Episode Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.760 --> 00:00:05.440
So let's turn to God's word yet
another songs. Is a night for a
2
00:00:05.519 --> 00:00:10.630
lot of psalms, psalm seventy six, and then Micah for one through eight.
3
00:00:16.710 --> 00:00:24.019
Psalm seventy six. In Judah God
is known, his name is great
4
00:00:24.059 --> 00:00:29.140
in Israel. His abode has been
established in Salem and his dwelling place in
5
00:00:29.219 --> 00:00:34.100
Zila Zion. There he broke the
flashing arrows, the shield, the sword
6
00:00:34.140 --> 00:00:39.609
and the weapons of war. Glorious
Are you more majestic than mountains full of
7
00:00:39.729 --> 00:00:46.689
prey? The South, the stout
ses, stout hearted were stripped of their
8
00:00:46.729 --> 00:00:51.560
spoil. They sank into sleep.
All the men of war were unable to
9
00:00:51.640 --> 00:00:55.359
use their hands at your rebuke,
O, God of Jacob, both rider
10
00:00:55.479 --> 00:01:00.320
and horse lay stunned. But you, you are to be feared. Who
11
00:01:00.359 --> 00:01:03.590
can stand before you when you're then, when, once your anger is roused
12
00:01:04.230 --> 00:01:07.870
from the heavens? You uttered judgment. The earth feared and was stilled.
13
00:01:08.349 --> 00:01:14.189
When God arose to establish judgment to
save all the humble of the earth,
14
00:01:15.629 --> 00:01:19.019
surely the wrath of Man shall praise
you. The remnant of wrath you will
15
00:01:19.060 --> 00:01:23.420
put on like a belt, make
your vows to the Lord, your God,
16
00:01:23.540 --> 00:01:27.540
and perform them let all around him
bring gifts to him. Who is
17
00:01:27.780 --> 00:01:33.049
to be feared? WHO CUTS OFF
THE PRINCES? Who is to be feared
18
00:01:33.250 --> 00:01:40.129
by the Kings of the earth?
Now let's turn to Micah, Chapter Four,
19
00:01:40.489 --> 00:01:55.359
Mike a four, mike a four, verses one through eight. It
20
00:01:55.439 --> 00:01:57.640
shall come to pass in the latter
days that the mountain of the House of
21
00:01:57.680 --> 00:02:02.109
the Lord shall be established as the
highest of the mountains, and it shall
22
00:02:02.109 --> 00:02:07.269
be lifted up above the hills,
and people shall flow to it, and
23
00:02:07.430 --> 00:02:10.750
many nations shall come and say,
come, let us go up to the
24
00:02:10.830 --> 00:02:14.870
mountain of the Lord, to the
House of the God of Jacob, that
25
00:02:14.990 --> 00:02:17.259
he may teach us his ways and
that we may walk in his paths.
26
00:02:17.979 --> 00:02:22.379
For Out of Zion shall go forth
the law and the word of the Lord.
27
00:02:22.500 --> 00:02:27.939
From Jerusalem. He shall judge between
many peoples and decide for strong nations
28
00:02:28.139 --> 00:02:32.129
far away, and they shall beat
their swords into plowshares and their spears into
29
00:02:32.210 --> 00:02:38.210
pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift
up Sword Against Nation, neither shall they
30
00:02:38.250 --> 00:02:43.490
learn war any more, but they
shall sit each man under his vine and
31
00:02:43.569 --> 00:02:46.919
under his fig tree, and no
one shall make them afraid, for the
32
00:02:47.000 --> 00:02:53.280
mouth of the Lord of hosts has
spoken for all the People's walk, each
33
00:02:53.360 --> 00:02:55.639
in the name of its God,
but we will walk in the name of
34
00:02:55.680 --> 00:03:00.669
the Lord, our God, forever
and ever. And that day, declares
35
00:03:00.710 --> 00:03:05.870
the Lord. I will assemble the
lame and gather those who have been driven
36
00:03:05.909 --> 00:03:08.789
away and those whom I have afflicted, and the lame I will make the
37
00:03:08.909 --> 00:03:14.460
remnant and those who are cast off
a strong nation, and the Lord will
38
00:03:14.460 --> 00:03:19.099
reign over them in Mount Zion from
this time forth and forevermore. And you,
39
00:03:19.500 --> 00:03:23.819
Oh Tower of the flock, Hill
of the daughter of Zion, to
40
00:03:23.979 --> 00:03:29.610
you shall it come the former dominion, shall come kingship for the daughter of
41
00:03:29.729 --> 00:03:46.000
Jerusalem. I'mn we have some themes
in our sermon this evening. That also
42
00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:52.400
came up this morning, and I
realize that this morning I made you all
43
00:03:52.520 --> 00:03:55.710
drink from a fire hose, as
they say, and I'm sorry about that.
