MICAH 1 - THE HEIR
[p. 32] MICAH 1 - THE HEIR
It is noticeable in this chapter that Jehovah’s judgments are said to come upon all peoples “for the transgression of Jacob ... and for the sins of the house of Israel”, verse 5. If Israel had been faithful, the nations would have been blessed through them, but on account of their unfaithfulness judgment came upon the nations and Israel had to suffer also. For the judgment came even unto Judah and reached to Jerusalem, verse 9. It is probably so to day. The presence here of the assembly should have brought blessing near to men, but if the assembly is unfaithful she comes under judgment herself, and the nations suffer in consequence.
But while all this is in view the Spirit of God speaks in a blessed way of Christ as the Heir. “I will yet bring unto thee an heir, O inhabitress of Mareshah (meaning possession or inheritance); the glory of Israel shall come even unto Adullam”, verse 15. There is One who has the sure right of possession: whatever may happen, this stands firm. The blessing of Israel and the blessing of the assembly is all secured by Christ being the Heir. Indeed, one of the most striking testimonies to the greatness of His Person lies in the fact that He is “established heir of all things”, Hebrews 1: 2. He will yet take up “all things” and hold them for God on the ground of redemption. But the passage now before us has particular reference to the blessings of Israel. What a comfort it will be for the remnant of Israel, when they feel that they have forfeited all right to Jehovah’s promises, to have an Heir brought to them who can take up and hold for them all that they have lost! Christ is rightful Heir to all the promises, not only by personal right but by redemption right. The husbandmen said, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him and possess his inheritance”, Matthew 21: 38. But their killing Him in their wickedness became the occasion in the wondrous wisdom of God for Him to redeem the inheritance. He has exercised the right of redemption so that all that had been lost through sin is brought back in Him. He is rightful Heir of all Israel had forfeited; Heir of all the promises. He is the Seed to whom the promises were made (Galatians 3: 19); in the mind of God there was no thought of anyone [p. 33] else being able to inherit them. When Israel takes up his inheritance it will be as seeing that Christ alone is entitled to it. And it is in Him that saints of the assembly have obtained an inheritance; that is, in Him as the Heir. It is as being of Christ that we are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise; Galatians 3: 29. What Christ is entitled to He shares with His joint-heirs.
This has to be taken up in remnant conditions now, for the assembly as a whole, the whole professing body, has quite departed from any true sense of it. Hence the glory comes “even unto Adullam”. Adullam means retreat; it suggests that Christ as Heir will be found in the place of reproach and rejection, like David in the cave, but it is He who is “the glory of Israel”. When we see that we have nothing at all to glory in but Christ, it makes us very happy to be in Adullam. No one can touch our glory. If people speak against us and reproach us we are sorry for them, but they cannot touch our glory. Knowing this makes saints content to be in the place of reproach. Man wants some recognition, and is unhappy if he does not get it, but if Christ is all my glory I cannot be upset by what people think or say of me. Those in Adullam get the glory. The spiritual ministry of Christ today is not found in connection with what is great or popular in the eyes of men. Its very nature makes it impossible that it should be known there. But it is well worth while to leave all that is humanly pretentious in order to get it.