Christ’s Kingdom Foretold

Background Scripture: Micah 4; 7
Lesson Scripture: Micah 4:1-8; 7:18-20

Introduction

From the fall of Adam to the advent of Christ, many just and devout men waited for Messiah to come and be the consolation of Israel. Jesus told his disciples, “Many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them (Matt. 13:17). In the gospel dispensation, the grace of God is free; all may come, have their sins forgiven, and be a part of his kingdom.

This lesson reminds us of how God sent Jesus to establish a kingdom of peace wherein his children find safety and comfort. He will never forsake his people, and even though they fail and forget Him, his love is never failing, and the door of mercy will be open till the judgment.

Key Verse

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised (Luke 4:18).

Lesson Scriptures

Micah 4:1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.

2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the Lord of hosts hath spoken it.

5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.

6 In that day, saith the Lord, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted;

7 And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the Lord shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.

8 And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.

7:18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

20 Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.

Studying the Lesson

Micah prophesied during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah. Throughout his book, he transitions between the sins of Israel, its destruction, and its future glory. He witnessed Israel’s falling away from God and relates the deplorable conditions of his day. Many people were given to idolatry, covetousness, and violence. He lamented the ungodly rulers and their merciless treatment of the poor in seizing their lands, in ejecting women and children from their homes, and in exercising corrupt judgment. God had sent Elijah, Elisha, and other prophets to warn Israel and turn them back to the truth, but they did not listen. Finally, He sent Micah to tell the people how Jerusalem would be overcome and plowed as a field.

In Micah’s message God also brought a glorious prophecy. He told of a time in the future when the kingdom of the Lord would be established forever, a time of peace when nations would learn of God and walk in his ways. The message of changing weapons of war into tools of peace was, and always is, against the prevailing nature of the world. The Israelites had fought many wars with other nations, had quarreled within their own ranks, and had experienced numerous droughts and plagues, so a message of peace and prosperity was attractive.

Micah lived to see the destruction of Jerusalem. He saw the judgments of God poured out because of wickedness and disobedience. The word that God would have compassion, triumph over the iniquities of his people, and pardon their sins must have been a wonderful promise to anticipate. Micah concluded his prophecy with a testimony of his personal faith. He believed God would perform what He had sworn to their fathers in the past.

Practical Truths for Today

Our lesson contains a beautiful promise! The depravity of the world in Micah’s day could in many ways be comparable to the world today. Sin and deception abound; wars, sickness, and corruption are all around; and many hearts are weary and faint. But we are living in the fulfillment of Micah’s prophecy. This profound message goes against the wisdom and intellect of the human mind; man has been offered salvation and a place in the kingdom of peace. It is the amazing grace of God that He forgives the penitent sinner and fills his heart with his love.

Christ’s kingdom has been established to last forever. It gives us courage to know that we are in a kingdom that cannot be moved. World conditions may change, but our fortress of safety will not be shaken. When we feel anxious, we can go to the Rock and renew our faith in God. The gates of hell will not prevail against the church.

The lesson text tells the behavior of people in this kingdom. “But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid.” The child of God will find comfort and fulfillment in the kingdom of peace; he will not be restless, searching for entertainment and amusements. The citizen in this kingdom will walk in the name of the Lord God, and God will supply his every need. The children of God rest under the shade of these provisions.

Incessant traveling and excessive involvement in material matters of the day may indicate the heart is not fully at peace. Micah’s prophecy tells how that many walk in the name of false gods, which could be the gods of entertainment, sports, health, and materialism.

Citizens of the kingdom of peace live separate from the world and do not highly esteem the things the world admires. True Christians understand that they are not part of the worldly kingdom. Jesus prayed, “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil” (John 17:15). Even though the Christian does not appreciate the iniquity he sees in the world, he has the promise he will be kept from evil. Undue interest in politics and world affairs could be an indication of one whose heart is not fully committed to God. Impatience with others, resistance to local authorities, disobeying civil laws, or reluctance to pay taxes could be signs of not fully appreciating the nature of Christ’s kingdom.

In Christ’s kingdom they will have no need to learn war (Mic. 4:3). Christians are relieved from devising ways to get the advantage in business deals and social relationships. They do not retaliate or opine on how governments should operate. They belong to a heavenly kingdom governed by love and principles of peace. Rather than demanding their rights, they choose to suffer loss. They quietly pray for those in authority and seek to lift the load of the oppressed.

To experience God’s mercy is a benefit of belonging to the kingdom of God. We are in the flesh, and the cares of life may overwhelm us, causing us to falter in our first love to God. When we realize this and turn to God and pray for help, He pardons us and gives us courage to follow Him.

Man’s tendency is to retaliate or demand payment for wrongs—God shows mercy and forgiveness. His grace is boundless, and He goes beyond simply forgiving our iniquities. He gives us power to deny ourselves, overcome our fleshly lusts, and live godly lives. May we be heartened in the promise that when we have repented and God has forgiven our sins, they are gone. As impossible as it is to find a lost item in the sea, so when our sins are forgiven, they are forever gone!

Questions

1. What defines complete contentment in the kingdom of peace?
2. What is the Christian’s need for and proper use of recreation and hobbies?
3. According to John 3:3, what is needed to understand and experience the kingdom of Christ?
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Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).