44
00:03:57.789 --> 00:04:04.110
I hope to make this evening a
little more manageable and simple. Part
45
00:04:04.150 --> 00:04:12.099
of the struggle here is that we
have these very important and wady themes,
46
00:04:13.620 --> 00:04:18.259
themes that declare to us our very
life and our salvation, with images that
47
00:04:18.259 --> 00:04:25.569
are complex and intertwined. But,
as we've seen today and even just from
48
00:04:25.610 --> 00:04:30.290
the readings tonight of their very prominent
themes, very prominent images that we have
49
00:04:30.529 --> 00:04:36.370
repeated over and over again in the
Bible. And so hopefully that by reading
50
00:04:36.529 --> 00:04:43.439
through these and considering them, I'm
you will come to understand them in a
51
00:04:43.480 --> 00:04:46.959
way that you will be able to
read them wherever you see them and in
52
00:04:46.079 --> 00:04:56.550
a proper light and understand them in
a proper way. As we think about
53
00:04:56.670 --> 00:05:01.470
then, Micah, for what do
we see? We see a prophecy about
54
00:05:01.509 --> 00:05:09.980
the latter days, days which are
about our days, days which are not
55
00:05:10.019 --> 00:05:15.019
yet consummated, but days which have
begun. We are in the latter period,
56
00:05:15.300 --> 00:05:19.620
the last days, the end times. This is what the scriptures teach
57
00:05:19.660 --> 00:05:26.569
us. And we know that because
the final revelation of God has come in
58
00:05:26.769 --> 00:05:30.329
the person of the Sun. We
know that because Jesus has been revealed to
59
00:05:30.970 --> 00:05:40.040
prove, to establish a new and
better covenant that is everlasting. He is
60
00:05:40.199 --> 00:05:46.480
the fulfillment of all of the things
that we're anticipated. There's no sort of
61
00:05:46.639 --> 00:05:55.910
next thing, only the finalizing of
what now is. And so as we
62
00:05:55.990 --> 00:05:59.430
come to a passage here, Michael, where he's talking about in the latter
63
00:05:59.470 --> 00:06:05.620
days, what he's telling us,
or may I could put it this way
64
00:06:05.939 --> 00:06:14.660
he's we have here Old Testament prophecies
that are describing current realities. In other
65
00:06:14.699 --> 00:06:19.930
words, this prophecy here in micap
is about our life right now, which
66
00:06:20.009 --> 00:06:24.889
is an utterly amazing thing. Now, there are some things you'll have to
67
00:06:25.050 --> 00:06:29.649
think through, a ways in which
the we experience things in this life that
68
00:06:29.769 --> 00:06:32.800
don't seem to fit and accord with
this passage, and so we ask to
69
00:06:32.800 --> 00:06:38.480
ask, have to ask why,
how does that go together? But nevertheless,
70
00:06:38.519 --> 00:06:42.759
you let's begin in that place.
I'll be begin by understanding that he's
71
00:06:42.839 --> 00:06:47.829
talking about our days, our times, in which Jesus has come and established
72
00:06:47.949 --> 00:06:57.029
his kingdom, his final, everlasting
kingdom, which is the church. So
73
00:06:57.149 --> 00:07:00.189
what do we see here? Well, first remember that in Mica Chapter Three,
74
00:07:00.699 --> 00:07:05.180
Mike has been acting as a prosecutor. He's been acting in as an
75
00:07:05.259 --> 00:07:11.980
attorney, prosecuting the old covenant.
You are to live by the law and
76
00:07:12.060 --> 00:07:15.769
you have broken the law and you
will die by the law. He's been
77
00:07:15.810 --> 00:07:21.129
speaking particularly to the leaders in Israel, her judges, her teachers, her
78
00:07:21.370 --> 00:07:27.209
her priests, her prophets, her
prophets, and the last words that we
79
00:07:27.290 --> 00:07:33.079
had in this judge into Mica Three
is that Zion is going to be raised,
80
00:07:34.279 --> 00:07:38.959
as in down to the ground,
not up to the sky. I
81
00:07:39.040 --> 00:07:43.279
think that's with a ze right.
