“It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it,...

In that day, declares the Lord, I will assemble the lame and gather those who have been driven away and those whom I have afflicted; and the lame I will make the remnant, and those who were cast off, a strong nation; and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion from this time forth and forevermore.”  Micah 4:1, 6-7

“And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth.”  Micah 5:4

“And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. Then he said, 'Let me go, for the day has broken.' But Jacob said, 'I will not let you go unless you bless me.' And he said to him, 'What is your name?' And he said, 'Jacob.' Then he said, 'Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.'”  Genesis 32:24-28

Micah prophesied to a soon-to-be exiled people (700 BC) that a glorious Messianic Age would one day break upon them. This would happen when the Messiah King would shepherd His people in the strength of the Lord in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. But this kingdom would be for those who understood their need for the Messiah.

The kingdom of God is for those who have wrestled with God and come away limping with joy and hope.

“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”  Matthew 1:21

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

1. We are all “Jacob.”

2. A sense of powerlessness and need is part of the worship and communion dynamic with the Triune God.

3. (25-1) For every one look at sin, make 25 trips to the cross of Christ.

4. The Kingdom of God is for those who have wrestled with God and come away limping with joy and hope. 

5. “Seek a broken heart for sin, for without that there is no meeting with Christ.”  Letters of Samuel Rutherford

Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,
Where I live in the depths but see thee in the heights;
Hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold thy glory.

Let me learn by paradox
That the way down is the way up,
That to be low is to be high,
That the broken heart is the healed heart,
That the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
That the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
Arthur G. Bennett, The Valley of Vision

6. It is never too late to experience the goodness and grace of God in your life.

7. Beware of the “Laodicean Effect Revelation” (3:15-17) which leads to tepid, lukewarm, non-passionate “Christianity.”

8. The gospel brings salvation, renewed energy, focus, humility, and joy. 

9. God is building a strong nation. (1 Peter 2:9-10)