Daily Thoughts from Micah: No Fear and a Fig Tree (4:1-5)

Daily Thoughts from Micah: No Fear and a Fig Tree

It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it, 2 and many nations shall come, and say:  “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.”  For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.  3 He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore; 4 but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.  5 For all the peoples walk each in the name of its god, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever and ever.  (Micah 4:1-5)

Have you ever made a trip to Israel?  If you are a follower of Jesus one day you will make that trip, you and many others who make it into the kingdom.  Because in that day Yahweh will make Jerusalem the location of His throne via the person of His Son, Jesus (who is also God) and decide issues and disputes among all nations.  Micah is describing what we would term the millennial kingdom described in Revelation 20.

Up to this point Micah has been filled with the Spirit to declare the sin of Israel and Judah and the judgment coming on account of their sin.  But Yahweh’s covenant with Israel is eternal and unconditional.  That means that one day He will have his obedient nation and be able to grant them the absence of war and the prosperity of peace.  You may not think of that in terms of your own personal fig tree, but never being afraid again is surely on your list.

Yahweh is speaking through Micah to remind Israel of her hope.  He has not abandoned her as she might think when He speaks of disaster He is bringing.  The purpose of this disaster is to move them to give up walking in the name of their god, give up idolatry, and walk in the name of Yahweh Elohenu, Yahweh our God, forever and ever.  To walk in the name of Yahweh means at least: (1) I serve Him alone, (2) my life reflects His character, and (3) I acknowledge my loyalty to Him in everything I do.  The purpose of His discipline in your life is to bring you to that walk.

Turn to Him if you do not know Him.  He will receive you with great joy.  Turn to Him if you do know Him that He may teach you His ways and we may walk together in His paths.  Let’s meet together in that day under that fig tree.

John Witherspoon wrote, “It is only the fear of God that can deliver us from the fear of man,” and Cowper said, “Behind a frowning providence He hides a shining face.”

Anxiety has its use, stimulating us to seek with keener longing for that security where peace is complete and unassailable. [Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430)]