Prophets Give Us Perspective in Punishment

The prophet Micah modulates between oracles of woe and prophetic announcements of hope. By following this pattern, Micah continuously offers an ultimate perspective on what God is doing in punishing His people. For instead of long testaments to the discipline of the Lord to come, Israel is given hope beyond the hurt of God's wrath.

Micah 4:1–2 (ESV) 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; and peoples shall flow to it, 2 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.

It's amazing how accurate his hopeful portrayal of Israel's future has become. Today, what is mentioned in these two verses is happening. Because of Jesus, the Word made flesh, the nations and peoples of the world travel to Israel and ascend the mountain of God in Jerusalem to know the land, the people, the history of that great city, and the book that made it all possible. 

Micah 4:6–7 (ESV) 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.

Who did Jesus gather to Himself? The distressed, the have-nots, and the forgotten and forsaken members of society. The blind and the lame followed Him. Fishermen and tax collectors surrounded Him and were transformed by Him. Thus fulfilling Micah's prophetic hope.

All of this hope, however, is on the other side of a Babylonian exile. Even here, Micah offers a glimpse of hopeful expectation. Babylon is related to the womb of a mother out of which shall come the redeemed people of God. 

Micah 4:10 (ESV) 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.

Friend, that is always what the discipline of the Lord is for His people. It's not a tomb, it's a womb from which greater purposes and plans burst forth. Israel, though rebellious and rotten, must see this only as temporary discipline from the Lord. 
Micah 4:11–12 (ESV) 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.

And here's the two-pronged purpose of God in the exile. Israel is disciplined and made holy, and the pagan nations are brought into the trap God has set, and by which He will judge them. 

Micah 4:13 (ESV) 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.

We see how important it is to listen to God's prophets. Only they help us see the ultimate plan behind the pain. Yes, their sins would need to be punished, but the Lord's purposes and calling are irrevocable. He will establish Israel as the light to the nations. And to that great city will come the Savior of the World.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Pray for Someone's Downfall

Psalm 83 reminds us that enemies of God's people always abound. The opening verses mention 10 nations gathered around Israel to attack and destory them. These are their enemies. Child of God, we will always have enemies... 1 John 3:13 (ESV)   Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. The world throughout history has hated this ancient family of the Jews. God's chosen people have been the rejected ones in society down through the ages, from Egypt to Nazi Germany. Yet God's blessing has been upon them to this day. For Christians it will be no different. Men will hate us. Yet we are to regard this  as blessing! Luke 6:22–23 (ESV) “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. The Psalmist readily acknowledges the adversary. He then ...
Read more

Outlive Your World

Ezekiel 27 is a funeral dirge of prophecy against Tyre, a coastal city that had become the linchpin of ancient commerce. Every nation imaginable, including Judah and Israel, did business with this city. So the dirge opens with poetic language referring to Tyre as a ship.  Ezekiel 27:6–9 (ESV) Of oaks of Bashan they made your oars; they made your deck of pines from the coasts of Cyprus, inlaid with ivory. 7 Of fine embroidered linen from Egypt was your sail, serving as your banner; blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah was your awning. 8 The inhabitants of Sidon and Arvad were your rowers; your skilled men, O Tyre, were in you; they were your pilots. 9 The elders of Gebal and her skilled men were in you, caulking your seams; all the ships of the sea with their mariners were in you to barter for your wares. Then, the prophet enumerates all the nations with whom Tyre did business.  Ezekiel 27:12–16 (ESV) “Tarshish did business with you because of your great wealth of every ...
Read more

Road Map of History

Daniel 8 begins the Hebrew portion of this book. The reason it shifts from Aramaic (the language of chapters 2-7) to Hebrew is that God has a special message for His people, the Jews. They truly should have understood the times to usher in the arrival of our Lord.  Daniel 8:1 (ESV) In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first. Daniel 8 begins with the prophet being transported to Susa, which will become the capital of the kingdom about to conquer Babylon. Daniel 8:3–4 (ESV) I raised my eyes and saw, and behold, a ram standing on the bank of the canal. It had two horns, and both horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last. 4 I saw the ram charging westward and northward and southward. No beast could stand before him, and there was no one who could rescue from his power. He did as he pleased and became great. After Daniel sees the ram with two horns, he sees a ...
Read more