Zion is going to be leveled. Remember
82
00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:46.990
Mica three, verse twelve. Therefore, because of you, Zion shall be
83
00:07:47.230 --> 00:07:53.189
plowed as a field, Jerusalem shall
become a heap of ruins and the mountain
84
00:07:53.269 --> 00:07:58.939
of the House of the Lord a
wooded height. Instead of this mighty city,
85
00:07:59.180 --> 00:08:05.379
which is a place of protection and
safety and wisdom and judgment and beauty
86
00:08:05.939 --> 00:08:13.649
truth, it's going to return to
wilderness, trees just growing up in the
87
00:08:13.730 --> 00:08:18.889
place where the mighty city of God
once stood. This is the judgment that
88
00:08:18.129 --> 00:08:24.449
is going to come upon God's people. Why? Because of sin. We
89
00:08:24.649 --> 00:08:28.759
thought a lot about that as we
looked at those through two or three sermons
90
00:08:28.800 --> 00:08:35.080
in Mica three, those particular scenes
that brought about this particular judgment. But
91
00:08:35.120 --> 00:08:43.509
in Mica for there's a turn,
a turn from Judgment Unto Salvation. And
92
00:08:43.629 --> 00:08:50.909
what's amazing about that turn is that
it turns on a different standard, we
93
00:08:50.950 --> 00:08:58.620
might say. The Old Standard was
obey and you shall live. God doesn't
94
00:08:58.700 --> 00:09:05.220
come to say I'm going to I'M
GOING TO TEAR Zion down, I'm going
95
00:09:05.299 --> 00:09:07.500
to plow it I'm going to take
the mountain of the House and turn it
96
00:09:07.620 --> 00:09:11.529
into a wooded height. And then
he doesn't say after that, and then
97
00:09:11.570 --> 00:09:16.129
I'll come to you again and I'll
give you a second chance, or a
98
00:09:16.289 --> 00:09:20.610
zillionth chance. Really, I'm going
to give you a zillionth chance to obey
99
00:09:20.649 --> 00:09:26.519
the law again and if this time
you obey the law, then I will
100
00:09:26.600 --> 00:09:33.519
establish my kingdom and you. He
doesn't do that. No, he says
101
00:09:33.600 --> 00:09:35.639
it shall come to the past,
in the latter days, that the mountain
102
00:09:35.720 --> 00:09:41.870
of the House of the Lord shall
be established. I'm going to do this.
103
00:09:41.950 --> 00:09:46.830
This is my promise and these are
the things that are going to happen.
104
00:09:46.669 --> 00:09:50.070
And, as we know from other
places and Mica and the rest of
105
00:09:50.149 --> 00:09:56.139
Scriptures, this is happens because of
the sovereign promise of God that, by
106
00:09:56.340 --> 00:10:00.259
His grace, he is going to
do, with the people proved they were
107
00:10:00.299 --> 00:10:03.460
unable to do. He is going
to do, by his spirit and through
108
00:10:03.460 --> 00:10:09.649
the work of his son, the
work that the law was UN unable to
109
00:10:09.730 --> 00:10:22.000
do, and God is going to
establish this thing that far it's supersedes anything
110
00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:28.000
that Israel has ever seen, and
we get the sense of that as we
111
00:10:28.080 --> 00:10:33.159
read this passage it's put in this
very earthy language, right, even speaking
112
00:10:33.200 --> 00:10:35.750
of the Earth, mountains and such, but in other things, you know,
113
00:10:37.029 --> 00:10:43.549
plows and spears, pruning hooks and
or the plow shares. These cut
114
00:10:43.629 --> 00:10:50.019
this kind of language, fig trees, very earthly, very concrete language.
115
00:10:50.379 --> 00:10:54.059
And yet when God puts it all
together and reveals this through the mouth of
116
00:10:54.139 --> 00:11:00.899
the Prophet, you get this deep
sense that something much bigger is going on
117
00:11:01.259 --> 00:11:09.970
here than just somebody sitting under a
fig tree, something enormously significant. And
118
00:11:11.409 --> 00:11:15.289
we get this sense because of the
words that are here. It's not just
119
00:11:15.490 --> 00:11:22.559
something that we feel or make up. Let's look at that. Let's consider
120
00:11:24.039 --> 00:11:28.320
what it is God is doing in
the latter days. The first thing he
121
00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:35.789
describes is the lifting up of the
mountain of the Lord. The mountain of
122
00:11:35.830 --> 00:11:39.870
the House of the Lord shall be
established as the highest of the mountains.
