Micah 4

Micah 4:1

51

Micah speaks a message from God to all the nations An EasyEnglish Bible Version and Commentary (2800 word vocabulary) on the Book of Micah www.easyenglish.info Les Painter This commentary has been through Advanced Checking.

Words in boxes are from the Bible.

Tap the * before a word to show an explanation.

Chapter 4 4:1-8 New Jerusalem will have a high position over the nations There is a big change now in Micah’s *prophecy. He has just dealt with the old Jerusalem. Because of evil leaders, its people would suffer. And its enemies would destroy it. Micah now describes the new Jerusalem that someone will build in the future.

The end of chapter 3 and the start of chapter 4 are very different. In the last verse of chapter 3, the writer describes very sad, terrible things. In the first verses of chapter 4, there is a wonderful happiness. The old Jerusalem suffered bad things because of wicked leaders. But there will be a new Jerusalem. The *Messiah will be there. He will overcome all his enemies. He will rule over them. However, only a few people will remain. The *Messiah will save them. They will love God and they will obey him.

v1 This is what will happen in the last days. This is what will happen to the mountain called Zion. It will become the mountain where the *LORD’s house is. It will become the highest among all mountains. It will be the chief mountain. It will be higher than the hills. And people from many nations will go there.

Verse 1

In the first sentence, Micah uses the phrase ‘in the last days’. This phrase appears many times in the *Old Testament. It does not refer to any particular future date. It means a long period. The situation may have stayed the same for many years. But then it will change.

Everything will be different. It may mean ‘in the days that will come’. Centuries before, Moses had spoken to *Israel’s people. He had warned them that they must continue to obey God. Otherwise, terrible things would happen. God would force them out of their country.

He would send them into other countries. ‘There will come a day (a special time) when you will be in great trouble. All these things will have happened to you. Then you will start to *worship the *LORD your God again. This will be in later days (at a later time). You will then obey him’ (Deuteronomy 4:30).

In the *New Testament, the phrase ‘the last days’ means something new. It refers to all the results of the time when Jesus Christ came to the Earth the first time. The phrase here may refer to that period (Hebrews 1:1 2). Peter spoke to the people on the special day called Pentecost. (On that special day, God sent out his Holy Spirit onto people.) Peter repeated these words that the *prophet Joel had written. ‘In the last days (last period), God will send out his Spirit onto all people’ (Acts 2:17). At the end of time, there will be a new heaven and a new earth (2 Peter 3:12-13; Revelation chapters 21-22).

So Micah was looking forward into that future time. Only future events could show that his message was accurate. These events might happen over a long period. ‘Days’ might mean years or even centuries. The rest of this section (Micah 4:1-5:15) may describe ‘the last days’. Micah’s *prophecy would include the few people that returned from Babylon (Micah 4:9, 10). It would include the *Messiah’s birth (Micah 5:2). It would include his rule. This would never end. It would be a time when there is peace. This too would never end (Micah 4:1-4; 5:3).

As Micah looked forward into the future, he saw several events. In ancient times, people used to build *temples on mountains. In *Israel, the people built God’s *Temple on the mountain called Zion. They said that this mountain was higher than all other mountains. But it was not actually the highest mountain. In the *Psalms, however, this is how the writer referred to it. The writer described it as the highest mountain because of its importance. This was the mountain where people *worshipped the real God. And God chose to rule from this mountain (Psalms 11:4; 68:16-17).

After enemies destroyed Jerusalem, the place would be like a field. It would then be fit only for rubbish and wild animals. But Micah saw into the future. He saw a great change. He looked beyond the stones and rubbish that would be on the mountain called Zion.

People used to walk by the River Euphrates in Babylon. They went to *worship the false god called Bel. The people in Babylon were very proud about their religion. They even said that Babylon’s hill was the entrance into heaven. But Micah saw beyond that. He believed that the situation would change. (Look also at Jeremiah 51:44.) Micah saw that the people from many nations will go to the mountain called Zion (the Jerusalem from heaven) (Psalms 87). The *LORD’s house will be there. People will come to *worship there. The *LORD, *Israel’s God, will be the God of the other nations too. All false gods will lose their power over the people. There is a big difference between Jerusalem and Babylon. In Babylon, there will be confusion. In the new Jerusalem, there will be peace.

v2 People from many nations will come. This will be their message. ‘Come! We shall climb the *LORD’s mountain. We shall go to the house (*temple) of Jacob’s God. God will teach us the right way to live. Then we will live in the way that pleases him.’ The true messages that God teaches will go out from Zion (Jerusalem). The *LORD’s message will begin on the mountain called Zion in Jerusalem. It will go out to the entire world.

