The Mountain of the Lord

[Read Micah 4:1-8]

I’ve been noticing something over the past few months that I think is important to talk about at the beginning of this sermon. Ever since the presidential election, I’ve noticed our congregation on edge a bit. Of course there have been some of the noticeable differences in opinions—which is to be expected—but it’s been more than that. In particular, I’ve noticed that if I even hint at particular political things in a sermon, people reactively flinch. That’s never happened before. It’s not even that I’m taking a political side—which I won’t do from the pulpit—but simply the idea that I’m mentioning something happening in politics causes people to flinch. 

What’s interesting is that the last few sermons I’ve preached from Micah have really seemed to resonate with our congregation. I have intentionally left some of the application regarding corrupt leaders and rulers fairly vague, but it has still rang true for many in the congregation. Yet, here’s what has been interesting. Everyone seems to be thinking that it’s the “other side”—whatever that means—that are the corrupt and wicked rulers. Those in this congregation that lean more Republican are nodding their heads in agreement, assuming that I’m talking about wicked, corrupt Democrats. Those in the congregation that lean more Democrat are nodding their heads in agreement, assuming that I’m talking about wicked, corrupt Republicans. The fact that this is happening only points us to the reality that all of our political leaders fall short—every, single one of them. 

I want to be careful, but I also want to say something fairly strongly. As Christians, we must be very careful that we do not allow our hope and trust in the future to be dependent on our political leaders. If we’re allowing that to happen, we are going astray. That means that it is not a good thing if you are too excited about how things went in the last election OR if you are too upset about how things went in the last election. Neither of those is an appropriate response. You can be encouraged and/or you can be disappointed. But if it feels like all of your hopes and dreams have been crushed or that all of your hopes and dreams have been fulfilled, you have begun to put all of your hopes and dreams in the wrong place. And when you begin to put your hopes and dreams in the wrong place—in fallen political leaders—you not only lose your peace in the world, but you also begin to live in fear. 

This morning’s passage brings us this reminder in a very convicting way that should give us hope and comfort in the midst of this chaos. After spending the last chapter, completely tearing into the corrupt and wicked leaders of Jerusalem, God comes to Jerusalem and gives them a beautiful, glorious vision of the future. On the one hand, it’s God’s way of telling his people that judgment isn’t the final word from God, but in a more powerful way, it’s a statement from God that HE is the only true and faithful ruler of his people. Every other leader will fall short. Every other leader will let you down. The God who created the universe is the only leader in whom we should place our hopes and dreams. 

As this picture is painted, it’s important to pay attention to the way it is set up—this will become important later on in the sermon. It begins by saying, “It shall come to pass in the latter days…” (Micah 4:1, ESV). Notice that it doesn’t say the last days, but the latter days. That’s really important. There’s a difference. The phrase “latter days” simply refers to a future time when God is going to act. People often reference this as referring to a turning point in history when God steps in and acts. So, don’t make the mistake of thinking what we’re about to read is talking about the end of history. 

As we go through the rest of this, it’s important to notice the Divine Reversal that happens throughout. It’s almost the opposite of what we’ve been calling poetic justice throughout this series. Remember how we’ve been pointing to the ways in which the wicked and corrupt leaders will get what’s coming to them—what goes around comes around. That’s almost a reversal where these rich powerful people will be left with nothing. We’re seeing something similar in this passage, but heading in the opposite direction. The reversal is going from wickedness and corruption and injustice and destruction to something much more beautiful and powerful. 

Remember how chapter three ended? “Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height.” (Micah 3:12, ESV). This stark picture of Jerusalem being plowed and the temple being abandoned and overrun with animals. Well, just a couple verses later we see the complete reversal of this. We read, “It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills…” (Micah 4:1, ESV). This points forward to a turning point in history when the temple will no longer be destroyed and abandoned, but will be lifted up as the highest mountain, higher than any other hill. As is typical, this is figurative language talking about the temple being exalted and lifted up. Really, it’s speaking about more than that. Remember that the temple is where God dwells. So, the fact that God is exalting his dwelling place above every other place, is an image of God placing his throne at the center of humanity. It’s an image of him establishing himself as the ultimate ruler and authority over heaven and earth. And, as Walter Breuggemann adds, "The enthronement of Yahweh here celebrated carries with it a dethronement of all other gods." (Waltke, 210).