123
00:11:39.909 --> 00:11:45.230
It shall be lifted up above all
the hills. You can go to any
124
00:11:45.269 --> 00:11:50.899
atlas look at where Jerusalem was.
No right away that it is not the
125
00:11:50.940 --> 00:11:56.259
highest of the mountains in the world. It's not that big, right.
126
00:11:56.299 --> 00:12:03.049
And yet God says that this mountain
is going to be established as the highest
127
00:12:03.169 --> 00:12:09.330
of mountains in all the world.
This lifting up is symbolic, and these
128
00:12:09.450 --> 00:12:16.639
terms are meant to make us feel
the Pre Eminence of this place. This
129
00:12:16.759 --> 00:12:22.600
is not just a going higher,
but this is Zion becoming like the king
130
00:12:22.759 --> 00:12:30.470
of the mountains, the highest,
the most important of the mountains. And
131
00:12:30.590 --> 00:12:33.590
we also see that this mountain is
not just a mountain. This is not
132
00:12:33.750 --> 00:12:37.950
just any hill, any place.
This is the dwelling place of God.
133
00:12:39.470 --> 00:12:41.750
This is why it is high,
this is why it is lifted up,
134
00:12:41.950 --> 00:12:46.539
this is why this mountain is more
important than any other mountain in the world,
135
00:12:48.419 --> 00:12:52.419
because on it he sets his house. This is why people go to
136
00:12:52.899 --> 00:12:58.529
this mountain and not any other.
This is why it says that as the
137
00:12:58.570 --> 00:13:05.529
law goes out from this mountain,
as the word goes forth, the Lord
138
00:13:05.610 --> 00:13:11.879
will judge the people and the people
will in turn come Desi in verse two,
139
00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:16.399
and many nations shall come and say, come, let us go up
140
00:13:16.440 --> 00:13:20.000
to the mountain of the Lord,
to the House of the God of Jacob
141
00:13:20.039 --> 00:13:24.159
the he may teach us his ways
and that we wait meet, we may
142
00:13:24.279 --> 00:13:31.629
walk in his paths. Mountains have
often had a very and still do have
143
00:13:31.710 --> 00:13:39.509
a very important place in the false
religions of this world. People look at
144
00:13:39.590 --> 00:13:43.379
mountains and they stand in all of
them. They see in them a thing
145
00:13:43.580 --> 00:13:48.500
that is reaching up into the heavens, a place for the gods and in
146
00:13:48.700 --> 00:13:52.139
mythology after mythology, pagan religion after
pagan religion, these is where you will
147
00:13:52.139 --> 00:14:01.730
find the God's dwelling, Mount Olympus
as guard others. You see this even
148
00:14:01.769 --> 00:14:07.529
in cartoons, right the the journey
to wisdom up the mountains. So you
149
00:14:07.610 --> 00:14:13.519
find a little old man's are going
to row with staff who will pour out
150
00:14:13.600 --> 00:14:20.519
his wisdom to you. Mountains often
represent this place where we go to get
151
00:14:20.679 --> 00:14:26.990
up right, to get higher,
to get into heavenly things, spiritual frame
152
00:14:28.029 --> 00:14:31.590
of mind, and they do tend
to do this right. Usually have our
153
00:14:31.669 --> 00:14:35.870
mirror treats on the tops of mountains
and these kinds of things. But something
154
00:14:37.029 --> 00:14:41.340
very different is going on. This
is not just run of the mill paganism
155
00:14:41.460 --> 00:14:46.980
and mythology that is happening here.
