21 MAY
But in the last days it shall
come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established
in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and
people shall flow unto it. Micah 4:1
SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Psalm
46
Though the prophet publicly
proclaims a promise of hope, he undoubtedly offers it only to the children of
God, for others are not capable of receiving this consolation. We see the same
thing in the writings of other prophets whose practice is to add consolations to
threats, not for the sake of all people, but to sustain hope in the faithful,
who might have despaired had not a helping hand been stretched forth to them.
We know the faithful tremble when
God manifests any token of wrath, for the more one is touched with the fear of
God, the more one dreads God’s judgments and fears His threats. We thus see how
necessary it is for prophets and teachers to moderate threats and terrors
against the children of God, for they have enough fears without heaping more on
them.
Formerly Micah spoke to the
wicked who despised God while putting on the cloak of religion. But now the
prophet turns to address the true and pious worshippers of God. In addressing
the faithful of his age, his doctrine especially belongs to us now, for
otherwise how could the kingdom of God have been propagated through all parts
of the earth? How could the truth of the gospel have come to us and we be made
partakers with the ancient people of the same adoption, unless this prophecy
was fulfilled?
So the calling of the Gentiles,
and consequently our salvation, is included in this prophecy of Micah.
John Calvin
FOR MEDITATION:
The thought of God’s disfavor was
very distressing to godly people in Micah’s day. Is it to you? They needed no
more than a hint of judgment to upset them. How loud must God thunder before
you listen?
365 Days With Calvin
Selected and Edited by Joel R.
Beeke
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