#1177 Zechariah 2 Apple Of His Eye

 

 And I lifted my eyes and saw, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand! 2 Then I said, “Where are you going?” And he said to me, “To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.” 3 And behold, the angel who talked with me came forward, and another angel came forward to meet him 4 and said to him, “Run, say to that young man, ‘Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls, because of the multitude of people and livestock in it. 5 And I will be to her a wall of fire all around, declares the Lord, and I will be the glory in her midst.’”

6 Up! Up! Flee from the land of the north, declares the Lord. For I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heavens, declares the Lord. 7 Up! Escape to Zion, you who dwell with the daughter of Babylon. 8 For thus said the Lord of hosts, after his glory sent me to the nations who plundered you, for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye: 9 “Behold, I will shake my hand over them, and they shall become plunder for those who served them. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me. 10 Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for behold, I come and I will dwell in your midst, declares the Lord. 11 And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people. And I will dwell in your midst, and you shall know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. 12 And the Lord will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.”

13 Be silent, all flesh, before the Lord, for he has roused himself from his holy dwelling. Zechariah 2 ESV

Zechariah 2 Man With A Measuring Line

…12But You, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; Your renown endures to all generations. 13You will rise up and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show her favor — the appointed time has come. 14For Your servants delight in her stones and take pity on her dust.… Psalm 102: 12-14

Let me give you a little, fast history, hang on. It first appears in Scripture as the city of Salem, ruled by a man by the name of Melchizedek. In Genesis 14, he is called the king of Salem. Most people assumed that the name Jerusalem or Salem comes from the Hebrew shalom which means peace. Twenty centuries before Christ, it existed as the city of Salem.

The next time we see Jerusalem in history, it appears as a Canaanite stronghold with an allegiance to Egypt. Soon after that, we see it in reference to Joshua. This is 600 years after the Genesis record, or 1,400 years before Christ. Joshua, in chapter 10, sets his sights on this city as he conquers Canaan.

And in chapter 15, Joshua says that this territory, including this city, has been given to Judah when the land was divided among the tribes. But even though it was 1,400 years before Christ that the city was said to belong to Judah, it wasn’t till 1003 B.C. that David stormed Jerusalem, which was then a fortress of the people called the Jebusites. And according to 2 Samuel chapter 5, David took the city which later was to bear the name the City of David.

The city never really became much under David. It wasn’t until David’s brilliant son Solomon that Jerusalem reached its golden age. And under Solomon, the wall was extended, and incredible palace was built – an amazing and marvelous wonder of the world. The temple was accomplished, and Jerusalem became something astonishing, something astounding.

But after Solomon, the ages that flowed on brought no comparable glory to Jerusalem. And by 586 B.C., or about 400 years after Solomon, the city was a rubble, destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar.

Nehemiah went back and rebuilt it, but it remained rather insignificant from then on. Finally, in 70 A.D., after the birth of Jesus Christ some 70 years, the city was wiped out again and destroyed by the Roman army as we saw last week. Jerusalem rose rather meekly from the ashes a little after 70 A.D., but by 132 A.D., whatever was left was crushed by the emperor Hadrian from Rome.

And until modern times, even in our modern era, Jerusalem has been kicked back and forth between the Turks and the Christian nations; the Muslims and the Christians kicking it back and forth. And finally, in our generation, the marvelous rebirth of the state of Israel has occurred. A miracle of sociology, a miracle of the perpetuity of a race of human beings, I daresay nobody has ever met a Jebusite, a Hivite, an Amorite, a Moabite, an Edomite, or any other “ite” around the Bible, but we sure have Israelites, because God has preserved them in their own land. They’ve come back. But they hold it very tenuously, don’t they? Surrounded by enemies. In fact, on every side of them that is land, they are locked in with literally bloodthirsty enemies. And their hold is tenuous, and they are always on the edge of war. And incredible as it is, from Melchizedek in the fourteenth chapter of Genesis to 1977, the story of Jerusalem weaves its way through history. Cities come and go, but not that city. It just continues. The city of Melchizedek, the city of David, the city of Christ, the city of Paul, the city of Saladin, the city of General Allenby, the city of Ben-Gurion, the city of Moshe Dayan, it is ever the perpetual city, and someday it’ll be the city of the seed of David, the Lord Jesus Christ, yet again. - J Mac