God is using the symbolism, God is
156
00:14:48.100 --> 00:14:52.580
using these places, these earthly ways, which, by the way, he'd
157
00:14:52.659 --> 00:14:56.210
made and connect with us deeply in
these ways, to establish the things that
158
00:14:56.250 --> 00:15:05.730
are true, to establish his pre
eminence above all gods. An amazing thing
159
00:15:05.769 --> 00:15:09.080
about God is he doesn't have to
pick the highest mountain in the world to
160
00:15:09.200 --> 00:15:13.720
say this. He doesn't have to
use impressive things that we wonder at and
161
00:15:13.799 --> 00:15:18.600
we go, Oh, yes,
surely this is the true God. No
162
00:15:18.840 --> 00:15:22.950
God can pick insignificant things to make
this point. This is how strong our
163
00:15:24.070 --> 00:15:28.149
God is. We get this point
later on. I love this in verse
164
00:15:28.269 --> 00:15:33.269
six. In that day, declares
the Lord. I will assemble the lame
165
00:15:33.230 --> 00:15:37.899
and gather those who have been driven
away and those whom I have afflicted,
166
00:15:37.340 --> 00:15:41.659
and the lame I will make the
remnant and those who were cast off a
167
00:15:41.940 --> 00:15:48.059
strong nation. When the people,
when sinful men, decide to establish the
168
00:15:48.220 --> 00:15:54.850
Kingdom of Heaven on earth, they
do not go if history is any guide,
169
00:15:56.169 --> 00:16:00.889
they do not go out and collect
the lame people and the afflicted people
170
00:16:02.049 --> 00:16:04.480
in the oppressed people, and gather
them all together and say here, I
171
00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:11.840
will establish an eternal kingdom based on
this. What are men do? Genetic
172
00:16:11.919 --> 00:16:22.429
selection, concentration camps right. They
find ways to eliminate those that are perceived
173
00:16:22.470 --> 00:16:27.990
and actually are weak, to eliminate
those who would pose, those who are
174
00:16:29.029 --> 00:16:36.620
oppressed, those who are not worthy
of being the rock of their New Kingdom.
175
00:16:36.620 --> 00:16:42.659
But God doesn't need mankind to establish
his kingdom. In fact, though,
176
00:16:42.779 --> 00:16:48.809
he will become incarnate as a man, as the divine, as a
177
00:16:48.049 --> 00:16:55.730
divine man. is how he establishes
a final humanity, a kingdom of men.
178
00:16:56.129 --> 00:17:00.690
He doesn't do it based on our
strengths. He doesn't go and collect
179
00:17:00.809 --> 00:17:03.880
the most impressive things in the world
and the most impressive people of the world
180
00:17:03.880 --> 00:17:07.160
and their riches and their goal.
He says, I don't need any of
181
00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:15.640
that and I'll do something that far
suppere us, far as exceeds anything that
182
00:17:15.789 --> 00:17:19.910
you could ever even imagine, that
you could even begin to build with the
183
00:17:21.069 --> 00:17:23.630
things and the resources that you think
you have in this world. Trust not
184
00:17:23.789 --> 00:17:29.269
in princes and chariots and horses.
This is the constant message of scripture.
185
00:17:29.990 --> 00:17:34.460
The stuff fails, these people fall
apart and the world is full of sin.
186
00:17:36.619 --> 00:17:40.940
But God, who rules and range
and righteousness, enters into this world
187
00:17:41.779 --> 00:17:48.210
and I don't know how to say
it, he explodes our presuppositions, he
188
00:17:51.809 --> 00:18:03.000
demolishes the kingdoms of this world and
this is what he creates. He creates
189
00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:11.279
a city of the Lord, a
kingdom, a temple. Psalm Eleven for
190
00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:15.269
says the Lord is in his Holy
Temple, the Lord's throne is in heaven,
191
00:18:15.390 --> 00:18:21.910
his eyes see, his eyelids test
the children of man, unlike the
192
00:18:21.990 --> 00:18:26.670
false gods that people worship that are
unable to do anything good or evil.
193
00:18:27.099 --> 00:18:32.380
He is the true God, and
we know this because he has shown his
194
00:18:32.579 --> 00:18:37.500
power in the world over and over
and over again, in such a way
195
00:18:37.619 --> 00:18:45.089
that even pagan idolaters will bend the
knee to him, usually at the last
196
00:18:45.130 --> 00:18:49.369
moment, but they will ultimately bend
their knee and, like rehab who sees
197
00:18:51.529 --> 00:18:56.559
Israel coming, says, whatever you're
gonna do, include me in it.