What’s really powerful is the image that follows this exaltation of the temple. We read, “…and peoples shall flow to it, and many nations shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” (Micah 4:1–2, ESV). This image has a lot to it, especially when you remember some of Israel’s practices—in particular their practice of pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the feasts. The people of Israel were very familiar with flowing to Jerusalem and the temple to listen to the word of God and worship Him. Yet, the image changes to include more than just Israel. Now that the temple has been exalted above all other temples—that God is seated on his throne above all gods—the nations will begin to flow to him in his temple to hear his word. What’s also powerful is that they are not just curious to hear the word of the Lord, but they want to obey the word of the Lord. They want to walk in his paths.

This is not only a reversal of the temple, but it’s a complete reversal of the wicked priests from the previous passage. Those priests led God’s people astray and scattered them on the hillsides. Those corrupt priests devoured God’s people. Yet, God comes as the true priest, who brings the true word of God, that the nations will hear and listen and obey. 

Then we read of another reversal: “He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away…” (Micah 4:3, ESV). Notice the reversal? This is in contrast to the wicked judges from the previous passage. They hated what was good and loved evil—they hated justice. When God comes and establishes his throne on high, he will come as a judge who will be just with justice and righteousness. He will not just sit as a judge over a small group of people, but will sit as a judge over every tribe and tongue and nation.

Then comes the next reversal: “He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore; but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.” (Micah 4:3–4, ESV). This is not only a contrast to the wicked and corrupt rulers of Jerusalem, but really to all of the corrupt leaders. When God comes, not only does he bring justice, but he also brings peace. He doesn’t bring a false peace proclaimed by false prophets. He brings a true and lasting peace that causes people to turn their weapons into tools that build—rather than destroy. 

I love the image given here, because it reminds me of the Shire from The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings. Do you see that here? “…but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.” (Micah 4:4, ESV). Isn’t that the picture of the Shire? Each hobbit peacefully going about their business without a care in the world. God comes as the true leader who brings that kind of true and lasting peace. Where we can relax and rest and no longer live in fear and anxiety. No more wars. No more fighting. No more lying and cheating and stealing. True, lasting peace. 

Again, it’s powerful that this is all the result of God speaking. We read, “…for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.” (Micah 4:4, ESV). This fits with the theme from earlier in the passage—the nations flowing to God to hear him speak and to learn and to obey his teaching. As God speaks, and people listen and obey and follow him, justice and peace come. That’s a powerful reality. 

In the midst of these reversals, we’re faced with a choice. We read, “For all the peoples walk each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever.” (Micah 4:5, ESV). This is the commitment of God’s people in the midst of the chaos, while they wait for those latter days. It’s almost as if someone asked, “Well that’s all fine and dandy. I’m thankful that God is going to bring peace and justice. What does that have to do with right now? How are we to live right now?” The response was a commitment that even though the rest of the world continues to follow after the false gods, they were making a firm commitment to follow the true God who is ruling and reigning over the earth right now. They will make a commitment to listen to him NOW, and to follow and obey him NOW as they live in the midst of the chaos. 

This is that powerful reminder for us this morning. What are we going to follow? Where are we going to put our hope and trust? Are we going to put our hope and trust in false gods who will let us down? To make that more pointed: are we going to put our hope and trust in political leaders who will surely let us down? OR, will you make the commitment this morning to put your hope and trust in the God who is ruling and reigning right now and who will rule forever and ever? That’s the choice placed before us this morning. Who will you trust and follow? The answer should be simple. We will put our hope and trust in the only true God—the one who will bring true peace and justice through his Word and his power.