A man with a measuring line in his hand - So we just saw in the last post, from the previous chapter, that God has an army, has awareness of what is going on, but He also has a future plan for Jerusalem. We discussed the time of the gentiles, and how each world power in its turn would fall to the next, and then finally, the last world power, all the nations will eventually come for one final battle, and they will be crushed by the "stone that was cut from the mountain without human hands". Daniel has other visions of these kingdoms as well and here is one from Daniel 7 that sums up the history of the world, and when you read it you will see that it fits well with the vision of Daniel 2, discussed in last post: see link below

Daniel 7 History of the World

To measure Jerusalem - Why? It probably seemed pretty desolate to those who had returned from Babylon, and remember, a lot of people stayed in Babylon, they didn't come out of her. So now this angel is measuring the city because God has a plan for the city, regardless of all the different peoples that lay claim to it throughout it's history, and His right will hold, the Creator holds the deed and those that would try to take it by force from Him, they will know a force far more irresistible in return. It's His city, the City of David, and Christ is the seed of David, the Lion of Judah, Messiah will take the throne and rule in that city. So here we are, getting a picture that there will be an end to the times of the gentiles and all those horns will be brought down.

…2Nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory. You will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow. 3You will be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, a royal diadem in the palm of your God. 4No longer will you be called Forsaken, nor your land named Desolate; but you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be His bride.… Isaiah 62: 2-4

Jerusalem shall be inhabited as villages without walls - It says for the multitude of people and livestock in it, and they are probably looking around, like those that go to a Bible believing, Bible preaching and teaching church, those that feel so much and are so often in the minority in this world, looking at all the empty chairs and wondering, from where? There are only a few of us, a small remnant, but God has a larger remnant at the end, and He has had in every age a remnant of those who believed. But how can you have a city without walls? The people who returned from Babylon knew no such peace in their time. During the time of rebuilding this was also known as the time of the Sword and the Trowel, for you built the wall with one hand and in the other you held your sword. This looks forward to a time unprecedented in Israel's history, the time of Messiah, the time of the fulfilling of God's promise to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This will be the time of God's fulfillment of His covenant with David, a time when Israel stretches all the way to the Euphrates River. This hasn't happened yet, but God said it's going to, so I am watching, waiting, expecting.

And I will be her wall of fire all around her - God will be her protector, and the imagery of the fire and the cloud is ancient, recalling her days in the wilderness, when she was led and covered by a cloud by day and fire by night. God kept her enemies at bay, she needed no brick or mortar, and the Shekinah dwelt in her midst. 

…25They will live in the land that I gave to My servant Jacob, where your fathers lived. They will live there forever with their children and grandchildren, and My servant David will be their prince forever. 26And I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and multiply them, and I will set My sanctuary among them forever. 27My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be My people.… Ezekiel 37: 25-27

Flee from the land of the north - He had dispersed the people everywhere. The Assyrians had taken Jews to the north, which then fell under Babylonian rule, but like we saw before, a lot of people didn't return, they fell into complacency, they were absorbed into this world's system, they sought friendship with the world, and they learned materialism. If they left the system then they would be outcast, and they stood to lose a lot of earthly, temporal gain. 

…4Then I heard another voice from heaven say: “Come out of her, My people, so that you will not share in her sins or contract any of her plagues. 5For her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities. 6Give back to her as she has done to others; pay her back double for what she has done; mix her a double portion in her own cup.… Revelation 18: 4-6

Yes, but from Jerusalem, everything is north because it’s the only way out of the city. And all the conquerors had come from the north. Nebuchadnezzar came from the north. Even in 70 A.D., Titus Vespasian came from the north. Everybody who ever entered the city as an enemy came from the north because is the only access. - J Mac

Touches the apple of His eye - This was His wife, His love, those that try to take her covet something that belongs to God, and those that harm her will incur His wrath.

