment - the Lord himself takes on flesh, is born to a virgin - laid in a lowly manger. He takes off his kingly garments for a time to be laid in a manger.

      • Matthew 12:20ESV

      • Micah 4:6–7ESV

      • Matthew 9:36ESV

      • Micah 4:8ESV

      • Micah 4:9–10ESV

      • Jeremiah 29:11ESV

      • Micah 4:11–13ESV

      • Isaiah 41:8–10ESV

  • Angels From The Realms Of Glory (Regent Square)

      • Micah 5ESV

Maranatha Baptist Church
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