The hope of Judah… (2 things)

• 1^st – Hear now you leaders – 2 catgories… vs. 1-12
  • 1^st – The leaders (rosh/heads) of Israel and Judah – 3 accusations… vs. 1-4
    • 1 – They were supposed to KNOW justice – but apparently they did not because…
    • 2 – They hated good and loved evil – they were the very opposite of just!
    • 3 – They strip the skin off the people of God – tear the flesh from their bones!
      • Eating the flesh of the people – breaking bones – chopping them up to cook in cauldrons! 
      • Picking up on the imagery of The Good Shepherd – John 10 – from Micah chapter 2
      • Micah contrasts the leaders of Israel – as being wolves rather than shepherds…
      • Instead of protecting and caring for the flock of God – they consumed them!
      • I have seen ‘pastors’ who own expensive suites – and drive around in luxury cars…
      • Yet their congregants can barely afford to put food on the table!
      • A great danger for men who serve God – is to start to look for the blessings…
      • And forget the calling of a pastor is to BE a blessing to the people of God…
      • When being a ‘pastor’ becomes just a job – a way to make money…
      • When a ‘pastor’ is no longer there to love and provide from the people…
      • They fall under the judgment of God – because they abuse HIS sheep!
      • Ezekiel 34:2 – “Destruction is certain for you shepherds who feed yourselves instead of your flocks. 
    • When the judgment came – these same leaders would cry out for help from God…
      • Because of all their evil deeds – God would not hear them – even hide His face from them!
      • Psalm 66:18 – “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear…”
      • A humbling thought to think there are ‘pastors’ whose prayers are not heard by God!
      • But unrepentant sin keeps the Lord from hearing us – leaves prayers unanswered…
      • Our prayers hit the ceiling of our sin – and we end up talking to ourselves!
      • But the moment we repent – turn back to Jesus – we will find He is eager to listen / act!
      • I Peter 3:12 – “The Lords… ears are open to the prayers of those who do right.”
  • 2^nd – The prophets who only prophecy for money … vs. 5-7
    • Who chant ‘peace’ to those who give them something to eat (while they chew)…
      • But who declare ‘war’ to those who do not put food in their mouths…
      • False teachers do not look to bless / help others – teach them about Jesus…
      • They do not look to bring glory to God – they only look to please themselves!
      • They only think about things here on earth – food / money / fame / power…
      • They only try to win you over to their cause – so they can take advantage of you!
      • Philippians 3:17-19 – “They are enemies of the Christ.  Their future is eternal destruction. Their god is their appetite… all they think about is this life…”
    • The sun will set on these prophets – their divinations and visions will cease…
      • They will cover their mouths and finally admit their visions are not from the Lord!
      • Because the very ones who chanted peace – would be taken in captivity!
      • Another easy way to spot a false teacher – what he says does not happen…
      • Harold Camping predicted Jesus would come back on May 21, 2011
      • When that did not happen he said his made a mistake – it was October 21, 2011
      • Deuteronomy 18:22 – “When a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken…”
  • 3^rd – Full of the power of the spirit… vs. 8-12
    • In contrast to these wicked teachers and false prophets…
      • Micah was full of the power of the Spirit of God – Ruach Yahweh!
      • The result was – unlike the leaders of Israel – he did KNOW justice…
      • And unlike the prophets – he was full of MIGHT (power) to tell the people of Israel the truth!
      • I have been in many churches whose response to a lost world – create a committee…
      • They elect officials who endlessly discuss ideas of how to ‘spread the Gospel’…
      • And in the end – nothing happens – it is just a lot of words with no action!
      • God gives us His Holy Spirit to give us the POWER to take action!
      • We need the Holy Spirit to give us the power to share the truth / justice!
      • How do we get the Spirit – just ask – our Father will freely give Him to us – Luke 11:13
    • The Spirit filled – bold message of Micah…
      • Hear this you leaders – 3 classes – who abhor justice and pervert all that are right…
      • Judges who accept bribes / Priests who teach for pay / and Prophets who divine for money!
      • Men that built Jerusalem with bloodshed and sin (perhaps referring to slavery)…
      • Who misled the people by saying – ‘God is with us – no one can harm us’…
      • But their faith was not in the Lord – it was in a city / and a building!
      • Therefore because of THEM – Zion would be a plowed field…
      • Jerusalem would be a heap of ruins – and Temple Mount a bare hill!
      • People tend to trust in all the wrong things in life – laws / religion…
      • But our judges and laws are far from just – and churches are just sticks and bricks…
      • And our faith is only going to be as effective as the person we have faith in!