198
00:18:56.640 --> 00:19:00.519
Don't let me be destroyed with the
rest of Jericho. I've heard of you,
199
00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:07.480
I've heard of Yah, where you
are gone. He is the true
200
00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:11.069
God who has shown himself over and
over again, and not only through all
201
00:19:11.150 --> 00:19:15.910
of these events, Pharaoh and Joshua
and all of these stories that you might
202
00:19:15.950 --> 00:19:23.069
consider Um raising up kingdoms, putting
down kingdoms, establishing kings overnight, destroying
203
00:19:23.150 --> 00:19:30.220
them overnight, but then he gives
his son, who goes willingly to a
204
00:19:30.460 --> 00:19:36.980
cross as a king, to die
and then raises from the dead victorious over
205
00:19:37.099 --> 00:19:41.809
his enemies. This is the God
who we serve and this is why we
206
00:19:41.009 --> 00:19:48.970
go to him and to no other
this is why we trust him. Unlike
207
00:19:48.009 --> 00:19:52.650
the false gods, he is a
true God and has shown his mouthpower and
208
00:19:52.730 --> 00:19:57.680
might, and this mountain, in
this temple are earthly pictures of his dwelling
209
00:19:57.720 --> 00:20:04.480
place. That's a second important thing
to consider, and I'll mention it only
210
00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:11.309
briefly. We ought not to think
that this is that God is expecting us
211
00:20:12.150 --> 00:20:19.509
to drop everything, jump on a
plane and go to Jerusalem, because Moses
212
00:20:19.589 --> 00:20:25.819
himself says an exodus twenty five,
or God says to Moses to build the
213
00:20:25.980 --> 00:20:29.859
temple or the Tabernacle at that time
and then later the temple would be built.
214
00:20:29.859 --> 00:20:36.130
Similarly, here's his God's words,
exactly as I show you, concerning
215
00:20:36.250 --> 00:20:41.730
the pattern of the Tabernacle and all
of its furniture. So shall you make
216
00:20:41.809 --> 00:20:48.650
it? God gives instructions to Moses
and later to Solomon to build this dwelling
217
00:20:48.849 --> 00:20:55.200
place place according to the pattern that
he gives them blueprints. Okay, just
218
00:20:55.319 --> 00:20:59.480
like any architect, you hire someone
for, you know, some work and
219
00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:02.519
here the blueprints, here's the pattern. Build it this way. We have
220
00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:04.509
lots of details about that in the
Old Testament, about how that was done.
221
00:21:07.230 --> 00:21:11.869
The very important thing to recognize,
though, is that this pattern is
222
00:21:11.109 --> 00:21:18.349
based on a heavenly reality. Thoughts
of Hebrews says this and Hebrews Nine,
223
00:21:18.509 --> 00:21:22.579
he says that they temple and all
of its furniture and everything's they were copies,
224
00:21:22.660 --> 00:21:27.539
Hebrews nine hundred and twenty three.
They were copies of heavenly things.
225
00:21:30.420 --> 00:21:36.849
So this earthly temple, this earthly
mountain, weren't the final thing. They
226
00:21:36.890 --> 00:21:41.049
were shadows, types, prototypes,
you know, like lego models, of
227
00:21:41.369 --> 00:21:52.039
the Awesome Heavenly Temple of God,
the True Mount Zion, the heavenly city,
228
00:21:52.200 --> 00:21:59.200
the city of the Living God,
and that's what this picture is helping
229
00:21:59.240 --> 00:22:03.710
us to understand in mic of for
this picture of the mountain all these ways,
230
00:22:03.789 --> 00:22:07.789
being high and lifted up, is
helping us to understand that that God
231
00:22:07.910 --> 00:22:11.829
is going to do something greater than
they have ever seen before in their history.
232
00:22:15.109 --> 00:22:18.660
It helps us to recognize the exalted
nature of God and his kingdom and
233
00:22:18.779 --> 00:22:25.140
it puts it in very concrete terms. That can we that we can understand.
234
00:22:27.700 --> 00:22:33.890
One last thing. We've considered the
way in which Mica is speaking,
235
00:22:33.170 --> 00:22:37.650
on which God is speaking through his
Prophet. That helps us understand the nature
236
00:22:37.650 --> 00:22:41.410
of the kingdom that comes in the
last days this place where he will dwell,
237
00:22:41.930 --> 00:22:48.079
the strength on which he founds it. Last thing I want to point
238
00:22:48.119 --> 00:22:51.240
to you this evening, and there
are many more you can consider, but
239
00:22:51.359 --> 00:22:56.279
just one more thing, and that
it's from this place that God will do
240
00:22:56.880 --> 00:23:03.069
what the former leaders and shepherds and
prophets did not do. They were condemned
241
00:23:03.190 --> 00:23:08.470
for being false rulers, false judges, people that were not ruling according to
242
00:23:08.630 --> 00:23:12.900
justice, that were hurting the oppressed, that we're taking bribes, that were
243
00:23:14.220 --> 00:23:19.180
doing their things just to get rich. God, however, is going to
244
00:23:19.259 --> 00:23:33.130
establish true justice. These truths are
revealed to us. He is going,
245
00:23:33.410 --> 00:23:37.569
this is verse two. He is
going to teach us his ways. Why?