Now, I want you to watch this. Now watch. A very difficult but interesting verse. Look what it says in verse 8; this is terrific. “For thus says the Lord of Hosts, ‘After the glory hath He sent Me.’” Now, the Lord of Hosts says, “After the glory hath He sent Me.’” Who in the world sends the Lord of Hosts? That’s what I said. The answers in verse 9, “‘For, behold, I will shake My hand on them, and they shall be a spoil to their servants. And you shall know that the Lord of Hosts hath sent Me.’” Who sends the Lord of Hosts? The Lord of Hosts sends the Lord of Hosts.

You say, “Now, wait a minute. Jehovah sends Jehovah?”

If you reject the New Testament, you got a problem with that. Right? If you accept the New Testament, you don’t have a problem with that. The Lord of Hosts the Father sends the Lord of Hosts the Son. Isn’t that great? And He is the one who comes to deliver His people. He is the one who comes to conquer the nations. And He is after glory. He is after glory. Listen, everything is done for glory for God. The nations are judged that God may be glorified. Summing it up, He says, the second person of the Trinity, the Savior, the Messiah, is sent by the first person of the Trinity, the Father, in order that He may judge the nations to bring glory to God because God too long has been looked down on because His people have been downtrodden. And God says, “In the end, when I exalt My people, then the world will know that I am God.” - J Mac

“He esteems them as much as men value their eyesight, and is as careful to protect them from injury, as men are to protect the apple of their eye. The pupil of the eye is the tenderest part of the tenderest organ, and very fitly sets forth the inexpressible tenderness of God’s love.” (Spurgeon)

I will shake My hand over them - This is an "off with you", as to say an insignificant expenditure for the One Who spoke the world into existence. It will be that short and simple for Him. 

And many nations shall join themselves to the Lord that day - This is a great reminder of God's intention to fulfill His covenant with Abraham.

…3Then Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, 4“As for Me, this is My covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. 5No longer will you be called Abram, but your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.… Genesis 17: 3-5

In the Holy Land - 

Thirdly, God’s portion, verse 12. “And the Lord shall inherit Judah as His portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again.” That’s the only place in the Bible where it’s called the holy land. That’s the only time that phrase is ever used. And I’ll hasten to add it has never been the holy land, it isn’t the holy land, but it will be. It will be. That’s the millennial title for Israel. “And He shall choose Jerusalem” - and the best way to translate “again” would be “before all is done,” or, “at the end.” - J Mac

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#1171 Zephaniah 3 Converted

 

Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled,

the oppressing city!

2 She listens to no voice;

she accepts no correction.

She does not trust in the Lord;

she does not draw near to her God.

3 Her officials within her

are roaring lions;

her judges are evening wolves

that leave nothing till the morning.

4 Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men;

her priests profane what is holy;

they do violence to the law.

5 The Lord within her is righteous;

he does no injustice;

every morning he shows forth his justice;

each dawn he does not fail;

but the unjust knows no shame.

6 “I have cut off nations;

their battlements are in ruins;

I have laid waste their streets

so that no one walks in them;

their cities have been made desolate,

without a man, without an inhabitant.

7 I said, ‘Surely you will fear me;

you will accept correction.

Then your dwelling would not be cut off

according to all that I have appointed against you.’

But all the more they were eager

to make all their deeds corrupt.

8 “Therefore wait for me,” declares the Lord,

“for the day when I rise up to seize the prey.

For my decision is to gather nations,

to assemble kingdoms,

to pour out upon them my indignation,

all my burning anger;

for in the fire of my jealousy

all the earth shall be consumed.

The Conversion of the Nations

9 “For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples

to a pure speech,

that all of them may call upon the name of the Lord

and serve him with one accord.

10 From beyond the rivers of Cush

my worshipers, the daughter of my dispersed ones,

shall bring my offering.

11 “On that day you shall not be put to shame

because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me;

for then I will remove from your midst

your proudly exultant ones,

and you shall no longer be haughty

in my holy mountain.

