Micah: Justice + MercySample

The Faithful King and Restored Remnant

By Danny Saavedra

“’In that day,’ declares the Lord, ‘I will gather the lame; I will assemble the exiles and those I have brought to grief. I will make the lame my remnant, those driven away a strong nation. The Lord will rule over them in Mount Zion from that day and forever. As for you, watchtower of the flock, stronghold of Daughter Zion, the former dominion will be restored to you; kingship will come to Daughter Jerusalem.’”  Micah 4:6–8 (NIV)

Yesterday, we discussed the last days and the millennial reign of Christ on the earth before the Lord establishes a new heaven and new earth—a period of peace and freedom from ignorance, war, want, and fear. Today, we’ll learn a little more about this time.

“I will gather the lame, I will assemble the exiles and those I have brought to grief . . .”

Here again, Micah is referring to the scattered, exiled, and oppressed children of Abraham—the Israelites; the Jewish people. The word lame isn’t referring to a physical disability but an overall condition. Biblically, it’s describing the people of God as “flocks wearied with heat and journeyings” (Ellicott’s Commentary).

You see, the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah (who were once a single nation under God), were being warned of the impending doom that would befall them for their sins. Included among their sins were idolatry and injustice. Israel had exploited the poor and twisted the Scriptures. So, Micah, along with other contemporaries such as Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, and Jeremiah, spoke of the consequences that would befall Israel and Judah but also of the future hope of redemption and restoration for God’s people. 

Remember this always, friends: God’s faithfulness to keep His promises is not dependent upon our faithfulness but on His holiness and enduring love. God promised Abraham He would make him a great nation and revealed the gospel to him (Galatians 3:8), which would come through this nation. He promised, even in the sinfulness of the people, to preserve a faithful remnant, to give rest and relief to the weary, faithful flock, and establish them within a new Jerusalem on the other side of the consequences of the nation’s sins. 

The passage ends with a promise of restoration for Jerusalem and the declaration that “kingship will come to Daughter Jerusalem.” I love Matthew Poole’s words regarding this kingdom: “Christ’s kingdom is the ancient, supreme, and most glorious kingdom; and by his redeeming us from the bondage of hell, is set up, and shall be continued firm and unmovable . . . more large than ever David’s or Solomon’s kingdom . . . and therefore greater in glory, for Christ is King of kings.” This is the kingdom we preach, this is the kingdom Jesus brought spiritually with His first coming, and this is the kingdom we get to be part of physically with His second coming!

When you examine the continuing moral decay of the world, the state of “evangelicalism” in the west, the persecution of the Church across the globe, may this passage about the faithfulness of God and the coming kingdom of Christ comfort and encourage you! May it serve as a firm foundation in moments when the towering waves of worldly struggles seek to wash away your hope. 

Pause: How do you see God’s sovereignty and faithfulness at work here? 

Practice: Who needs to hear about the hope of Christ’s kingdom today? Pray about how you can share the gospel with them! 

Pray: Father, I praise You and worship You today. Sovereign King and Lord of all, thank You for these passages of hope and restoration. Thank You for sustaining me in moments of weakness and struggle. Amen.