This morning I felt like I should read from the Prophet Micah, definitely not my normal routine, chapter four to be specific. It is interesting that Micah was a prophet prior to the Babylonian exile, and while I am not going to quote the verses related to that in chapter four (See Micah 4:10), the Lord was clearly giving them direction as a nation, and telling them what would soon happen. He wrote his letter in 800 BC, and the first Babylonian exile occurred in 597BC, so roughly 200 years after Micah wrote these words. I am just so aware this morning of God's bigger picture, and His deeper plans, they are so much more than we can comprehend, even when He tells them to us ahead of time.
In that light, I am confident none of what is happening today in our country caught God by surprise. He has plans and purposes that we cannot fathom. He speaks through His prophets, but often the prophets don't know His timing either. I am sure that Micah thought their was an immediacy to his words, yet the fulfillment was much later. In that light, I wanted to reflect on some of Micah's prophecy that has clearly not come to pass yet, and relates to the final days. It is quite different than the present situation, and should provide us some perspective to pray towards.
Here are the verses - Micah 4:1-4 NIV:
[1] "In the last days
the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it.
[2] Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
[3] He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.
[4] Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the Lord Almighty has spoken."
It would be interesting to see how many times the phrase "In the last days" is used in scripture. That would be a very interesting study. We are clearly closer to those days than Micah who spoke of them 2800+ years ago.
Clearly this overall prophecy has yet to come about fully, for we do not see a world without war or strife. We do not see the Mountain of the Lord's temple established as the highest. By this I believe He is talking about the reign and rule of the Kingdom of God, established as the highest mountain. There is an understanding today of the Seven Mountains of Influence and they are Religion, family, education, government, media, arts, & business. When I read these words from Micah, that is what I think of, and in this case it would be indicative of God's Kingdom, His rule, being higher than all and influencing all the other mountains.
We have seen verse 2 somewhat fulfilled, as the word of the Lord has gone out from Jerusalem to the whole world, and some people from most every nation turn to the Lord. I pray for the day when we will see most most if not all nations turning to God, looking to understand His ways, His reign and rule. Oh for the day of Lord's rule and reign!
In reading verses 3 & 4, I am wondering if this is a picture of the millennial reign of Christ, or if we will see this reality in our present world, prior to Jesus' return. Regardless, it is something to pray for, something to look towards.
It is good for me to be reminded that God has plans and purposes that we only slightly understand. He is fully in charge, fully engaged and we are moving in the direction He has planned. Our present difficulties, stress and uncertainty will be resolved one day. We can ask for His wisdom in understanding our times, like the sons of Issachar who understood the times and knew what to do (1 Chron 12:32).
Lord, we know You and trust that You have plans we don't understand, but we know and trust You. Help us to understand these times, and help us to know what we should do! We want to be a part of all You are about on this earth.
Amen.
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