Verse 2

At one time, only *Israelites went to Jerusalem. They went there to *worship God. In the future, there will be a magnificent country. It will be the Jerusalem from heaven. The *Messiah will be the ruler. There will be a great movement of the world’s nations. Many powerful nations will go to Jerusalem. They will *worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:21-24). There will be good *priests there. They will teach people God’s ways to live. People will want to know God’s law. They will want to *worship God. They will want to do what God says. They will want to know his way to live. And because their *worship is sincere, they will also do good deeds. The benefits in verses 3 and 4 will follow. All other gods and *temples will disappear.

v3 He will be the judge between many people. He will settle arguments between distant and powerful nations. They will hammer their swords into ploughs. They will use their spears (like long thin swords) as tools to cut plants. Nations will not fight each other any longer. They will never train for war again.

Verse 3

There is a very great difference between the old Jerusalem and the new Jerusalem. Often in the old Jerusalem, the rulers and *priests were evil. They did not teach people the right way to live. God’s message did not reach into society. Just a few people were loyal. But there is hope. In the end, God’s message will reach the nations. And so the people will hear his message about the right way to live. This will bring great changes in society.

God’s law will become the law for the nations. People will live by his laws. God will be active among the nations. He will be the judge in quarrels between many people. He will settle the arguments of strong nations. This will happen all over the world. Leaders will ask God for wisdom and instruction. He will be their authority. There will be no evil judges any longer. God will be the most important person at the courts. The judges in the courts will study the Bible, the book that tells about God’s law. They will check it when they are making their decisions. God will therefore be the judge. He will make the decisions.

Jesus Christ, God’s Son, will have authority over the nations. He will be their king. This will affect the governments of strong nations. These distant nations will not need to fight each other. They will not need arms for war any longer. The people will destroy the arms that they had intended for war. ‘Swords’ and ‘spears’ (like long thin swords) refers also to all military arms. The people will use hammers to make their swords into ploughs. They will make their spears into tools to cut plants. Nations will not want to fight each other any longer. They will have no need to train for war. The nations will use rare materials for good, proper purposes. They will use them to give life rather than death.

v4 Each person will sit under his own grapevine (plant that yields fruit to make wine). And he will sit under his own fig (sweet fruit) tree. Each person will live in peace. Nobody will make the people afraid. This is a serious promise by the *LORD who has all power.

Verse 4

People will not love money any longer. They will not desire the goods that belong to other people. (Look at Micah 2:2.) They will not need to fight in wars to obtain them. They will not need arms for war any longer. They will have no enemies. So they will not be afraid that an enemy might kill them. The earth will produce enough food and fruit. There will be enough fruit trees for each person. Each person will sit under his own fruit trees. The word ‘sit’ gives the impression that there is peace. People will be content with what they have. They will not want more than they need. That is one main thing that Micah writes about (Micah 2:2; 3:1-3; 11; 7:3). Each person will sit in peace under his own fruit trees.

Nobody will make the people afraid. It will be like that in the new Jerusalem. People will come to see the new city. That city will be a model for other cities. People will come from all over the earth. They will get to know the new way that people live there. There will be new towns and cities all over the earth. They will be like the new Jerusalem.

There will be no fear any longer. There is fear that comes because of God’s punishment. But that fear will disappear. The nations will trust each other. Then they can destroy the arms that they had used for war. People will lose their great desire for other people’s possessions. All this can happen only when God is the king over all.

What a wonderful world that will be! We might ask how we could be certain about this. Perhaps it is only the dream of a confident *prophet. Micah is confident. But there is only one reason why he is confident. The *LORD who has all power (God) has said those things. He has said that they will happen. The *LORD who commands armies (God) has spoken it with his (the *LORD’s) mouth. That is the reason why Micah is so confident. Micah uses a special name for God here. It is like a name that people would use in war. He calls God ‘the *LORD who has all power’. It can also be ‘the *LORD who commands armies’. The powerful God is speaking. God gave the promise. And it is God who is important. Micah emphasises that fact, rather than the promise itself.

v5 All the nations may walk (live) in the name of their gods. But we will walk (live) in the name of the *LORD, our God. We will walk (live) with him always, for all time.

