In the first sentence, Micah uses the phrase ‘in the last days’. This phrase appears many times in the *Old Testament. It does not refer to any particular future date. It means a long period. The situation may have stayed the same for many years. But then it will change. Everything will be different... [ Continue Reading ]
MICAH SPEAKS A MESSAGE FROM GOD TO ALL THE NATIONS MICAH _LES PAINTER_ CHAPTER 4 4:1-8 NEW JERUSALEM WILL HAVE A HIGH POSITION OVER THE NATIONS There is a big change now in Micah’s *prophecy. He has just dealt with the old Jerusalem. Because of evil leaders, its people would suffer. And its ene... [ Continue Reading ]
At one time, only *Israelites went to Jerusalem. They went there to *worship God. In the future, there will be a magnificent country. It will be the Jerusalem from heaven. The *Messiah will be the ruler. There will be a great movement of the world’s nations. Many powerful nations will go to Jerusale... [ Continue Reading ]
There is a very great difference between the old Jerusalem and the new Jerusalem. Often in the old Jerusalem, the rulers and *priests were evil. They did not teach people the right way to live. God’s message did not reach into society. Just a few people were loyal. But there is hope. In the end, God... [ Continue Reading ]
People will not love money any longer. They will not desire the goods that belong to other people. (Look at Micah 2:2.) They will not need to fight in wars to obtain them. They will not need arms for war any longer. They will have no enemies. So they will not be afraid that an enemy might kill them.... [ Continue Reading ]
We now look again at the situation when Micah was alive. Only a few people remain loyal to God. They are waiting for God to perform his promises. In the meantime, they will ‘walk in the name of the *LORD’. The Bible often uses the word ‘walk’. Often, as here, it means to ‘be firm’. It means to ‘have... [ Continue Reading ]
‘At that time’ refers to ‘the last days’. It is the same as in verse 1. It is a day in the very distant future. ‘The *LORD declares’ means that God has said it. It is therefore true. God is the *Shepherd and he is the King. He will gather the people who are unable to walk. He has hurt his people and... [ Continue Reading ]
God speaks another *prophecy about Zion (Jerusalem). He calls the new capital a *watchtower. This is a tall building. It is in a *vineyard. Men watch from it to guard the *vineyard. These men carry weapons (arms like the ones that people use for war). When *shepherds are looking after their sheep, t... [ Continue Reading ]
God says to the people in *Israel, ‘Now you are crying very loudly.’ God trusted *Israel. He trusted the *remnant. He trusted those people to bring about his purposes in the world. But they have not obeyed God. In this verse, he blames the people that are in *Israel. God blames them because they do... [ Continue Reading ]
Only the *remnant will remain after enemies defeat Jerusalem’s people. God orders them to feel the pain. The pain is like when a woman is having her baby. These pains show to the *remnant that they must leave Jerusalem city. They must camp in the open field. They must go to Babylon. The word ‘Babylo... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Now’ in verses 9 and 10 referred to the exile. The exile means the time when God will send the people out of their country. He will send them into Babylon. But ‘now’ in verse 11 refers to the present situation. It refers to the army from Assyria. These armies contain soldiers from many nations. The... [ Continue Reading ]
However, these armies do not understand what God is doing. They do not realise that God is using them. He is causing their defeat. They gather against Jerusalem. But it is the *LORD who gathers them. They plan to destroy the *Temple. But the *LORD will destroy them. They are part of God’s plan for *... [ Continue Reading ]