Read Micah 3:1-4:13
In our last study we noted that Micah ended his severe sermon against the unscrupulous landlords and cowardly prophets with the bright promise of the Shepherd King, Jesus Christ, who would deliver his remnant from their bondage to unrighteous leaders. The change of tone is so dramatic that some critical scholars insist that these hopeful words were added later to cheer up the reader. But not only are we confident that this whole book is God’s word through Micah as announced, we know this to be a characteristic of Micah throughout the book. Each doomsday sermon concludes with an invitation to come to the Savior. And this is characteristic of the whole Bible. God only preaches the bad news to drive us away from our sin and danger into the arms of his Christ.
Micah boldly preaches God’s threats against Judah’s unjust leaders. The most terrifying judgments in Scripture are made against those who abuse God’s people with their authority. Why? Because God entrusts us to earthly authorities as his “servants” that they might do “good” to all his image bearers but especially his Church (Ro. 13:4). So when an authority rebels against God, the source of his authority, and does harm to those entrusted to his care, God is incensed. There are three groups of leaders addressed in this chapter, and those three groups are still represented in our society: judges, pastors, and rulers.
But of course even the best Christian judges, pastors, and rulers will fail their Lord and their people. These inadequacies even among the best drive us to the Christ prophesied by Micah who is the perfect Prophet, Priest, and King. As such, he provides four freedoms found only in the Church and two oracles, which explain the conditions for entering.
Micah is prophesying about the benefits that are a result of being in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. The writer to the Hebrews removes all doubt when he says that we “come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem. . .the church" (He. 12:22-24). When you come to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, he makes you a member of his everlasting family. To become a member of the Church, therefore, as Hebrews says, is to be joined to the life of Jesus and reconciled to the Father. It is to be a member of a family which will live and thrive forever.
Your relationship with Christ through the Holy Spirit then explains the ultimate source of all your freedoms. Being joined to Christ, the Spirit begins the process of renewing your mind by teaching you the Scriptures and enabling you to live out its commands. In a church where the word of God is taught faithfully, you get a preview of what it will be like for those of us who know Christ without war for eternity. In the church, a premium is placed on reconciliation and peace. Then, if you are pursuing love for your brothers and sisters, there will be no want. Family members love and take care of each other. They consider everything they have to be at the disposal of anyone else in need. Finally, perfect love casts out fear. The Church of Jesus Christ on earth must anticipate that day when we will live in the immediate presence of the Lord and have no fears because we see our acquittal. Perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18), so if we are striving to love everyone actively, our church will be the safest place for believers in the world.
Jesus came to earth under the command of an unjust king to kill all male children under the age of two. He was preserved so that he might become our perfect Savior, uniting us to himself as members of his church in which we experience his just reign. Let us continue to eagerly anticipate the coming of our perfectly just King.