12 But I will leave in your midst

a people humble and lowly.

They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord,

13 those who are left in Israel;

they shall do no injustice

and speak no lies,

nor shall there be found in their mouth

a deceitful tongue.

For they shall graze and lie down,

and none shall make them afraid.”

Israel's Joy and Restoration

14 Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;

shout, O Israel!

Rejoice and exult with all your heart,

O daughter of Jerusalem!

15 The Lord has taken away the judgments against you;

he has cleared away your enemies.

The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;

you shall never again fear evil.

16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:

“Fear not, O Zion;

let not your hands grow weak.

17 The Lord your God is in your midst,

a mighty one who will save;

he will rejoice over you with gladness;

he will quiet you by his love;

he will exult over you with loud singing.

18 I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival,

so that you will no longer suffer reproach.

19 Behold, at that time I will deal

with all your oppressors.

And I will save the lame

and gather the outcast,

and I will change their shame into praise

and renown in all the earth.

20 At that time I will bring you in,

at the time when I gather you together;

for I will make you renowned and praised

among all the peoples of the earth,

when I restore your fortunes

before your eyes,” says the Lord. Zephaniah 3 ESV

Zephaniah 3

1-8 Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled - God has called you out from among the people, instructed you as a daughter, yet, O Jerusalem, how you have embarrassed yourself. It is amazing to me that God will choose any, knowing from eternity that they will not of their own nature desire Him for Who He is. So opposed is He to sin, so much is holiness a part of his nature, the defining of  all His attributes, that He will chasten His own, punish His children. The significance of a love that takes on so much baggage, that calls, that chastens, that justifies, that refines in sanctification, and what does anyone have left to take pride in, who is so good, so just that they can stand on their own two feet? 

…22But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams. 23For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.” 1 Samuel 15: 22-23

She does not draw near to her God - She saw both the works and words of God, yet she was easily tempted away by the cultures around her. Men always brag about being truth seekers, until the truth goes against what they want to believe, and Jerusalem was drawn to materialism and idolatry.

Her prophets are fickle, treacherous men - Their message was based upon the audience, what filled the seats, what got people motivated to donate to their treasuries, vote for what you want to hear the prophets say. They were for hire, no better than fortune tellers or palm readers, prosperity teachers.

…2Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires. 4So they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.… 2 Timothy 4: 2-4

They do violence to the law - Jesus didn't come to remove the law, but to fulfill it. These men made up extra laws, but did not follow the laws that God gave. The evangelical church today is no better, calling people to a basic outward morality of their own, instructing men to believe in a repeated prayer, just repeat this after me, and then go live confidently in your sin, there is no more call to repent. 

…22And he who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the One who sits on it. 23Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.… Matthew 23: 22-24

14For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. 15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? Certainly not! 16Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness?… Romans 6: 14-16

But all the more were they eager to make all their deeds corrupt - God showed them the law, that which was a standard for them to hold themselves against, and this should have led to the reality of how much they fall short, and then to such humility that would bow itself, prostrate in tears, asking, pleading for the grace to repent. Instead they made light of the law by seeing the sacrifices as payment rendered against for a life of corruption and ease. Eventually they looked so lightly upon it that they begrudged even the sacrifices, and then could not recognize salvation when He came.

…18Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.… John 3: 18-20

For my decision is to gather nations - Israel will not be alone when God pours out His wrath on an unrepentant world.

9-13 For at that time I will change the speech of the peoples - God is going to punish, His justice is real and true to His righteousness, so He will judge, but He also has plans to restore. 

Most Bible scholars see this as fulfilled in the days of the Millennium, when Jesus reigns for 1,000 years over this earth after His return in power and glory. From this passage many scholars believe that in that day the world will go back to a common language – perhaps Hebrew. - E Word

You shall no longer be haughty in My holy mountain - When we come to realize that we are not in a Holy place by our own merit, that we have done no works for which God owes us anything other than damnation, yet has provided a sacrifice fitting of Himself, then we no longer boast in ourselves. If my righteousness is as filthy rags then it is only by the righteousness of Christ alone that I can be restored to a relationship with God. 

