©Michael Player
Chapter 4:11-13 (ESV) - Now many nations
are assembled against you,
saying, “Let her be defiled,
and let our eyes gaze upon Zion.”
But they do not know
the thoughts of the Lord;
they do not understand his plan,
that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor.
Arise and thresh,
O daughter of Zion,
for I will make your horn iron,
and I will make your hoofs bronze;
you shall beat in pieces many peoples;
and shall devote their gain to the Lord,
their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth.
Question to consider: What is an example of someone’s evil actions being used for God’s good plans?
The gods of the nations were territorial. People fought in the name of their gods to defeat the gods of other nations and claim their land. The more land that could be claimed in the name of a god demonstrated its power to the rest of the world.
The land of Canaan which the LORD gave to Israel was situated between the Mediterranean Sea and the lands to the East. Israel used this to their advantage and enriched themselves by facilitating trade among the nations. From the time of Solomon, Israel kept peace with the nations by allowing their gods to infiltrate the land.
Instead of keeping the LORD’s commands and depending upon His mighty hand to protect them, the people of Israel put their faith in their wealth, armies, and city walls. During the latter portion of Hezekiah’s reign, he showed an envoy from Babylon all the treasures of Judah, and as Babylon consumed many nations, Nebuchadnezzar set his sights on Jerusalem and assembled his armies against them.
While the nations assembled against Jerusalem in the name of their gods, Micah pointed out that they were actually acting according to the plans of God. Unlike the false gods of the nations, the God who made heaven and earth and all that is in them has worked throughout history to gather a people for Himself from every tribe and nation on earth. What they mean for evil, God uses for His own good plans.
He would allow His remnant to be dispersed throughout the nations in order to gather them to His threshing floor. The image of crushing many people to pieces is captured in this statement Jesus said of Himself as the cornerstone of His church, “Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.” (Matthew 21:43-44) Rather than crushing nations by way of war, the blood that was shed was Christ's own. Being broken upon the stone of Christ is in the breaking of our pride in our own good works and trusting in the blood of Christ to redeem us.
While this statement of making Israel’s horn iron and hoofs bronze is imagery associated with strength in battle, we now know that the battle belongs to the Lord. The apostle Paul pleaded for us to put on the full armor of God in our battle against the spiritual enemies, not to wage war but to stand, “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.” (Ephesians 6:13)
Remember that Micah had already delivered God’s promise that they would beat their swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. The enemies of Christ are not defeated by a government’s sword but by the proclamation of the Gospel. This is why Paul could say, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)
Dear heavenly Father, thank You for producing righteousness in the midst of a world that is full of sin and rebellion against You. Thank You that You first loved us while we still considered You to be our enemy and have freed us from the Law of sin and death. Amen.