Micah 4:6-7

‘At that time’ refers to ‘the last days’. It is the same as in verse 1. It is a day in the very distant future. ‘The *LORD declares’ means that God has said it. It is therefore true. God is the *Shepherd and he is the King. He will gather the people who are unable to walk. He has hurt his people and he has punished them. But he will bring them together again. He remembers the people that he caused to scatter into Babylon. He will bring them back again.

In this verse, Micah describes the *remnant. They are the people that God has caused to scatter into Babylon. They are those that God has hurt. They are those that he has punished. It was as if God threw them away. Micah refers to a scene where there is terror. The people have no hope and they are weak. The *LORD has brought trouble to his people. But the same *LORD is responsible for them. He will gather his people together again. He will be like a *shepherd who gathers his sheep.

These weak people are those that will become the *remnant. God will make them into a strong nation. This description may be a reference to Jacob. He struggled with God. God struck his leg. When God left him, Jacob had a permanent injury (Genesis 32:22-32). But then Jacob became like a new man. His attitudes had changed. God was able to teach him. He became humble. God could then use him.

It will be similar with Jacob’s *descendants. God is allowing his people to become weak. But he will make them into a strong nation. It will be difficult for them to walk, as it was difficult for Jacob. They will always have this disadvantage. But the result will be that they will trust in the *LORD. They will live in the ways that he wants them to live. This will be so different from what Jerusalem’s leaders were like then (Micah 3:11). God gave to Jacob a new name, *Israel. That happened after Jacob’s experience when he struggled with God. And one day, Micah’s *Israel will become a new nation. Its people will not trust in their own strength. They will be humble. God will then be able to teach them. He will be able to use them. *Israel will become ‘the *Israel of God’ (Galatians 6:16).

The *LORD will bring his people back to Jerusalem (verse 7). He will then make them into a better people. He will make them into a *remnant. And they will become a strong nation that is loyal to the *LORD. They will declare that the *LORD is their God. They will promise to obey him always, for all time. The *LORD will rule over them always, for all time. The people in *Israel will not *worship the other nations’ gods. They will *worship only the one real God (Romans chapter 11). Many other nations did not continue to exist after their wars and troubles (Amos 1:8). God did not preserve a *remnant for those nations. But God’s plan for *Israel was different. God forced his people to leave their homes, because of their *sin. But he will bring them back. He will make them pure (holy). They will become a strong nation (1 Peter 2:9). They will become a nation in whom God’s Spirit lives. Christians will be a part of this strong nation (1 Peter 2:9-10).

The *LORD will rule over that *remnant. This was not true for Micah’s Jerusalem. Its leaders opposed any rule. But at that time, God will rule by means of the *Messiah (Micah 5:2-4; Acts 2:32-36). The *Messiah will rule from the throne (the highest seat, the place that shows the ruler’s authority). He will rule from the mountain called Zion. His rule will last from that day and for always (Isaiah 9:6-7).

v8 I speak to you, Zion (Jerusalem). You are like a *watchtower for the sheep and a strong building. You defend the sheep (my people). The kingdom (rule) will come to the ‘Daughter of Jerusalem’. Your former government will come back to you. Its centre will be in Jerusalem. It will be the same as it was in the past.