…13If I close the sky so there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send a plague among My people, 14and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. 15Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place.… 2 Chronicles 7: 13-15

And none shall make them afraid - This definitely points to a future time and a reality that is previously unknown to Israel. They will hope to find this in a military genius, a false Messiah right before the time of Jacob's trouble, which trouble the antichrist will bring them.

14-20 Rejoice...the Lord has taken away the judgments against you - Jerusalem is being restored. What a wild and huge promise, especially when one looks at that area of the world and the turmoil it is in today.

The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst - This is the cause for celebration and peace. Christ was promised from the line of David, even before David was born.

…9Judah is a young lion—my son, you return from the prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness, who dares to rouse him? 10The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes and the allegiance of the nations is his. 11He ties his donkey to the vine, his colt to the choicest branch. He washes his garments in wine, his robes in the blood of grapes.… Genesis 49: 9-11

…16the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open: 17I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth. 18Edom will become a possession, as will Seir, his enemy; but Israel will perform with valor.… Numbers 24: 16-18

I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival - He will restore His remnant in the land, those who mourn over their sin and the sinful state of the world, that long for Christ to come and make all things right. "Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted."

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#1156 Micah 4 Teach Us

 

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.

3 He shall judge between many peoples,

and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away;

and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,

and their spears into pruning hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

neither shall they learn war anymore;

4 but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree,

and no one shall make them afraid,

for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.

5 For all the peoples walk

each in the name of its god,

but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God

forever and ever.

The Lord Shall Rescue Zion

6 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.

8 And you, O tower of the flock,

hill of the daughter of Zion,

to you shall it come,

the former dominion shall come,

kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem.

9 Now why do you cry aloud?

Is there no king in you?

Has your counselor perished,

that pain seized you like a woman in labor?

10 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.

11 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.

13 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. Micah 4 ESV

Micah 4 Mountain of the Lord

…27Daniel answered the king, “No wise man, enchanter, medium, or magician can explain to the king the mystery of which he inquires. 28But there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the latter days. Your dream and the visions that came into your mind as you lay on your bed were these: 29As you lay on your bed, O king, your thoughts turned to the future, and the Revealer of Mysteries made known to you what will happen.… Daniel 2: 27-29

F B Meyer - It is not improbable that Isaiah, Micah 2:1-4, and Micah quoted an older prophecy, which in its fullness, is yet to be fulfilled. In the millennial age Israel, in her restored beauty, will be the center of a renovated world. That restoration will bring great glory to God and blessing to mankind, Ro 11:15. The time center of unity is not to be found in creeds or systems, but in the impulse of a common desire after God and common worship. When men have found their unity in God they will renounce war; and the home-life will become the preservative of society, Micah 4:4. Micah 4:6-7 foretell the gathering of Israel to their own land. Babylon probably stands not only for the literal nation by which the Jews were carried into captivity, but for all of the Gentile nations that have afflicted the Chosen People. Notice that God’s deliverances discover and help us in the midst of our direct affliction. (Commentary)

It shall come to pass in the latter days - In the past chapters we have witnessed somewhat of a trial, the accusations against Israel, but here we see the hope of restoration. 

…4For the Israelites must live many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, and without ephod or idol. 5Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days. Hosea 3: 4-5

Isaiah 2 Part 1 Mountain of the Lord

Daniel 2 Part 3 The time of the Gentiles leading up to Christ return

1On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. 2But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. 3The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.… Hebrews 1: 1-3

…2by recalling what was foretold by the holy prophets and commanded by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. 3Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4“Where is the promise of His coming?” they will ask. “Ever since our fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has from the beginning of creation.”… 2 Peter 3: 2-4

It shall be lifted up above the hills - This carries a physical change, topographically, with the watering and flowering of Israel, but also remember that kingdoms and nations are referred to as mountains and hills. This notes the preeminence of Zion over the other nations; it becomes the capital of the world. This was the intent for Israel all along, the law came to her, true worship was described to her, God made Himself known, so she was to be the beacon to the whole world, sharing the light of truth. She, however, forsook the truth and walked in the ways of the gentile nations, so God gave the world over to the time of the gentiles, but this time will not be forever. 