But that doesn’t mean things will be easy. Look at the picture that is painted of God’s flock as he gathers them: “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…” (Micah 4:6–7, ESV). This is a picture of sheep that have not only been scattered but beaten and bruised and wounded. They’re lame. They’ve been wounded by the corrupt and wicked leaders. They’ve been wounded by their own foolishness and wickedness. They are beaten and bruised and wounded. It’s been tough. Yet, God says that he will gather them from the hillsides into a remnant. 

Not only that, but look at the way he describes this remnant: “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; 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.” (Micah 4:6–7, ESV). He will make them, not only a remnant, but a strong nation. Isn’t that powerful? They will not only be some wounded and beaten and bruised sheep, but when God gathers them and heals them, he will also make them into a strong nation.

Then, not only does this passage say that God himself will reign over them as king—as the true leader of his people—but there’s another promise that could easily be missed. We read, “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.” (Micah 4:8, ESV). On the one hand, this is another image of Jerusalem being the place where God looks on his sheep and gathers them, as if he’s up in a tower scouring the hillsides for his sheep. But that last line is really important and is hinting as something that is going to come up in Micah very soon. It says, “…the former dominion shall come, kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem.” (Micah 4:8, ESV). What former dominion is being talked about? What kingship? Well, it’s talking about the promise to King David that God would establish the throne of his kingdom forever. This is a promise that a future king is coming to God’s people from the line of David—a King who will bring truth and peace and justice to God’s people, a King who will establish a strong nation from a wounded remnant of God’s people, a King who will be given all authority in heaven and on earth, a King who will draw in the nations. That King is Jesus.

In order to understand this properly, it’s important to understand the Already/Not-Yet aspects of God’s Word. We’ve talked about this a number of times. There are aspects of this that are already fulfilled and aspects of this that are clearly not-yet fully fulfilled. Let me give some examples. 

Right now, King Jesus has already brought peace on earth. That’s the message that was proclaimed at his birth. We also read this in scripture: “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7, ESV). As Christians, right now, already, we experience a peace that surpasses all understanding. We experience that peace right now, already. Yet, we also know that peace is not yet. We still are surrounded with wars and rumors of wars. Yet, one day, King Jesus will fully bring peace on earth to the point that we will never fear or worry again. 

Right now, the nations are already flowing into the temple of King Jesus. We read this in 1 Corinthians, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” (1 Corinthians 3:16–17, ESV). The “you”s in this passage are all plural—not referring to individuals, but to a group of people, to the Body of Christ. We are the temple of God. And the beautiful picture right now is that the nations are beginning to flow into the temple—the Body of Christ—to hear the word of God and obey him. People are turning from false gods to worship the one true God. That’s happening already. Yet, that has not-yet happened in all its fullness yet. 

Right now, King Jesus is gathering his wounded sheep into a remnant and making them into a strong nation. That’s happening right now, but not in the way you may think. Listen to the way this nation is described in the book of Hebrews: “At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:26–29, ESV). That’s the kind of strong nation King Jesus is creating among us—not a strong nation that will defeat other nations in power. No. He’s created a nation so strong that it will never be shaken. He’s creating a nation that is not of this world—because all worldly kingdoms can—and will—be shaken—including the United States of America. Yet, we also realize that we are not fully there yet. 

Finally, right now King Jesus is ruling and reigning over the entire earth. Listen to Jesus’ final words to his disciples: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” (Matthew 28:18, ESV). That’s true right now. Peter says that “Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.” (1 Peter 3:21–22, ESV). King Jesus has elevated his throne above all other thrones and is ruling and reigning right now. As I remind us every Sunday, he is ruler of the kings of this earth—right now. Yet, we also know that a day is coming when that rule will be enacted more fully. 

This leaves us with two things. First, don’t fall for the trap of putting your hope and trust in political leaders—or any human leader for that matter. Put your hope and trust in the only true God who is currently ruling and reigning over the earth. That leads to the second point, when you put your hope and trust in King Jesus, you already begin to experience the joy and peace and hope that comes from being part of his unshakeable kingdom right now, as you continue to look forward to the day when he will fully establish that kingdom here on earth.