Climbing the Lord’s Mountain (Micah 4:1-4)
The placement of this oracle is important. In Micah 3:9-12, the prophet had predicted the ruin of Jerusalem – “Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height” (v. 12). The meaning is clear: although Jerusalem would be ruined, she would be returned to her former glory.
Let’s examine the coming glory of Jerusalem; let’s examine life on God’s mountain.
The Exalted Mountain, v 1
This prophecy would occur “in the latter days.” We need to understand how “latter days” is used in Scripture (Dan. 2:28; Acts 2:17; Heb. 1:2). “In the latter days” does not automatically refer to the end of the world.
In those “latter days” the mountain of the house of the LORD would be established as the highest of the mountains, and it would be raised up above the hills. Mountains figured significantly into biblical history (cf. Gen. 22:2; Ex. 19:16). Here, in a symbolic way, another mountain figures significantly into biblical history. The literal mountain is the temple mount, where the temple stood and Old Testament worship occurred. The symbolic mountain in view would be the place where in the future worship of God would occur; this mountain is obviously the church.
The picture here is that the church would be established and be above all other religious groups. The church was established (Matt. 16:18; 1 Cor. 1:2). The church of our Lord is above all other religious groups, for her founder is divine, her founding was prophesied, and her people have been saved from sin.
The Enlarging Mountain, vv 1-2
“Peoples shall flow to it, and many nations shall come.” We get a glimpse of many nations’ coming to the Lord’s mountain from Acts (1:8; 2:9-11; 8:26- 40; 10). There are two important lessons we need to learn: The Gospel is for all people, and we have no right to regard one group of people better than another.
These multitudes would 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 we may walk in his paths.” These multitudes would desire to go to the Lord’s mountain that they may be taught of God’s ways. These individuals really want to know truth; people all around us earnestly desire to know truth. These individuals desire to be taught “his ways” – they know they must know the ways of God and not the ways of men to please the Lord.
These multitudes would desire to go to the Lord’s mountain that they may walk in his paths. The idea of “walking” a path in Scripture indicates the way one lives his life (Rom. 6:4; Eph. 5:2; 1 Jn. 2:6). This crowd pledged to walk in divinely appointed paths; they would live obediently to God. If we desire to be a part of the church, we must live obediently to God (Matt. 7:21; 2 Jn. 6).
The law would go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. Just as the Old Law originated on a mountain, the New Law would originate on a mountain. The word of the Lord did go forth from Jerusalem (Acts 2).
The “Ease” Mountain, vv 3-4
The Lord’s mountain is an “ease” mountain, a mountain where one is at ease, for there is great peace on that mountain.
The Lord would judge between many peoples and would decide for strong nations afar off. The image here is one of a theocracy, where God is the supreme ruler. In the church, there is a theocracy; God is the ultimate ruler.
There would also be great peace once the Lord’s mountain was established. Nations would beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation would not lift up sword against nation, neither would they learn war anymore. The point is that in the Christian era there would be great peace; we children of God have great peace (Jn. 14:27; Phil. 4:7). God gives great peace to those who are his children – the peace of forgiveness, the peace of answered prayers, and the peace of eternity. Do you know that peace?
This sermon was originally preached by Dr. Justin Imel, Sr., at the Owingsville church of Christ in Owingsville, Kentucky.