246
00:23:37.569 --> 00:23:44.319
So that we may walk in his
paths. This morning in Sunday school
247
00:23:44.319 --> 00:23:48.440
I asked us question about what's the
relationship between how we read the Bible and
248
00:23:48.839 --> 00:23:56.829
how we follow we learn these things
so that he might know how to walk.
249
00:23:56.509 --> 00:24:03.190
That's the point. God delivers these
pronouncements, he delivers these judgments so
250
00:24:03.390 --> 00:24:12.339
that we might walk and notice a
walk together. Verse Two. Come let
251
00:24:12.660 --> 00:24:17.740
us go up to the mountain of
the Lord. We follow the Lord by
252
00:24:18.140 --> 00:24:22.619
grabbing people arm in arm and saying, let's go to the city of the
253
00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:26.730
Living God. Let us hear his
words, let us hear his righteous judgment.
254
00:24:26.890 --> 00:24:33.529
Is Pronouncements. There's this zeal,
in this desire and joy and happiness
255
00:24:33.970 --> 00:24:40.119
in going to see the Lord.
And why not? For God speaks truly,
256
00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:44.000
and look at the results. He
shall judge verse three. He shall
257
00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:49.559
judge between many people's he shall decide. For strong nations far away, what
258
00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:56.430
will they do as God makes his
decisions, as he brings in the gentiles
259
00:24:56.509 --> 00:25:02.710
into his kingdom? King, they
shall beat their sores swords into plowshares and
260
00:25:02.869 --> 00:25:07.980
their spears into pruning hooks. Nation
shall not lift up Sword Against Nation,
261
00:25:07.180 --> 00:25:12.619
neither shall they learn war anymore.
This is what God is establishing in his
262
00:25:12.819 --> 00:25:19.660
kingdom, which is begun now here
on earth, in his church. He
263
00:25:19.980 --> 00:25:26.490
makes us people who are at peace. He begat changes our heart so that
264
00:25:26.609 --> 00:25:30.450
our first reaction is not I want
what he has, I want you what
265
00:25:30.569 --> 00:25:34.799
she has. How can I get
it? But so that we can give
266
00:25:36.039 --> 00:25:40.440
freely. Why? Because I have
everything I could ever need. God has
267
00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:47.480
blessed me with every spiritual gift in
the heavenly places. We he creates a
268
00:25:47.599 --> 00:25:56.029
situation in which war will be no
more. In these concrete terms of Micael
269
00:25:56.109 --> 00:25:59.630
for where people will look around at
all these war implements and go them.
270
00:26:00.190 --> 00:26:08.980
I guess we'll turn them into farming
equipment. This is wasted metal, beautiful,
271
00:26:11.220 --> 00:26:17.140
beautiful image. Beating their swords into
plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks
272
00:26:17.180 --> 00:26:21.930
and all the other tour tools of
war will be put away, he says,
273
00:26:22.930 --> 00:26:32.650
either. Shall they learn war anymore? War requires training, strategy,
274
00:26:32.880 --> 00:26:38.799
war games, military schools. No
need, just rest. It's okay.
275
00:26:40.440 --> 00:26:41.559
You don't need to train, you
don't need to get ready, you don't
276
00:26:41.599 --> 00:26:45.319
need to prepare, you don't need
to sharpen your weapons. Just just relax,
277
00:26:48.750 --> 00:26:53.589
because verse for her, they'll sit, every man under his vine and
278
00:26:53.710 --> 00:26:57.309
under his fig tree. No one
shall make them afraid. They're in an
279
00:26:57.390 --> 00:27:00.950
open field right. You don't even
have a house, at a door,
280
00:27:00.990 --> 00:27:04.819
at a lock, just just sitting
there enjoying the provisions of the Lord.
281
00:27:06.460 --> 00:27:11.420
At rest, at ease, everybody
totally taken care of, not worried about
282
00:27:11.660 --> 00:27:15.170
who might take my figs. Maybe
I should go get more figs. Just
283
00:27:15.690 --> 00:27:21.130
it's okay. That's what the Kingdom
of God is. That's why we rest
284
00:27:21.210 --> 00:27:25.450
on the Lord's Day. We're anticipating
the consummation of these things, things which
285
00:27:25.490 --> 00:27:29.650
have already begun for us in Christ. We could just calm down a little
286
00:27:29.690 --> 00:27:37.680
bit, rest because it's okay,
because the Kingdom of God is being established,
287
00:27:37.960 --> 00:27:48.789
Jesus has established his kingdom. But
what about all those people that are
288
00:27:48.829 --> 00:27:52.789
trying to hurt me? And what
about the people that are doing us harm?
