The Lord shall reign over them in Mount Zion
The blessing of the ingathered ones
I. The character of the assembly.
1. The halt.
2. The banished.
3. The afflicted.
From this gather the ruined condition of man.
(1) The halt--incapable of any spiritual movement. Hence the corruption of the understanding, will, affections, memory; the whole man.
(2) Driven out; banished; expelled from God. Condemned by the law. Subject to God’s wrath. Allied to God’s enemies.
(3) Afflicted, that is, grievously distressed. Afflicted with blindness, lameness, deafness, dumbness, leprosy; and by sin, Satan, etc.
II. Their gracious advancement and honour. “I will make her that halteth a remnant.” A remnant is a small quantity or number. A definitive or proportioned remnant. An eternally saved remnant. A gathered or collected remnant. A prosperous or happy remnant. A holy and righteous remnant. An opposed remnant. Yet finally a successful remnant. “And her that was cast far off a strong nation.” Strong by reason of its situation; its fortifications; its judicious and good laws; its military skill; its ruler’s wisdom. Consequently a blessed nation. “And the Lord shall reign over them in Mount Zion from henceforth forever.” They are made submissive to Christ. Christ reigns in the Church generally. He reigns in the Church’s officers. He reigns in the Church members. He reigns in the understandings of His people. He reigns in their will, subduing them. He reigns in their hearts. This reign is by the power of Divine grace.
III. Their positive and infallible security (Micah 4:8). Represented by a flock of sheep, denotive of feebleness, and liability to danger. But Christ is their tower of defence. A high and lofty tower, and a strong and safe tower. “The stronghold of the daughter of Zion.” By the word daughter is meant the Church. This stronghold denotes that we have enemies. It is a hiding place for the Lord’s prisoners. “Unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion.” An eternally decreed dominion, over sin, Satan, the world, death. “The kingdom shall come to the daughter of Jerusalem.” The kingdom of God’s power; grace; glory. Improvement--
1. This subject teaches us man’s total depravity and utter helplessness.
2. It also further proves that our salvation is entirely of grace.
3. It evinces the final security of all true believers. (T. B. Baker.)
The moral monarchy of Christ in the world
Whether the subject of these verses is the restoration of the Jews after the Babylonish Captivity or the gathering of men by Christ into a grand spiritual community, is a question on which there has been considerable discussion among biblical scholars, and, therefrom, should preclude anything like dogmatism on either side.
I. It embraces amongst its subjects the most wretched and scattered of men. “In that day, saith the Lord, will I assemble [gather] her that halteth [that which limpeth], and I will gather her that is driven out [that which was thrust out], and her that [which] I have afflicted; and I will make her that [that which] halted [limps] a remnant, and her that [that which] was cast off a strong nation: End the Lord shall reign over them in Mount Zion from henceforth, even forever.” Christ was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 10:6), and His invitation was to all that are “weary” and “heavy laden.” The Church of Christ from the beginning has comprised those who were the most afflicted, the most scattered, and the most distressed of mankind.
1. Christ’s moral monarchy knows nothing of favouritism. Every soul to Him is a matter of profound practical interest.
2. Christ’s moral monarchy is remedial in its design. It brings all the miserable together in order to rid them of their sorrows.
II. It establishes itself as the guardian of men forever. “And thou, O tower of the flock, the stronghold of the daughter of Zion,” etc. The watchtower spoken of by Isaiah is most likely the tower here referred to by Micah. Flock tower is a good expression, inasmuch as it indicates the watchfulness of Christ as a moral Shepherd, the great Shepherd of souls. What a Guardian, what a “Bishop of souls” is Christ!
1. He knows all His sheep.
2. He has ample provision for all His sheep.
3. He has power to protect all His sheep. Thank God this moral kingdom is established on our earth. Because it is moral, men have the power of resisting it. (Homilist.)
Prophecies relative to the Jewish nation
The Jewish nation, when restored, will be the most glorious of the nations of the earth. There is, in this passage, a comparison instituted between the glory of other nations; and it is stated that her glory shall be superior to that of all others.
I. Reasons drawn from the nature of national glory. The glory of the Jewish nation cannot be what is generally considered as the glory of nations.
1. Because the glory of common nations is inseparable from unrighteousness. Self is the moving power of the machine, interest and vanity form its mainspring.
2. Because it leads to war and bloodshed, to wretchedness and misery.
3. Because it may consist with infidelity.
II. Reasons drawn from what is revealed respecting the Jews.
1. Because the Jews, when brought back to their own land, will be a righteous nation.
2. It will be a peaceful, happy nation.
3. A nation of faithful worshippers of the one only living and true God. What then will be her glory? It will consist in righteousness, penitence, godliness, purity, and devotion.
Lessons--
1. A political lesson. The duty of the Christian is submission to the powers that be, patiently waiting for the time when righteousness alone shall prevail.
2. A religious lesson. How should this subject enhance the importance of being snatched out of the vortex of this present state, and of becoming so established as to be able to sing, by anticipation, the songs of joy which are here set to be sung by the ransomed of the Lord in Zion. (Hugh M’Neile.)