A Teaching Series in the Book of Micah
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JUST. LIKE. GOD. A teaching series in the book of Micah AUGUST – OCTOBER 2020 Sundays & Fellowship Groups JUST. A teaching series in the book of Micah LIKE. GOD. A TIME TO REFLECT, SEE AND WITNESS Every generation in history can identify (to a lesser or greater extent) with Job’s words, “Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7). There isn’t a century that goes by where there isn’t trouble. Each is marked by political and economic instability, wars, famines, plagues and constant change. For example, the time of the Reformation was also the time of the Bubonic plagues, war between European empires, civil wars and the imperial expansion of the Turkish empire. In 1527 Luther’s hometown suffered the Black Plague and then in 1528 (just a year later), the Turks laid siege to Vienna. The generation after Luther suffered the 30 Year Civil War in Germany, which claimed two thirds of the German population. The 20th and 21st Centuries are no different. In fact, the 20th Century is considered the bloodiest century in recorded history (Anglo-Boer War, WW1, Russian Revolution, WW2, Chinese Revolution, the civil wars due to the collapse of the European Empires and the smaller wars instigated by the Cold War). It has also witnessed tremendous political changes (the rise and fall of Fascism, Communism, Imperialism and Apartheid) and devastating plagues (like the Spanish Influenza of 1917-1918 that claimed anything between 10-50 million people’s lives). Our Prime Minister at the time (Gen. Louis Botha) died from the Spanish influenza of 1917-1918. We haven’t even considered the economic roller coaster all these events have caused. The 21st Century started with the rise of Terrorism. We have witnessed the Arab spring and the various civil wars that ensued (the current Yemen and Syrian civil wars are examples). Southern Africa has seen the collapse of the Zimbabwean economy A teaching series in the book of Micah and the instability this has created in our region. And as I am writing, the world is facing the plague of COVID-19 and a global depression. Even though we can see these patterns in history and today, what we sometimes lack is the lens to interpret them and be a faithful witness in that time. In many ways, this is where the book of Micah will be incredibly helpful. Rather than looking at our lives and events as random, Micah will help us discover how God is at work in our world and the hope we have in Him. Hope that will empower us to keep being fruitful and faithful in a time like this. In Micah we will see what God is like, pointing forward to Jesus and shedding light on our world as well. Let us not waste the time God has given us but be ready to be salt and light in a time such as this (Matt. 5:13-16). Your brother in Christ, Carel Pienaar Phil. 1:21 3 Sermon Notes for Micah 1:1 (Introduction) 4 Journeying from the Old Testament to the New Testament… In the New Testament, Jesus makes multiple claims that the Old Testament pointed to Him as its fulfilment (cf. Matt. 5:17-20; John 5:39-47; Lk. 24:27, 44). This claim also applies to Micah (which we are looking at now). To help you on your journey through Micah to Jesus, here are a number of things to consider when you read the Old Testament and begin to relate it to Jesus as its fulfilment… 1) First principle: The original audience Although Micah is also written for us (cf. 1 Pet. 1:10-12), it was originally written for his immediate audience first. Consequently, it is important to know when and to whom Micah wrote and spoke his prophecies. What Micah said would have been relevant to their immediate situation. Regarding Micah, the period described in 2 Kings 16-21 is the historical setting and first audience of Micah’s words. 2) Second principle: The Old Testament story It is important to remember where Micah fits in the larger Old Testament story (what has gone before and what is going to happen after). Micah will continually refer to events and pictures that have already taken place in Israel’s story with God. For example, Micah’s language in Micah 7:17 sounds a lot like Genesis 3:14-15. Micah speaks of Nimrod (Micah 5:6); which is only really explained in Genesis 10:8-11 and is related to the Tower of Babel in Gen. 11 (in the region of Shinar/Babylon: the territory of Nimrod). The references to Bethlehem as well as the Messiah’s humble origins in Micah 5:2, mirror David’s origins in 1 Samuel. These “hints” help unlock the meaning of Micah. Furthermore, Micah’s themes occur in Isaiah and Ezekiel (for example, idolatry, corruption, judgment, remnant and the Messiah). The concept of remnant gets picked up in the story of Ezra-Nehemiah. Reading “forward” also begins to unveil more of the meaning of Micah. 