March 5, 2014
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

A Vision to Cherish

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Father, on this Ash Wednesday I begin my annual journey to the Cross. Teach me new lessons on how I can be a faithful Jesus follower.

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 &copy 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.&reg Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

The appalling gloom of the previous chapter (see 3:12) is matched in chapter 4 by the glorious prospect of what God intends to do in the future. We serve a turn-a-round God.

The vision of the Jerusalem Temple as a beacon or lighthouse on a high mountain (1) is a reminder that the preceding vision of the Temple’s destruction is not ultimate. Here is the vision of what the Temple should be: a place attractive to people near and far who will come to seek the truth about life, a truth that will overcome disputes and make people turn their energies from destructive fighting to making tools for settled life and growth, in settings where life can be enjoyed without fear (2-4).

What should we do with such a vision? If it never seems to be realized, one can easily become cynical: “nice idea, but the real world’s not like that.” We are given a guide in v. 5. Even if nations generally have not looked to the Lord’s word but persist in old ways and traditional allegiances, that is no reason to give up on the vision. Whatever others may or may not do, the vocation of God’s people is to live faithfully, and sustain hope in the ultimate triumph of God’s ways. In a Christian frame of reference, we now think of Jesus rather than the Jerusalem temple as the attractive lighthouse of truth, but we still live with a world that is generally heedless, and there remains a corresponding challenge not to lose heart, but to be faithful to our Lord. Even if others do not care about our exalted Lord, we do.

The rest of the chapter offers less ultimate visions of Jerusalem in both exile and restoration. The key is in vs. 11 and 12: people may despise a Zion that looks weak, if they do not understand that the Lord’s ways defy conventional expectations; weakness may become strength (13).

Apply

Read the passage again and single out several, wonderful promises. Write them on a card, carry it with you, read it during the day, and claim the promises.

Closing prayer

Gracious Lord, I thank You for the wonderful promises in Your Word. I praise You for what the promises give: strength, hope, direction and challenge. I love Your Word.

Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.

© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.

Encounter with God is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.

View all readings

Get ENCOUNTER:

in your email:

in Print:

Become a Member | Visit our store