Verse 5

We now look again at the situation when Micah was alive. Only a few people remain loyal to God. They are waiting for God to perform his promises. In the meantime, they will ‘walk in the name of the *LORD’. The Bible often uses the word ‘walk’. Often, as here, it means to ‘be firm’. It means to ‘have a sense of purpose’. It means to ‘go on and not stop’. In other words, those people get stronger as they walk. The loyal people promise to be true to the *covenant. God gave that *covenant to Moses on the mountain called Sinai. Those people will be loyal always, for all time. The promise comforts them when they are sad. It keeps them from wrong deeds when the devil tests them. It gives strength to them for the future.

Other people get their strength from their religions. All the nations are now living ‘in the name of their gods’. (They are living by their belief in their gods.) Micah states his belief. ‘But we will walk (live) in the name of the *LORD, our God.’ We will continue this walk (this way to live) always, for all time. This means that we recognise the *LORD as our God. He is the only God. We do not give attention to other gods. We do not obey them. God has promised a new Jerusalem. To mix all the gods (religions) is not the answer. The nations must serve the one real God and they must obey him. When that happens, the promise will become true. The one real God is the God and Father of our *Lord Jesus Christ. That state of affairs will be permanent. It will continue always, for all time.

v6 This is what the *LORD declares. ‘At that time, I will gather my people. I will gather those that are weak. I will gather those that other people have bruised. I will bring together those that enemies have caused to scatter. I hurt Jerusalem’s people and I punished them. But I will bring them back to me. v7 I will change those that are unable to walk. I will change them into a loyal nation. I forced these people to leave. But I will make them into a strong nation.’ The *LORD will rule over them from the mountain called Zion. His rule will last always.

Verses 6-7

‘At that time’ refers to ‘the last days’. It is the same as in verse 1. It is a day in the very distant future. ‘The *LORD declares’ means that God has said it. It is therefore true. God is the *Shepherd and he is the King. He will gather the people who are unable to walk. He has hurt his people and he has punished them. But he will bring them together again. He remembers the people that he caused to scatter into Babylon. He will bring them back again.

In this verse, Micah describes the *remnant. They are the people that God has caused to scatter into Babylon. They are those that God has hurt. They are those that he has punished. It was as if God threw them away. Micah refers to a scene where there is terror. The people have no hope and they are weak. The *LORD has brought trouble to his people. But the same *LORD is responsible for them. He will gather his people together again. He will be like a *shepherd who gathers his sheep.

These weak people are those that will become the *remnant. God will make them into a strong nation. This description may be a reference to Jacob. He struggled with God. God struck his leg. When God left him, Jacob had a permanent injury (Genesis 32:22-32). But then Jacob became like a new man. His attitudes had changed. God was able to teach him. He became humble. God could then use him.

It will be similar with Jacob’s *descendants. God is allowing his people to become weak. But he will make them into a strong nation. It will be difficult for them to walk, as it was difficult for Jacob. They will always have this disadvantage. But the result will be that they will trust in the *LORD. They will live in the ways that he wants them to live. This will be so different from what Jerusalem’s leaders were like then (Micah 3:11). God gave to Jacob a new name, *Israel. That happened after Jacob’s experience when he struggled with God. And one day, Micah’s *Israel will become a new nation. Its people will not trust in their own strength. They will be humble. God will then be able to teach them. He will be able to use them. *Israel will become ‘the *Israel of God’ (Galatians 6:16).

The *LORD will bring his people back to Jerusalem (verse 7). He will then make them into a better people. He will make them into a *remnant. And they will become a strong nation that is loyal to the *LORD. They will declare that the *LORD is their God. They will promise to obey him always, for all time.

The *LORD will rule over them always, for all time. The people in *Israel will not *worship the other nations’ gods. They will *worship only the one real God (Romans chapter 11). Many other nations did not continue to exist after their wars and troubles (Amos 1:8). God did not preserve a *remnant for those nations. But God’s plan for *Israel was different.

