Thursday, June 12, 2008
Micah 4:6-7
Thursday, June 12, 2008 |
In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth, and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted; And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.
In the last two devotional readings in Micah we looked at the "arrangements for the coming temple", Micah 4:1-2, and the "anticipation for peace", Micah 4:3-5.
Today we will look at the "aliya of the Jewish people", in Micah 4:6-7. The Hebrew word "aliya" literally means, "to go up to Jerusalem."
It was a command from the Torah that three times a year Jewish men were to go "up to Jerusalem" at the time of the "pilgrim feast." There are three "pilgrim feast" of the seven Jewish Feast that the Lord gave the Jewish people through Moses, Leviticus 23. These three "pilgrim feast" are Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles.
Twice in the spring and once in the fall the Jews were required to return to Jerusalem and to celebrate these "pilgrim feast" at the Temple. They were to make "aliya". That is somewhat the case for religious Jewish men still to this day.
However, the word "aliya" now is applied to “immigration-, Jews from around the world making their way back into the land of their forefathers, the land of the Bible, what we know today as Israel.
Notice the two key verses, verses 4:6-7, of our reading. The Lord will keep His promise to bring the Jewish people back to the land of their forefathers in the last days, a term described as "that day", verse 6.
Let me remind you that this is what is taking place today in Israel. For over 100 years Jews from the four corners of the earth, out of more than 100 nations, have made their way through the Lord's guidance and provision, back "home".
In the year 2008 the Israeli government has called for a year-long celebration to mark the 60th Birthday of the Jewish Nation known as Israel. For almost 2,000 years Jews have not had a nation of their own but in these the "last days", "that day", the Lord is keeping His promise and bringing the Jews to Israel, their homeland. They have become a nation, a Jewish nation among the nations of the world.
Verse 7 even says that Jerusalem, "Mt Zion" shall be the location where Messiah will rule and reign over the Jewish people. This three-part prophecy is about two-thirds fulfilled. The Lord has gathered the Jews to their homeland and has made them a nation.
The third part of the prophecy, the coming of the Messiah, seems to be very close. All of Micah's prophecies will be fulfilled. The Jewish state of Israel is a living monument to the fact that God's Word is true and His promises will be fulfilled.
It is also evidence that the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, must be about to happen. He will appear in the heavenlies to call us, we Christians, up to be with Him, forever.
Prayer Thot: Thank you Lord for your prophetic Word that reveals the time of Your return. Help me to live ready for You to come at any moment.
For further study - Micah 4:1-13
In the last two devotional readings in Micah we looked at the "arrangements for the coming temple", Micah 4:1-2, and the "anticipation for peace", Micah 4:3-5.
Today we will look at the "aliya of the Jewish people", in Micah 4:6-7. The Hebrew word "aliya" literally means, "to go up to Jerusalem."
It was a command from the Torah that three times a year Jewish men were to go "up to Jerusalem" at the time of the "pilgrim feast." There are three "pilgrim feast" of the seven Jewish Feast that the Lord gave the Jewish people through Moses, Leviticus 23. These three "pilgrim feast" are Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles.
Twice in the spring and once in the fall the Jews were required to return to Jerusalem and to celebrate these "pilgrim feast" at the Temple. They were to make "aliya". That is somewhat the case for religious Jewish men still to this day.
However, the word "aliya" now is applied to “immigration-, Jews from around the world making their way back into the land of their forefathers, the land of the Bible, what we know today as Israel.
Notice the two key verses, verses 4:6-7, of our reading. The Lord will keep His promise to bring the Jewish people back to the land of their forefathers in the last days, a term described as "that day", verse 6.
Let me remind you that this is what is taking place today in Israel. For over 100 years Jews from the four corners of the earth, out of more than 100 nations, have made their way through the Lord's guidance and provision, back "home".
In the year 2008 the Israeli government has called for a year-long celebration to mark the 60th Birthday of the Jewish Nation known as Israel. For almost 2,000 years Jews have not had a nation of their own but in these the "last days", "that day", the Lord is keeping His promise and bringing the Jews to Israel, their homeland. They have become a nation, a Jewish nation among the nations of the world.
Verse 7 even says that Jerusalem, "Mt Zion" shall be the location where Messiah will rule and reign over the Jewish people. This three-part prophecy is about two-thirds fulfilled. The Lord has gathered the Jews to their homeland and has made them a nation.
The third part of the prophecy, the coming of the Messiah, seems to be very close. All of Micah's prophecies will be fulfilled. The Jewish state of Israel is a living monument to the fact that God's Word is true and His promises will be fulfilled.
It is also evidence that the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, must be about to happen. He will appear in the heavenlies to call us, we Christians, up to be with Him, forever.
Prayer Thot: Thank you Lord for your prophetic Word that reveals the time of Your return. Help me to live ready for You to come at any moment.