5/31/2023 0 Comments The sinking city self defenseIt alone could “rebuke” with power for it was, like its Author, all-holy. The Gospel conquered the world, not by compromises or concordants, but by convicting it. He shall rebuke them - For it was an office of the Holy Ghost “to reprove the world as to its sin, the righteousness of Christ, the judgment of the prince of this world” John 16:8-11. Fearful scourge as he was, and as his successors have been, all is now decayed, and no mighty nation is left upon earth, which does not profess the Name of Christ. He should, “not only command, but “rebuke,” not weak or petty nations only, but mighty, and those not only near but afar.” Mohammed had moral strength through what he stole from the law and the Gospel, and by his owning Christ as the Word of God. They were to be many, and those mighty, nations. They were no common, but mighty nations, such as had heretofore been the oppressors of Israel. Before, they had been lords of the world now they should own a Judge higher than themselves. ![]() There are some sincere students of God's Word who receive this passage as a promise of the time when, "the established authority of Christ will appear beyond anything which obtains in this present church age" but we believe that such a fulfillment would belong to that period of "the new heavens and the new earth" mentioned by the apostle Peter ( 2 Peter 3:13).Īnd He shall judge among many people and rebuke strong nations afar off - Hitherto, they had walked each in their own ways Isaiah 53:6 now, they sought to be taught in the ways of God. As Mays said, "The promise of peace here is founded on the promise of the reign of Yahweh becoming the center of order for all peoples." As long as the nations of the earth prefer to walk in rebellion against God, wars are inevitable. This great truth is not nullified by the violation of it by "the great whore." Could this refer to a time when there will no longer be any war on earth? No! Jesus himself said that "wars and rumors of wars" shall continue throughout history ( Matthew 24). "Micah was here describing the character of that kingdom ruled from the spiritual Zion." It has been gloriously fulfilled in that the kingdom of Christ has come down through history without any reliance whatever upon the military weapons which are the stock in trade of the unconverted. No! It is of that new society, the church of God in Christ, that the prophet spoke here. This is not the promise of some literal millennium here on earth in which period the wicked nations of earth will be brought together in some kind of a confederation under Israel (fleshly) and in which the ideal peace and prosperity envisioned here will ensue. "And he will judge between many peoples, and will decide concerning strong nations afar off: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks and nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." On that occasion Assyria was the nation that besieged Jerusalem and mocked God, but God miraculously saved the city, preserved his people and destroyed the attackers see 2 Kings 18:13-37.) (There was in the time of Micah a siege of Jerusalem similar to the one described here. They will be punished by God’s almighty power, crushed as the grain on the threshing floor is crushed under the hoofs of the oxen (11-5:1). They scoff at the people and dishonour the king, not realizing that God has brought them together so that he might destroy them the more easily - all in one place at one time. The army is composed of soldiers of many nations, who await their chance to break down the walls and plunder the city. Another illustration of the triumph of God’s people is given in the form of a vision where the prophet sees the overthrow of a great army that besieges Jerusalem. They will be taken captive to Babylon, but after a period God will bring them back (9-10). The prophet then pictures the siege of Jerusalem and the suffering of its inhabitants. The remains of this flock will be gathered again, healed, and brought back to their own land to become a strong nation once more (6-8). Micah sees the people in captivity as a flock of sheep that have been attacked, injured and scattered. ![]() This future hope encourages Micah and his few fellow believers to be more faithful to God now (5). ![]() People of all nations desire to worship God and learn his law, with the result that there is universal peace and contentment (4:1-4). He now looks beyond that to the greater day when God’s ideal king reigns and Jerusalem is the religious centre of the world. Previously Micah recorded God’s promise that the people of Israel would come from captivity back to their land (see 2:12-13).
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