…9On that day the LORD will become King over all the earth—the LORD alone, and His name alone. 10All the land from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem will be turned into a plain, but Jerusalem will be raised up and will remain in her place, from the Benjamin Gate to the site of the First Gate to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananel to the royal winepresses. 11People will live there, and never again will there be an utter destruction. So Jerusalem will dwell securely.… Zechariah 14: 9-11

…23How miserable those days will be for pregnant and nursing mothers! For there will be great distress upon the land and wrath against this people. 24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive into all the nations. And Jerusalem will be trodden down by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled. 25There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves.… Luke 21: 23-25

Let us go to the mountain of the Lord - The nations hear that God the Son is there, and so they come to learn of Him. As Micah preaches this to rural Judah, so Isaiah gives the same message in the city of Jerusalem.

…2In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. 3And many peoples will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 4Then He will judge between the nations and arbitrate for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor train anymore for war.… Isaiah 2:2-4

20 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘It will yet be that peoples will come, even the inhabitants of many cities.

21 ‘The inhabitants of one will go to another, saying, “Let us go at once to entreat the favor of the Lord, and to seek the Lord of hosts; I will also go.”

22 ‘So many peoples and mighty nations will come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem and to entreat the favor of the Lord.’

23 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘In those days ten men from all the nations will grasp the garment of a Jew, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” ’ ” Zechariah 14: 20-23

That we may walk in His paths - This is a drastic change from the way prophets were treated in Micah and Isaiah's day; this is a true reformation revival. They not only want to hear what God has to say, but in hearing they want to be doers of the truth as well. This is a reformation of the heart. The church today has lost sight of this, and has instead become wind vanes to the culture, offering nothing, covering up the light of God's law, making another gospel. 

…44“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45It is written in the Prophets: ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from Him comes to Me— 46not that anyone has seen the Father except the One who is from God; only He has seen the Father.… John 6: 44-46

…21Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls. 22 Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. 23For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror,… James 1: 21-23

For out of Zion shall go forth the law - God makes happen what should have been before. The truth will not be something men vote upon, not a preference, but the words of God sent out and clearly spoken. 

1 “Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold;

My chosen one in whom My soul delights.

I have put My Spirit upon Him;

He will bring forth justice to the nations.

2 “He will not cry out or raise His voice,

Nor make His voice heard in the street.

3 “A bruised reed He will not break

And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish;

He will faithfully bring forth justice.

4 “He will not be disheartened or crushed

Until He has established justice in the earth;

And the coastlands will wait expectantly for His law.” Isaiah 42: 1-4

They shall beat their swords into plowshares - The nations will not learn war anymore, and what has been spent, both time and resources, for that, will now be put into more peaceful pursuits, things that benefit not only my life, but to the lives of others. Having God here, Christ as ruler of the earth, leaves only the rightful fear of God, men will no longer be motivated by fear of each other. 

6-13 Those whom I have afflicted - God is yet sovereign even in affliction.

3 Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble.

4 Say to those with anxious heart,

“Take courage, fear not.

Behold, your God will come with vengeance;

The recompense of God will come,

But He will save you.”

5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened

And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.

6 Then the lame will leap like a deer,

And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy.

