Micah 4:6-8

THE RESTORATION OF THE DIASPORA. Micah 4:6-8

RV. In that day, saith Jehovah, will I assemble that which is lame, and I will gather that which is driven away, and that which I have afflicted; and I will make that which was lame a remnant, and that which was cast far off a strong nation: and Jehovah will reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth even for ever. And thou, O tower of the flock, the hill of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, yea, the former dominion shall come, the kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem.
LXX. In that day, saith the Lord, I will gather her that is bruised, and will receive her that is cast out, and those whom I rejected. And I will make her that was bruised a remnant, and her that was rejected a mighty nation: and the Lord shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever. And thou, dark tower of the flock, daughter of Sion, on thee the dominion shall come and enter in, even the first kingdom from Babylon to the daughter of Jerusalem.

COMMENTS

(Micah 4:6-7) In that day refers us back to Micah 4:1. What Micah is about to say is to take place during the same last of the days which, as we have seen, is the Messianic age,

(Micah 4:6) That which is lame. Micah uses here the image of the covenant people as God's flock. His sheep are pictured as limping or halting as the result of much wandering. These will be assembled. Part of the worship of Baal, the chief cause of their impending captivity, was a limping, halting dance about the altars of Baal in the high places. When God finished punishing them they will have real cause to limp!

HER THAT HALTED IS TO BECOME A REMNANT. Micah 4:7

The covenant people are no longer identified with the race of Abraham's descendants nor the political commonwealth which was national Israel. From this point forward, true Israel is the faithful remnant. (See above on Micah 2:12)

There is a distinction here between two groups. The one Micah calls that which was lame (LXX bruised). The other he styles that which is driven away. afflicted. cast off.
The lame or bruised are the faithful obedient few. Although they will be bruised in the captivity and dispersion of the nation, God will make of them a remnant. Through them He will yet fulfill His covenant promise.

That which is cast off He will make a strong nation. Paul informs us emphatically (Romans 11:1) that God has not (from Micah's point of view, will not) cast off His people. His people are the remnant. Those whom He cast off are the rebellious majority.

Of both, the remnant and the strong nation composed of those cast off, Micah says, Jehovah will reign over them.

TOWER OF THE FLOCK. Micah 4:8

The flock is the remnant, God's faithful covenant people, Zion out of whom shall proceed the law of God to all people. (Cf. Micah 4:2 above.) The tower of the flock. the hill of the daughter of Zion (not Zion herself) is the cast-off ones who shall become a strong nation, As the tower of the flock was a lookout post to guard the shepherd's flock, so the nation would shield within her the covenant remnant until the time of Messiah's coming.

The term tower of the flock is literally the tower of Ophel. Ophel is not Mt. Zion, but a percipitous slope on the south of the temple mount. This brings to sharper focus the distinction between Zion, the remnant, and the tower, the nation.

It is to the nation that the former dominion shall come. The remnant shall become the nucleus of the Christian church.

Chapter IXQuestions

Future Exaltation and Messianic Hope

1.

Demonstrate that Micah's prophecy in Micah 4-5 has to do with the day of the Messiah, our own Messianic time.

2.

What does John tell us about this end time? (1 John 2:18 -f)

3.

What is the meaning of the mountain of Jehovah's house?

4.

Comment on all peoples walk everyone in the name of his god, but we will walk in the name of Jehovah our God for ever and ever. (Micah 4:5)

5.

Discuss many nations. (Micah 4:2)

6.

Discuss ... out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of Jehovah from Jerusalem. (Micah 4:2 cp. Luke 24:44 -f)

7.

Men are at war with men because ________________________.

8.

God must become ruler of our ____________ as well as our church doctrine. (Micah 4:4)

9.

In that day (Micah 4:6-7) refers us back to ___________________.

10.

That which is lame is the image of ____________.

11.

Discuss her that halted is become a remnant. (Micah 4:7)

12.

Distinguish between that which was lame and that which was driven away.

13.

Discuss I will make. that which was cast far off a strong nation in Micah 4:7 in light of Romans 11:1.

14.

What is meant by tower of the flock? (Micah 4:8)

15.

Discuss Micah 4:11 in connection with Micah 3:12.

16.

In Micah's own time the nation of ____________ dominated the international scene.

17.

____________ would wipe out the northern kingdom.

18.

____________ would enslave the southern kingdom.

19.

____________ would conquer the Medo-Persian empire.

20.

The Maccabean revolt was against the rule of ____________.

21.

All these powers, and others since have used the land of ____________ as a political pawn and a ____________ state.

22.

Discuss Romans 11, Micah 4:11-13 in light of current events in the Middle East.

23.

The Jews are precious to Jehovah because ____________.

24.

This does not imply ____________.

25.

What New Testament reference is made to Micah 5:2 -ff?

26.

What is the meaning of Ephratah? (Micah 5:2)

27.

Bethlehem nestles on the ____________ slopes of a ridge some ____________ miles ____________ of Jerusalem.

28.

Discuss, the conditions of Jesus birth in contrast to what might have been expected for the birth of a king.

29.

The sheep tended on the slopes of Bethlehem were traditionally intended for _________.

30.

Why did the Roman emperor Harian forbid Jews to live in or near Bethlehem?

31.

Perhaps no other term in the Old Testament has been more grossly misunderstood than _____________.

32.

Humanly speaking, it was the Jews-' ambitious vision of ____________ that was responsible for the death of Jesus.

33.

It is the failure of many to recognize the kingly office and authority of Jesus that has brought about the ____________ in the modern church.

34.

Discuss the temptation of Jesus (Luke 4:1-12) in relation to the Jewish dream of world power in the Messianic age.

35.

The real issue in Micah 2:6 is the assurance that ____________.

36.

Why do the Jews object that Jesus cannot be the Messiah?

37.

Discuss the pre-existence of Christ in light of Micah 5:2.

38.

God would not, Micah promised, fully vindicate His people and exalt them until ____________,

39.

The Messiah is to be a glorious prince, but His relationship to His people is that of a ____________.

40.

What is the significance of His greatness shall be to the ends of the earth?

41.

Discuss and this man shall be our peace.

42.

Discuss seven shepherds. eight principal men. (Micah 5:5-6)

43.

What is meant by the remnant shall be as dew in a summer morning?

44.

Messiah's people are to be as bold as _____________.

45.

Micah 5:15 must be almost unbelievable to ____________.

46.

The prophet sees in the age of

____________ God executing vengeance in anger and wrath upon the nations which hearken not