God forced his people to leave their homes, because of their *sin. But he will bring them back. He will make them pure (holy). They will become a strong nation (1 Peter 2:9). They will become a nation in whom God’s Spirit lives. Christians will be a part of this strong nation (1 Peter 2:9-10).

The *LORD will rule over that *remnant. This was not true for Micah’s Jerusalem. Its leaders opposed any rule. But at that time, God will rule by means of the *Messiah (Micah 5:2-4; Acts 2:32-36). The *Messiah will rule from the throne (the highest seat, the place that shows the ruler’s authority). He will rule from the mountain called Zion. His rule will last from that day and for always (Isaiah 9:6-7).

v8 I speak to you, Zion (Jerusalem). You are like a *watchtower for the sheep and a strong building. You defend the sheep (my people). The kingdom (rule) will come to the ‘Daughter of Jerusalem’. Your former government will come back to you. Its centre will be in Jerusalem. It will be the same as it was in the past.

Verse 8

God speaks another *prophecy about Zion (Jerusalem). He calls the new capital a *watchtower. This is a tall building. It is in a *vineyard. Men watch from it to guard the *vineyard. These men carry weapons (arms like the ones that people use for war). When *shepherds are looking after their sheep, they watch. They watch to see if there are wild animals. They watch in case someone would steal their sheep. The sheep are like the nation’s citizens. These are the people to whom Micah refers in verses 6 and 7. The former rulers stole from the people (chapter 3). But in the new age, God will protect the people. He will do this by means of the *Messiah (Micah 5:1-6).

God speaks to Zion (Jerusalem) as if it were a strong building. The *Hebrew word for this building also means ‘a hill’. (The same *Hebrew word appears in 2 Kings 5:24.) Zion is an old name for Jerusalem. It was a hill to the east of Jerusalem. There used to be strong men there. They possessed all the military arms that people needed for war. This old name (Zion) linked the hill with David.

He was the strong king of *Israel. From his *descendants, the *Messiah would come. God had often promised to David that the rule of David’s *descendant (the *Messiah) would never end. We find that promise in many *psalms. (See Psalms 46 and 48. Look also at Psalms 76; 84; 87 and 122). The old name for Jerusalem (Zion) made people remember David’s previous greatness.

That would encourage the *remnant. The city would again have the power and glory (greatness) that it had in the past.

The nation called *Israel would belong to the ‘Daughter of Jerusalem’ (Micah 4:6-8). In the *Hebrew language, the word for ‘city’ is a female word. Jerusalem is therefore called a ‘daughter’. The small group of people in Jerusalem can look back. They can look back to the great period in the past. They can then look forward to the wonderful period in the future. They will again be under the rule of the king (who will then be the *Messiah).

At the time when Micah was alive, the people were not able to see these things happen. But Jesus, the *Messiah, has now come to this Earth. Now people from all the nations ask him to help them. They recognise him as their *Saviour and *Lord. They do not still *worship any other gods. They get to know the power of God’s Holy Spirit (Isaiah 61:1-4). But more is still to come.

Jesus, the *Messiah, is the great *Shepherd of the sheep. Nobody can steal the sheep out of his hand (his care) (John 10:28). He promises to be with his people always. He will be with them until time has ended (Matthew 28:20). 4:9-13 Zion’s (Jerusalem’s) people will suffer pains that will lead to the beginning of a new age The *prophecy develops in two parts (verses 9-10; 11-13). Both parts start from the word ‘Now’. ‘Now’ means the time when the present troubles are happening (verses 9, 11). The second part refers to a wonderful future. In it, Micah uses the phrase ‘Daughter of Zion’ (Jerusalem). That means the people in Jerusalem. In the *Hebrew text, God tells the people that they must shake themselves about.

They have to shake themselves because they are suffering so much pain (verse 10). This refers to a mother’s pains when her child is born. Later, God tells the same people to ‘get up’. And he tells them to ‘break these people (the enemies)’ (verse 13). For that, the *Hebrew has a special description, like a picture. It means when people break wheat to separate the inner grains from the rest.