289
00:27:52.869 --> 00:27:56.910
And what about all the passages about
wolves in the church and passages that
290
00:27:56.950 --> 00:28:02.700
we read about people laying traps and
people trying to harm and on and on
291
00:28:02.819 --> 00:28:08.779
and on. Well's true, and
let's not forget ourselves, we often lay
292
00:28:08.819 --> 00:28:15.569
our own traps fall into them.
There is, of course, sin still
293
00:28:15.609 --> 00:28:18.369
in the world, there is,
of course, sins still at our hearts,
294
00:28:18.450 --> 00:28:22.970
and so, in that sense,
we are still at war, but
295
00:28:23.289 --> 00:28:27.400
not let us not forget that,
though we are at war, and though
296
00:28:27.480 --> 00:28:32.319
we ought to fight in the spirit
of God and in the strength of Christ
297
00:28:32.440 --> 00:28:37.440
and put on the armor of God, as Ephesians calls us to, nevertheless
298
00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:41.119
we fight in the strength of the
one who has already won the battle,
299
00:28:41.269 --> 00:28:47.470
the one who is already established the
kingdom, a kingdom that has no end,
300
00:28:48.750 --> 00:28:52.029
with a king that we need not
fear, that he might give up
301
00:28:52.069 --> 00:28:59.660
or go away or fail in any
way. How can we trust our savior
302
00:28:59.819 --> 00:29:06.980
in this way? The answers in
verse four, for the mouth of the
303
00:29:07.099 --> 00:29:15.210
Lord of Hosts are spoken. That's
it. God has spoken. That's all
304
00:29:15.450 --> 00:29:19.049
you and I need. And he
has spoken, of course, and his
305
00:29:19.170 --> 00:29:23.519
word that we have here in scripture, a word that is ultimately and fully
306
00:29:23.640 --> 00:29:30.680
and completely about his son, who
is come into the world to accomplish these
307
00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:36.559
things, who has risen to the
Father in heaven and who is coming again.
308
00:29:37.960 --> 00:29:41.789
And when he does, all the
things that are promised here in micafre
309
00:29:41.869 --> 00:29:49.910
revelation twenty two and all throughout the
God's word will pe consummated, not begun,
310
00:29:52.269 --> 00:29:56.500
but finished. The Work of God
has already begun. The Kingdom of
311
00:29:56.579 --> 00:30:00.460
God is already here. We know
that because we are the people that are
312
00:30:00.660 --> 00:30:07.019
far off, really, really,
really far from Jerusalem, and yet hearing
313
00:30:07.210 --> 00:30:11.650
his word, praising his name,
going not to that mountain but to the
314
00:30:11.849 --> 00:30:17.809
city of the Living God, the
heavenly Jerusalem, to praise him. Jesus
315
00:30:17.849 --> 00:30:19.089
says to the woman at the well, there will come a day when you
316
00:30:19.130 --> 00:30:25.400
will worship either at that mountain or
at this mountain. The worship in the
317
00:30:25.519 --> 00:30:30.599
heavenly city. God's work has been
done and it is being done. So
318
00:30:30.759 --> 00:30:37.910
my encouragement to you from the word
of God is to trust him, is
319
00:30:37.990 --> 00:30:44.069
to trust him and turn to him
in every weakness and every struggle. A
320
00:30:45.789 --> 00:30:51.420
to him you will need to find
you will need to persevere, you will
321
00:30:51.539 --> 00:30:56.579
need to be on guard, but
in that perseverance you will can also find
322
00:30:56.660 --> 00:31:00.140
your rest in him, as we
heard earlier in the words of Psalm twenty
323
00:31:00.259 --> 00:31:06.369
two. The these cries of anguish, I can see my bones, I'm
324
00:31:06.490 --> 00:31:10.849
wasting away, there are wild beasts
attacking me. And yet at the same
325
00:31:10.890 --> 00:31:15.289
time he says, but I'm going
to praise God and I'm going to lift
326
00:31:15.329 --> 00:31:19.039
up my voice in the congregation.
Where does that kind of confidence come from?
327
00:31:19.480 --> 00:31:22.279
It comes from the word of the
Lord. Let's pray
