The Coming of the Kingdom: Micah 4 (6)

Opening Prayer: Psalm 126.1, 2
When the LORD brought back the captivity of Zion,
We were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”

Psalm 126.1, 2
(Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns!)
When God restored our fortunes all, we were like those who sweetly dream.
Our mouths with joy and laughter filled, made Him our constant song and theme.

Read Micah 4.13

Preparation
1. What does this verse picture God’s people doing?

2. What do they do with what they extract from this work?

Meditation
The gathering of nations against the people of God (vv. 11, 12) turns out to be for their threshing. God will bring them together like sheaves from the field, to be thoroughly threshed so that they yield their grain. He calls His people to arise and thresh. God has work for them to do, and they must be firm and resolute – like iron and bronze – in carrying it out.

Their work is to thresh the nations, flailing them so that the chaff is separated from the kernel. This work required oxen trampling the sheaves, then beating the sheaves with rods to release the corn. Finally, winnowing, in which the threshed sheaves were tossed into the air again and again using winnowing baskets, so that the chaff was carried away by the wind and the good kernel remained. This good grain was then to be consecrated to the Lord for His purposes.

This image of threshing shows us how the Word of God works. It isolates and exposes the chaff-like wickedness in our lives, then, in the wind of God’s Spirit, separates the chaff from the good fruit God wants us to bring forth for His glory.

The last days are a time of threshing, and each of us is called to this work. We must submit our lives daily to the threshing of God’s Word. And we must call people to hear and submit to the Good News of Jesus and His Kingdom.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
As we work in our Personal Mission Fields, calling people “to hear and submit to the Good News of Jesus and His Kingdom”, we need to remember to consecrate our gain and substance “to the LORD of the whole earth” (Mic. 4.13).

To consecrate means to dedicate something to a sacred purpose or service; to make or declare something sacred. Synonyms are, to devote and hallow, meaning to set apart for a special and higher end with a solemn or sacred quality. Obviously, something much more than just threshed food.

After this time of threshing there are persons (we and others) presented to serve the LORD, consecrated to Him and His service. This mandate was for the Old and New Testament people of God, and it is for us, as well: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom. 12.1, 2).

“But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy” (1 Pet. 2.9, 10).

Threshing for the purpose of consecrating to the LORD of the whole earth!

Reflection
1. What makes threshing such a good image for God’s work in and through us?

2. What do we mean by saying that “the last days are a time for threshing”? What does that mean for you?

3. How can you consecrate your day to the Lord?

A mode of thrashing, we know, was in use among the Jews the same with that in Italy and at this day in French Provence. We here thrash the corn with flails; but there by treading. The Prophet speaks here of this custom, and compares the Church of God to oxen; as though he said “The Jews shall be like oxen with iron horns and brazen hoofs that they may lay prostrate under them the whole strength of the nations. However much then the nations may now excel, I will subject them under the feet of my people, as if sheaves were thrashed by them.”  John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Micah 4.13

Closing Prayer: Psalm 126.2-6
Pray for opportunities to participate in the Lord’s harvest of the nations. Seek the Lord for revival.

Psalm 126.2-6
(Truro: Shout, for the Blessed Jesus Reigns!)
Then the astonished nations said, “The Lord has done great things for them!”
Indeed, great things our God has done, Whose Name we praise, Amen, Amen!

Restore our fortunes, Lord our King! Let grace like flowing streams prevail.
All they with tears of joy shall sing who sow while yet they weep and wail.

They who in tears of sorrow sow and cast their seed on every hand,
with joy shall reach their heav’nly home, and bring the harvest of their land.

T. M. and Susie Moore

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Micah in God’s Covenant
Where does the book of Micah fit in God’s covenant with His people? Our workbook, God’s Covenant, can help you to answer that question and to gain a better understanding of how the grace of God reaches and transforms us in Jesus Christ. Order your free copy by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, all Scripture are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by clicking here.