After that, Micah describes what the future will be like.

v9 Now you are crying very loudly. Perhaps you think that you have no king. Perhaps you think that you have lost your wise helper. You are suffering like a woman that is having a baby.

Verse 9

God says to the people in *Israel, ‘Now you are crying very loudly.’ God trusted *Israel. He trusted the *remnant. He trusted those people to bring about his purposes in the world. But they have not obeyed God. In this verse, he blames the people that are in *Israel. God blames them because they do not believe him. So now he is sending them into Babylon.

‘You think that you have no king’ This shows why they are crying. The *Assyrians will defeat *Israel in war. Afterwards, God will send *Judah’s people into Babylon. The people in the ‘Daughter of Jerusalem’ have every reason to be in pain. But these people must not forget their real King. They must not forget their Helper. It is the *LORD himself. He has not left them. He is still alive. They will spend a long period of time in Babylon. But God will be with them during that time. In the end, the message is a message that brings hope. These troubles will end. Afterwards something better, something new will come.

God the Helper has a secret plan. The ‘Daughter of Jerusalem’ (its people) must not forget their King, who is also their Helper. ‘Wise helper’ in *Hebrew also means ‘Adviser’, another name for God. The people’s pains will be like the ones when a woman gives birth. There is a reason for these pains. God plans to free Zion’s (Jerusalem’s) people by means of the exile (verses 9-10). (The exile is when God will send them out of their country.) The *Assyrians have attacked Jerusalem. But God has planned the defeat of the *Assyrians (verses 11-13).

Certainly God will punish his people. But the punishment will not damage them for always. That is not God’s intention. He wants the punishment to help them. Punishment has a purpose. It will provide a way to bring the people back to God.

Another *prophet, Jeremiah, also refers to a woman’s pains when she is having a baby. He does that to make his message clear (Jeremiah 4:31).

Jesus, too, used the same example (John 16:21). He was leaving this Earth to be with his Father. Because of that, his disciples (friends and helpers) would be sad for a while. So Jesus encouraged them. He promised to give the Helper (the Holy Spirit) to them as a gift. Then they would not be sad any longer (John 16:16-22). It is the same for us today. It may seem that people continue to suffer. It may seem that troubles never end. It may seem not to mean anything. But our King, Jesus, is with us. Our Helper, God’s Holy Spirit, brings strength and help to us. He supports us at the times when we need his help.

v10 ‘Daughter of Zion’ (Jerusalem), feel the pain. It is as if you must give birth to your baby. Now you must go out of this city. You will camp in the open field. I mean that you will go to Babylon. But I will save you from that place. The *LORD will go there and he will rescue you. There he will buy you back from your enemies.

Verse 10

Only the *remnant will remain after enemies defeat Jerusalem’s people. God orders them to feel the pain. The pain is like when a woman is having her baby. These pains show to the *remnant that they must leave Jerusalem city. They must camp in the open field. They must go to Babylon.

The word ‘Babylon’ also refers to the worst level of *spiritual darkness. In other words, it will feel as if God has left his people. But in fact, God still has a plan for them. He will be present with his loyal *remnant, even in Babylon. Micah repeats the word ‘there’. He uses it twice.

This shows that it is important. The *LORD will save the *remnant ‘there’. ‘There’ he will save them from their enemies. These pains will last for a long time. But one day they will end. A new birth will mean the start of a new age, a new period in time. And that will happen only when the *remnant returns to Jerusalem.

This *prophecy became true. The *remnant returned to Jerusalem in 538 *BC (Ezra chapter 2). God’s kingdom (rule) comes by means of tests. So *Israel’s people must suffer these tests. The *remnant had left the safety that they had in the old city (2 Kings 25:2-7; Jeremiah 52:7). They had camped in the open field (Jeremiah 6:25; 14:18). The *remnant had gone to Babylon. But then they returned home. Later, the *remnant will become the new *Israel.

v11 Now many nations gather to oppose you. They have come to fight against you. Those nations say, ‘Look, there is Zion (Jerusalem)! Let us attack it! Let us make it *spiritually unclean (unholy).’

