“The Kingdom of the Daughter of Jerusalem” (Micah 4:4-8)

But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, And no one shall make them afraid; For the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken. For all people walk each in the name of his god, But we will walk in the name of the LORD our God Forever and ever. "In that day," says the LORD, "I will assemble the lame, I will gather the outcast And those whom I have afflicted; I will make the lame a remnant, And the outcast a strong nation; So the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion From now on, even forever. And you, O tower of the flock, The stronghold of the daughter of Zion, To you shall it come, Even the former dominion shall come, The kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem."

God is going to restore sinners who've lost their way, and this is our hope in Christ, that we've ruined ourselves and brought judgment against us, but He has purposed to save. He recovers us from our falls, and He establishes us graciously, securely, and forever. He says, “But we will walk in the name of the Lord our God forever”: (vs5). I may have been chastened, but I'm the remnant He plans to save. I'm going to endure unto the end and receive the power promised to me, even the kingdom that I've squandered!

Like the Prodigal, we come home to the Father by grace and see Him gracious and kind. We read, “And the son said to him,Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his servants, Bring out the best robe and put on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet” (Luke 15:21-22). We expect slavery and the poor house, but He gives us riches undeserved, enjoyable things, and eternal security. I'm not judged by what I've done, but I'm judged favorably by faith in Christ, the Son who died for me, redeemed me, and by a renewed faith I'm given everlasting promises and boldness. We don't have to live in the past! God doesn't. He says, “I'll lower you, because you won't bow, and then I'll raise you up for My glory and your good”. He says, “Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Pet 5:5). This is our relationship with Christ: sin lowers us, we're humbled by God's power, and then He elevates the miserable who see nothing in ourselves to look to. He says, "In that day," says the LORD, "I will assemble the lame, I will gather the outcast And those whom I have afflicted; I will make the lame a remnant, And the outcast a strong nation; So the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion From now on, even forever” (vs6-7). He is GRACIOUS to sinners, and being a sinner doesn't mean that hope is lost; it is the DOOR of hope that we need.

I'm never to be doubtful of the future because of the past, not when I take the promises of God.