3) Third principle: Multiple-Fulfilments (the three eras of Jesus’ ministry) When you go to the New Testament, every Old Testament book can be applied in three chronological spheres that relate to Jesus’ ministry. There is: 1) the inauguration of Jesus’ ministry (the Gospels); 2) the continuation of Jesus’ ministry (the Last Days and the Church as the body of Christ) and 3) the Consummation of Jesus’ ministry (The Return of Jesus). The picture below illustrates this… 5 The Church/ Last Days Inauguration Continuaition Consummation To demonstrate this, let us look at Micah’s words on Jerusalem in Micah 4:1-5. At the inauguration of Jesus’ ministry In John’s Gospel, John and Jesus make the radical claim that Jesus is the tabernacle/temple (Jn. 1:14; 2:19-22). When He is exalted on the Cross, but also in His resurrection and ascension, the nations will be drawn to Him (Jn. 12:32) (like the Jerusalem/Zion we read of in Micah 4). In the continuation of Jesus’ ministry, we see God’s presence indwell His people through the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2). It will be from “Jerusalem” that the Word of Jesus will go to all nations (Acts 1:8; 8:1). Now, the church is the Temple of God (Eph. 2:19-22), consisting of all nations who have been reconciled by the “peace” of Christ (Ephesians 2:11-18). So now, the teaching of the fulfilled Law (in Jesus) goes out to the ends of the earth, bringing more and more people under the rule of Christ (Matt. 28:18-20). At the consummation (the return), we see the “New Jerusalem” coming down from heaven (Rev. 21:1-8) and into whom all the nations who follow Jesus will come (Rev. 21:26). It will be a place where the new order of the Messiah will be fully established and the old order of chaos, rebellion and death be done away with. It is here that the peace and prosperity envisioned in Micah 4:1-5 finds its ultimate fulfilment. Yet, to see this, you need to apply the second principle to your Bible reading… 4) Fourth Principle: Signposts There are at least four ways in which you can make legitimate connections between the Old Testament and Jesus. These are the four signposts you should be looking for… a) Fulfilment language: like Jesus reading Isaiah 61:1-2 and saying, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Lk. 4:21). Jesus is saying that He is the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy about the Herald proclaiming Good News. The rest of Luke and Isaiah 61 will flesh that out for you. But when you read Isaiah 61, you are not reading it properly if you do not relate it (in some way) to Jesus. 6 b) Typology: An event, ritual or person is a copy/shadow of the reality that is Jesus. For example, the earthly temple where earthly sacrifices were made was a “type” of the real Heavenly Throne room where Jesus will make atonement on the Cross: “They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, ‘See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.’” (Hebrews 8:5ff) c) Contrast or comparison (linked with typology): Whereas a person (who should be something) failed in the Old Testament, Jesus fulfills what that person should have been. For example, the contrasts made between Adam and Jesus are numerous: “For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive”. (1 Corinthians 15:21-22) d) Echoes: Often the authors of the Bible (inspired by the Holy Spirit) connect various events together through themes that get echoed in the various stories. For example, Adam and Eve got “exiled” or banished from the Garden of Eden due to sin (Gen. 3:24), being refused entry by the cherubim. The Tabernacle/Temple is filled with echoes of the Garden of Eden (pomegranates, palm trees, cherubim). Like Eden, access to God’s holy presence is barred. Joshua enters the Promised Land on the east side (crossing the Jordan) and is met by an angelic figure with a drawn sword (Joshua 5:13-15). This event echoes what we have seen in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3:24.