For waters will break forth in the wilderness

And streams in the Arabah. Isaiah 35: 3-6

…9Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” 11While the people were listening to this, Jesus proceeded to tell them a parable, because He was near Jerusalem and they thought the kingdom of God would appear imminently.… Luke 19: 9-11

Lame (06761)(tsela') A masculine noun indicating stumbling, a fall, a slip. It is taken by many translators to mean a fall or stumbling, used figuratively of a person falling, being overtaken (Job 18:12; Ps. 35:15; 38:17; Jer. 20:10). Tsela' is translated in Micah 4:6 in the Septuagint (Lxx) with the verb suntribo, means to crush completely, to shatter, or to break in pieces. Those are the one's Jesus will gather to Himself in the last of the Last Days, not the arrogant, haughty and proud! As an aside in Ro 16:20 suntribo means to break the strength and power of Satan once and for all! This is a strong verb which leaves no doubt as to who is the winner in this battle. Glory! - Precept Austin

O tower of the flock - A tower is where a shepherd would be elevated to see over a large flock, to see greater distances. Cities like Jerusalem had many watchtowers and prophets are also referred to as watchmen, because they gave advanced warning of God's judgment, which would often come at the hands of gentile nations.

…2From the ends of the earth I call out to You whenever my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3For You have been my refuge, a tower of strength against the enemy. 4Let me dwell in Your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of Your wings. Selah… Psalm 61: 2-4

The former dominion shall come - Christ is the Son of David, and this points to the David dynasty.

9Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10And I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem, and the bow of war will be broken. Then He will proclaim peace to the nations. His dominion will extend from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth. Zechariah 9: 9-10

Is there no king in you - They are getting ready to go into exile in Babylon, something that the false prophets said would not happen. He gave them much comfort, much to look forward to and hope for, but God's judgment, what was predicted by His prophets is going to come to past. There will be no king for a time, but the One will come that they will reject, as needs be, to fulfill His atoning work on the cross, but He has already died and risen, so we look forward now to His kingdom here on earth, His righteous rule. They lamented times of good rule, when they had prosperity, but they did not as a whole lament the sin that brought their ruin.

…19Those who chased us were swifter than the eagles in the sky; they pursued us over the mountains and ambushed us in the wilderness. 20The LORD’s anointed, the breath of our life, was captured in their pits. We had said of him, “Under his shadow we will live among the nations.” 21So rejoice and be glad, O Daughter of Edom, you who dwell in the land of Uz. Yet the cup will pass to you as well; you will get drunk and expose yourself.… Lamentations 4: 19-21

But they do not know the thoughts of the Lord - The nations were and still are always excited over the demise of Israel, early conquerors thought it proved the strength of their gods over that of the Hebrew God, Who was unwilling to share His glory, much like humanists today tout their systems. Everyone interprets what happens to Israel in their own way, by their own light, but what truly matters is what God intends to do, and what God has spoken.

Who (the "goyim," the unbelieving Gentile nations) say, 'Let her be polluted, and let our eyes gloat over Zion - To gloat means to think about something with triumphant and often malicious satisfaction. The unbelieving Gentile nations will gloat as they gather against Israel (Zion), fully confident that they will once and for all crush God's chosen people into oblivion and accomplish the "final solution." Note the next verse with a contrast which overrules their plans to destroy Israel.

But they (nations) do not know the thoughts of the LORD, and they do not understand His purpose - The unbelieving Gentile nations of the world that have been gathered (in the sovereign plan of God) against Israel most likely think they are going to crush Israel. Micah says "Not so" because they don't understand the sovereign plan of Jehovah for His chosen people. Spiritual truth is spiritually discerned and these nations do not possess the Spirit to illuminate the Scriptures (1Cor 2:14). - Precept Austin

Spurgeon - They had their own thoughts, and they thought that the Lord meant what they meant, — the entire destruction of the chosen race. (Micah 4 - Spurgeon Exposition) - 

That He has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor - This is where the farmer separates the wheat from the tares, and where the chaff is blown away. These nations come to bring final destruction on Israel, yet God has brought them there to be judged by Christ on His threshing floor.

Arise and thresh - The Lord is with them in battle as in times of old.

…15Behold, I will make you into a threshing sledge, new and sharp, with many teeth. You will thresh the mountains and crush them, and reduce the hills to chaff. 16You will winnow them, and a wind will carry them away; a gale will scatter them. But you will rejoice in the LORD; you will glory in the Holy One of Israel. 17The poor and needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them.… Isaiah 41: 15-17

…11I baptize you with water for repentance, but after me will come One more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. 12His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 13At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.… Matthew 3: 11-13

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