Verse 11

‘Now’ in verses 9 and 10 referred to the exile. The exile means the time when God will send the people out of their country. He will send them into Babylon. But ‘now’ in verse 11 refers to the present situation. It refers to the army from Assyria. These armies contain soldiers from many nations. The *Assyrians have paid those soldiers to fight. That payment came from taxes. And the taxes came from the nations that the *Assyrians have defeated. Those nations have paid these taxes to Assyria. Nations are attacking Jerusalem. *Israel is a nation that the *Assyrians have defeated. So its people themselves have helped to pay for this war.

Each army has its national flag. The armies surround Zion (Jerusalem). They look towards it with great pride. They talk about their enormous power. They are the present danger to Zion (Jerusalem).

The *Assyrians want to make the city *spiritually unclean (unholy). The armies want to break down its walls. These walls protect the holy city. This refers especially to the Most Holy Place in the *Temple. The armies want to destroy the holy furniture. Then the Most Holy Place would become *spiritually unclean (unholy). The people in Jerusalem city have declared that it is God’s city. God has intended *Israel to be like heaven on Earth. That is why the armies hate Jerusalem.

Some nations hate God. They will always oppose another nation that obeys his commands. They will try to destroy such a nation. Such events have happened often in history.

v12 But those nations do not know the *LORD’s thoughts. They do not understand his plan. The *LORD has brought those people here. They are here for a special purpose. They will be like grain that people have cut. And people put the grain on the floor. v13 ‘Daughter of Zion’ (Jerusalem), get up. Break these people. I will let you be like a bull (a strong animal). The bull’s horns (sharp points on its head) will be of iron. I will give to you feet that I have covered with hard metal. You will break many nations into small pieces. You will give their wealth to the *LORD, who is the *Lord of all the Earth.

Verses 12-13

However, these armies do not understand what God is doing. They do not realise that God is using them. He is causing their defeat. They gather against Jerusalem. But it is the *LORD who gathers them. They plan to destroy the *Temple. But the *LORD will destroy them. They are part of God’s plan for *Israel (Isaiah 10:5-12). God defeated the devil by means of the wooden cross where Jesus Christ died (1 Corinthians 2:7-8). The world did not understand what that event meant. It is the same today.

God is gathering these armies together. They are like bundles of wheat. Someone has gathered the bundles and they have put them on the floor. And the *LORD has gathered those armies there. He will break them up like grains of wheat. People break up the wheat to separate the inner grains from the rest. In the Bible, this is a common way to describe punishment (Isaiah 21:10; Jeremiah 51:33; Hosea 13:3).

So Micah speaks to the few people that remain (verse 13). God has gathered them in Jerusalem. *Israel’s enemies have laughed at God. God orders his people to get up. And he orders them to go out. (Look at Micah 2:13.) *Israel’s enemies are also God’s enemies. So God orders the few people in Jerusalem to kill those enemies. In another picture or special description, a strong animal is pulling a big tool to cut with.

This is like God’s people. It is as if they will have horns (sharp points on an animal’s head). And the horns will be of iron. That means that nobody can defeat them. They will have feet that someone has covered with a hard metal. These feet will break down the enemy’s proud attitudes.

God orders the people to break these many nations. They must break these nations into many pieces. God’s enemies will be like grains of wheat. God will destroy their proud attitudes. He will kill the soldiers that oppose Jerusalem. He will cause the armies to scatter.

The *Assyrians have obtained their wealth by false methods. But the few people in Jerusalem that remain will get all this wealth back again. They will use this wealth. The people will use it in the *LORD’s *Temple. They will use it in the way that God chooses. God’s secret plan began to become true in 701 *BC. We find the report about it in 2 Kings chapter 19. The nations have taken wealth from God’s people. The soldiers have gained from it. But all wealth belongs to the *LORD. God will return it to his own people.

The *LORD (God) is the king not only over Jerusalem. God is the *Lord over all the Earth. His secret plan includes the fact that *Israel will win against all the nations. God’s plan has continued to become true as time goes on (Jeremiah 51:33; 1 Corinthians 2:7-8).

© 2007, Wycliffe Associates (UK)

This publication is written in EasyEnglish Level B (2800 words).

January 2007

Visit our website: www.easyenglish.info

var w0 = new Array;w0[0]=’<b%3Eprophecy</b%3E ~ messages and stories that God has given to a person; messages that tell about things before they happen; the messages that a prophet speaks or the messages that he writes.