Micah

Micah 4: Nations come to the LORD's house

Begin in prayer

Before you open Micah 4 and read of nations coming to the LORD’s house, please ask Him to teach your family His ways. Ask Him to show you that His invitation reaches every nation, and you.

let the peoples praise you, God. Let all the peoples praise you.

Psalm 67:3

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word. Show us that You call people from every nation to Your house, and show us Jesus, who brings sinners near to You. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

Chapter 3 ended with Zion plowed like a field, but now the LORD’s mountain will be raised above the hills. In the latter days many nations stream to it, saying they want to be taught His ways and to walk in His paths. The LORD judges between the peoples, so that swords become plowshares, spears become pruning hooks, and nations learn war no more. Each person sits under his own vine and fig tree, and no one makes them afraid, because the LORD of Armies has spoken. The LORD promises to gather the lame and those driven away, and He will reign over them on Mount Zion forever. First, Zion must suffer, leave the city and go to Babylon, and there the LORD will redeem her. Many nations will gather against her, but they do not know that the LORD has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor.

As you read Micah 4, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD promises that people from many nations will come to His house to learn and live in peace.

Chapter 3 ended with the temple hill like a forest, and then chapter 4 begins, “But in the latter days”. The LORD’s mountain is Zion in Jerusalem, where His temple stood, and from there His law and word will go out (verse 2). The nations come to be taught, and they say they will walk in His paths. A plowshare is the blade that cuts the soil, so weapons of war become tools for growing food (verse 3). Sitting under a vine and fig tree means a home and harvest of your own, with no one to frighten you (verse 4). The promise is spoken to people who must suffer first, for Zion goes to Babylon and is redeemed there (verse 10). Jesus told His disciples that repentance and forgiveness would be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem (Luke 24 verse 47).

How does Micah 4 show us that the LORD promises that people from many nations will come to His house to learn and live in peace?

Many nations come to the LORD's house to be taught.

The temple mountain that was to be plowed is raised above the hills, and peoples stream to it (verse 1). They say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh”, to be taught His ways (verse 2). The law and the word of the LORD go out from Zion to the nations. They come as learners, and the LORD is the One who teaches.

God brings peace, and weapons become farm tools.

The LORD Himself will judge between strong nations far away, and war will end (verse 3). Swords are beaten into plowshares, the blades that cut the soil, and spears into pruning hooks, which trim vines. Each person sits under his own vine and fig tree, and no one makes them afraid (verse 4). The promise is certain, because the mouth of the LORD of Armies has spoken it. Christ is peace for all who come, and He preached peace to those far off and near (Ephesians 2 verse 17).

The LORD gathers the weak and will reign over them forever.

He will gather the lame and make them a strong nation, and He will reign over them forever (verse 7). The way goes through pain, for Zion must go to Babylon, and there the LORD redeems her (verses 9 and 10). Nations gather against Zion, but they do not know His plan, and He has gathered them like sheaves (verses 11 and 12). Jesus said that when He was lifted up from the earth He would draw all people to Himself (John 12 verse 32).

Memorise

Come, and let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways

Micah 4:2

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, am I far from God, and do I want Jesus to bring me near?

Nations stream to the LORD’s mountain in Micah’s vision and say, “Come, and let us go up”, because He will teach them His ways. People from every nation are far from God, for sin has cut them off from Him.

Christ brings sinners near to God. He went up to the cross, where He was lifted up and gave His life as a ransom for sinners. By His blood those who were far off are made near. He rose from the grave, and all that was needed was done at the cross.

The invitation goes out to every nation, and it comes to you. Turn from your sin, and put your trust in Jesus. Come to the Lord who teaches, and you will be forgiven and brought home at peace with God.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD calls people from every nation, and that Jesus is the way to peace with God. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart. Parents, please explain verse 13 in your own words, since it speaks of nations beaten in pieces.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He calls people from every nation to Himself, and bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”

Acts 2:39

Lord God, thank You that You call people from every nation to Yourself and teach them Your ways. Thank You for Jesus, who brings the far off near. Please turn us from our sin to trust Him, and make our home a place of peace. Amen.