What does a covenant-keeping God of Israel have to do with me? The answer, in short - everything.
Context: God's Covenant with Abraham
Interpretation and Application of Micah 4:1-5
The prophetic visions of the surrounding nations being at peace with one another would have been a far-fetched idea given their present situation was that of constant warfare, e.g. the Assyrian invasion. Moreover, that Jerusalem was to be destroyed would have also been unthinkable given that the Israelites, particularly their leaders, thought that they were in God’s good books (3:1-12). Nonetheless, for the ones being oppressed by these powers, their leaders and the never-ending assault from the Assyrians, Micah 4:1-5, would have been strange but welcome news. For the remnant of God’s faithful, the word of the Temple Mount being restored and of his law and rule being not only reinstated but accepted even amongst the warring and presently idolatrous nations may have been uplifting yet strange. If the Jews of Micah’s time used to associate themselves as the covenant people of God because they were descendants of Abraham, the talk of God extending his covenant to bless those outside their race would have been strange. Yet, others who recall God’s covenant with Abraham may have also connected the dots that God’s covenant to bless their forefathers was effectively how other nations would come to share in the blessing. Nonetheless, the application of v.5 would have been straightforward for the faithful as well as the corrupt leaders; Remain faithful in walking in the paths of YHWH and repent of their false religiosity and oppression of the poor, for the LORD of hosts, who will in future days return to govern his people, has spoken.
If the Jews of Micah’s time used to associate themselves as the covenant people of God because they were descendants of Abraham, the talk of God extending his covenant to bless those outside their race would have been strange.
Thus, when taken as a whole, Micah 4:1-5 speaks of the covenant faithfulness of God in bringing about a blessing to all the nations through Abraham (v.1-4), and our response of faithfulness to the God who has spoken such a word even amidst the unfavourable realities that presently avail us (v.5). Micah 4:1-5 demonstrates that in being faithful to the Abrahamic covenant, God’s blessing to the nations can only come about through the restoration of his people Israel through whom the nations and peoples are to be blessed. Not taking any shortcuts, God judges the iniquities of his people – even destroying her landmarks – but mercifully restores her to be the means by which the nations who shall stream to her shall be blessed. Israel’s correct response to such a word of God, as modelled by Micah, then is to remain faithful to the God who has spoken even amid idolatrous nations.
If the application for the Israelites of Micah’s time was to remain resolute in their resolve to walk faithfully after the LORD forever in response to the word that He has spoken, then as Christians our stake is even higher – for the same LORD who has spoken to Micah has in these last days spoken to us through his Son, the greater and final word (Heb 1.1). Even more so for us than for the Jews, if Micah’s prophecy concerned the restoration of Mount Zion for the sake of the Gentiles (4:1-4), then we who live now in a time of great rebellion and idolatry, need to heed to the same example and resolve to follow closely after the God who has spoken and will bring His Messianic Kingdom to consummation in future days.
Another application is to take hope in the character of our covenant-keeping God who disciplines and even tramples down on our iniquities (Micah 3:12). For he does so to restore us, the true descendants of Abraham, so that those currently living outside the covenant may come in to be blessed (Micah 1-4) through us as a new creation – the Temple Mount of YHWH our God (Micah 4:1, c.f. Matt 5:14-16, 1Cor 3:16). Thus, Christians are to take hope in their chastisement, knowing that God’s work of sanctification will bring about restoration not only for ourselves but also for those around us.
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