• 2^nd – In the last days… Chapter 4-5
  • 1^st – Micah predicts the restoration of the Temple… vs. 1-8
    • The loss of the Temple would have been a devastating thing to hear…
      • It was the center of the worship of God – the very character of the Jewish nation…
      • So Micah takes a turn in his prophecy – and speaks of the day when it will be restored!
    • It will come to pass in the LAST DAYS – the Temple will be rebuilt…
      • Rebuilt on the mountain of the Lord – Moriah – and be exalted above all other temples…
      • Predicating the establishment of the 4^th Temple in the Millennial Kingdom!
      • The first Temple was built by Solomon – but destroyed on the 9^th of Av – 586 B.C.
      • The second Temple was built by Zerubbabel / Herod – destroyed on the 9^th of Av – 70 A.D
      • The third Temple will be built by the Antichrist – Daniel 9:27 – Abomination of Desolation
      • The 4^th and final Temple will be built by Jesus in the Millennial Kingdom – Ezekiel 40-4
    • The 3 results of the rebuilding of the 4^th Temple…
      • 1 – Many nations will come to the mountain of the Lord – to the house of the God of Jacob…
        • That they Lord might teach them how to walk in His ways…
        • Because the Law/Word of the Lord will flow out of Zion/Jerusalem in those days!
      • 2 – God (Jesus) will rule from Jerusalem – judge many people – strong nations far off!
        • Ushering in a time of unprecedented peace – there will be no more wars…
        • Men will beat their swords into plowshares / their spears into pruning hooks…
        • Nation will not longer rise up against nation – no one will learn war – Isaiah 2:4
        • Everyone will live in peace and prosperity (vine / fig) – with nothing to fear! 
      • 3 – Israel will walk in the name of the Lord (Yahweh) forever and ever…
        • In that day God will gather the lame /outcast – those He has afflicted…
        • He will make the lame (Israel) – a remnant – Romans 11:5
        • And the outcast – those who were scattered – He will make a great nation…
        • Then the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion forever!
        • And all of the glory will return to Zion/Jerusalem – the spender of days long ago!
      • Even today Israel longs for the days of King David – when they were a great power…
        • But they will not find the Glory – till the day they walk with the Lord!
        • There are days when it feels like the glory of the Lord – is missing…
        • Caught up in the business of life – others things crowd out the time with God…
        • I go through the routine – but spark Jesus seems to have dwindled…
        • The solution is to say lets go up to the House of the Lord – hear His Word…
        • Walk in the name of the Lord – and let Him reign again in our lives…
        • And we will find the glory and splendor of the days long ago!
  • 2^nd – The Babylonian captivity… vs. 9-13
    • But for now (the Last Days were still far off) Israel cried out loud!
      • Their King was dead / their wise men were gone – they were like a women in labor…
      • They had conceived sin – and they were about to give PAINFUL birth to destruction…
      • They would be birthed (go forth) from Jerusalem – and be delivered to Babylon!
      • Speaking of the fate of the Southern Kingdom that would fall to Nebuchadnezzar…
      • Keep in mind this was written while Assyria was still the dominant power in the world!
    • Yet in Babylon the Lord would redeem Israel from their enemies…
      • Many nations gathered against Israel – they wanted to defile/destroy her…
      • Sanballat / Tobiah / Geshem / Haman – all sought to destroy the Jews…
      • But they did not understand the thoughts / counsel of God…
      • Israel was in Babylon as a teach them not to sin – not to destroy them!
      • In fact God would gather the enemies of Israel on the threshing floor – and destroy them…
      • Israel would be like an iron horn / bronze hooves – crushing their enemies!
      • And Israel will give all the wealth they receive back to the Lord!
      • Perhaps a reference to what took place with Haman during the days of Queen Esther!
    • God allowed the captivity – He loved Israel too much to let them get away with their sin!
      • God allows us to have severe consequences to teach us a lesson that we will never forget!
      • Not because He is angry – or mad at us – but because of His great love for us!
      • God desires to teach us – His kids – how to live a pure and holy life – Hebrews 12:5-8

