Ruins Restored
Opening Prayer
Almighty God, I bow before You to acknowledge Your infinite and eternal power, might and goodness now. I praise You.
Read Micah 4:1-13
[1] In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. [2] Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. [3] He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. [4] Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken. [5] All the nations may walk in the name of their gods, but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever. [6] “In that day,” declares the LORD, “I will gather the lame; I will assemble the exiles and those I have brought to grief. [7] I will make the lame my remnant, those driven away a strong nation. The LORD will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and forever. [8] As for you, watchtower of the flock, stronghold of Daughter Zion, the former dominion will be restored to you; kingship will come to Daughter Jerusalem.” [9] Why do you now cry aloud- have you no king? Has your ruler perished, that pain seizes you like that of a woman in labor? [10] Writhe in agony, Daughter Zion, like a woman in labor, for now you must leave the city to camp in the open field. You will go to Babylon; there you will be rescued. There the LORD will redeem you out of the hand of your enemies. [11] But now many nations are gathered against you. They say, “Let her be defiled, let our eyes gloat over Zion!” [12] But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD; they do not understand his plan, that he has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor. [13] “Rise and thresh, Daughter Zion, for I will give you horns of iron; I will give you hooves of bronze, and you will break to pieces many nations.” You will devote their ill-gotten gains to the LORD, their wealth to the Lord of all the earth. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What picture so you get in the first few verses?What a turnaround for Jerusalem (and God’s people)! In the near future it will consist of rubble overgrown with weeds; but in the end, it will be “chief among the mountains,” with all nations flocking to it (4:1). We see here something of the long-term purposes of God. His people must go into exile in Babylon (10) because they have certainly sinned, and must be punished. But they must go in order that they may be restored, that they may truly become God’s people again. And why is that so crucial? Because through them the whole world will be blessed. The suffering of God’s people during the exile–although caused by their own rebellion–was God’s tool to shape the blessing that we enjoy today in Christ. The nations may gloat (11), but only because they don’t understand the purposes of God. They, too, will face judgment in their turn. Empires rise, but they also inevitably fall. Ultimately, God’s purpose is to bring peace and blessing. How is peace to come to our world (3)? How are people of all nations to find God (4)? Answer: by you and me (God’s people) living the life prescribed by God for all to see.
Apply
Reflect on verses 3 and 4, and ask God how you can bring about peace and harmony in your own relationships.
Closing prayer
Good Lord, I thank You that Your good purpose is to bring Your peace and blessing to the world.
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