• 3^rd – After the Babylonian Captivity – the first advent of Jesus… vs. 1-2
  • After the 70 years of Captivity – Israel was returned to the Land – Ezra 1:1
    • They would never again be free – under the power of Medo-Persia / Greece / then Rome…
    • Micah tells Israel to mobilize troops – the enemy (Rome?) would lay siege to Jerusalem…
    • This enemy would strike the judge of Israel in the face with a rod…
    • Some hold that Micah is talking about Zedekiah – they last king of Judah…
    • But more likely this is a reference to Jesus Christ – who is the JUDGE of Israel!
    • John 18:22 – “One of the Temple guards standing there struck Jesus on the face…”
  • Micah goes on to give a very specific prophecy concerning Jesus…
    • A prophecy given some 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ!
    • That out of Bethlehem Ephrathah (fruitful) – THE ruler of Israel would come…
    • Although it was a little town – the one who was from EVERLASTING would be born there!
    • There are 2 words in Hebrew for EVERLASTING – this one is a very interesting word…
    • The one means vanishing point – where you just cannot conceive of anything further back…
    • This particular Hebrew word means beyond the vanishing point – before the beginning!
    • Quoted by Pharisees when Magi asked where the Messiah would be born – Matthew 2:6
    • Speaking of the Immaculate Conception – when God became flesh and came to earth!
• 4^th– The second advent of Jesus… vs. 3-6
  • The people of Israel would be abandoned for a time…
    • Because they rejected the Messiah – they were set aside by God – Romans 11:25
    • Until the woman gives birth – Revelation 12 – speaking of the great tribulation…
    • When the remnant of Israel will return – and Jesus will ‘feed His flock’…
    • And they will abide in Him – and His name will be great to the ends of the earth!
    • And this one – Jesus – shall be peace – as He brings in the Millennial Kingdom! 
    • I am often amused by the many debates / leaders today who try and bring peace to Israel…
    • There will not be any peace in Israel – until the Messiah comes!
    • Which is why when we pray for the peace of Jerusalem – we are praying for Jesus return!
    • Psalm 122:6 – “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem…”
  • He – Jesus – will deliver Israel from the Assyrians…
    • The Assyrians – is thought here to refer to all the enemies / nations coming against Israel…
    • Chuck Smith taught that this was a reference to the Magog invasion – Ezekiel 38-39
    • When enemies of Israel come into the land and break through the defenses…
    • This One (Jesus) – will raise up 7 shepherds and 8 princes – who will waste Assyria…
    • Those from the land of Nimrod (Babylon) – when they come into Israel!
    • We are not sure who the 7 shepherds and 8 princes represent…
    • Some say its a reference to the Ushpizin – the 7 shepherds of Israel according to tradition…
    • Abraham / Isaac / Jacob / Moses / Aaron / Joseph / and David – but its just tradition
    • More likely just a reference to new Godly leaders (7 perfection / 8 new beginnings)

• This is likely a reference to the battle of Armageddon – Revelation 16:6…
• The Antichrist will gather his army to the Valley of Megiddo – Revelation 19:11-21
• It will be the place where the nations come to battle – armies of the North / East / West
• Joel 3:2 – “I will gather all the nations And bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat.”
• Then Jesus will come out of Heaven on a white horse – King of Kings / Lord of Lords…
• Along with all those who were raptured – we will come with Him – Jude 14
• Then Jesus will judge the nations –those who survived the Tribulation– Matthew 25:31-46
• And He will establish His Millennial Kingdom – Revelation 20:1-4!
• Then all of Israel will look at Jesus and be saved – Zechariah 12:10  / Romans 11:26
• 3^rd – The end or beginning… vs. 7-15
  • Then a remnant of Israel will go out among the nations…
    • They will go out like falling rain – there will be no way to hold them back (tarry for no man)
    • Jacob will be like a lion among sheep – no one will be able to stand against him…
    • Israel will dwell among the gentiles – and all their enemies will be wiped out!
    • In that day – God will remove weapons (chariots) – tear down defenses (strongholds)…
    • Put an end to all witchcraft / fortune-tellers – destroy all idols and sacred pillars…
    • Abolish all pagan shrines / and destroy the cities where idol temples stand…
    • And He will pour out His vengeance on all the nations that refuse to obey Him!
  • Which is either the end of the story…
    • To those who reject the message – refuse to come to Jesus – it is THE END…
    • Where The last thing they ever see will be God on His throne – then eternal darkness…
    • Revelation 20:10 – “The lake of fire and brimstone… tormented day and night forever and ever.”
    • The is the Second Death – the worst part of all – eternal separation from God
    • Left to weep and gnash for eternity with no hope – no salvation
    • Matthew 8:12 – “Outer darkness… weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
  • Or the beginning of the story…
    • To those who receive the gift of grace – it is the beginning…
• When we get to rule and reign with Jesus for 1000 years – I Corinthians 6:2-3

• Then enter into a new perfect Heaven and Earth that He creates for those who love Him!
• It will take ages – literally 1000s of years – in heaven for God to reveal it all to us!
• Ephesians 2:7 -“In the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
• I Corinthians 2:9 – “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”
• The choice is up to us – we decide where we will spend our eternity…
  • But there is limited window of opportunity – the end is close – the Last Days…
  • Which is why it is so important we know where we are going!
  • II Corinthians 6:2 – “Today is the day of salvation…”