THEY KNOW NOT THE THOUGHTS OF THE LORD. (MICAH 4 verse 12)

December 2004 article by Robert Kay

Events in the Middle East continue to draw our attention and fill the media. The re-election of George W Bush as President of United States of America is coincidental almost with the death of Yasser Arafat.

The scenes of chaos that followed the military funeral of the Palestinian leader in Cairo would have satisfied his love of drama. Yasser Arafat was buried in the middle of thousands of yelling, chanting mourners as security men fired into the air trying to impose order. It was a hopeless task. A plan for the Palestinian leader’s body to lie in state in the Muqata compound in Ramallah where he had been a virtual prisoner for the last two and a half years was abandoned when it was realised the mourners would have none of it. The hole in the Palestinian leadership, still to be filled leaves an opportunity to move their cause forward.

President Bush was reported as promising UK Prime Minister Blair when they met in the USA, that he would use his second four year term to realise the vision of Israel and Palestine as independent states living side by side in peace. He said he believed there was ‘a great’ chance to establish a Palestinian state and that he intended ‘to spend’ the capital of the United States achieving it. He stated, “These are troubled times. It’s a tough world, that needs steady, rock solid leaders”. Welcoming the enlargement of the EU to 25 nations, and underlining his continuing support for the NATO alliance which is wider than the EU, he went on “the ‘combined strength and moral purpose’ of Europe must be to fight terrorism, poverty and disease. America and Europe were stronger together”. They (Bush and Blair) also agreed to help the (new) Palestinian leadership organise elections provide support for security and institutions and fight terrorism. They also promised economic help for the Gaza Strip after Israeli disengagement there. There appears to be a renewed potential for talking and delivery, a revival of the ‘road map’ to peace!

What does the prophetic word state about such political postulations? The prophet Micah received from the Lord God the following words relating to Zion (Jerusalem), regarding their intents:

“They know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves to the threshing-floor” (Micah 4 v 12 RV).

In both political and personal arenas there is a famine of knowledge concerning God’s plan as revealed in the scriptures. The nations are being gathered for judgement. Whatever these “steady, rock solid leaders” are committed to deliver, the reality is that it just gets worse, and in no way will it measure up the deliverables that the Lord God promises in verse 1 of the same chapter.

“But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come ye and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. And he shall judge between many peoples, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore”.

Who then is going to deliver this? Doing some joined up thinking from the old and new testament scriptures, the Lord God will deliver this through His only begotten son Jesus Christ (God’s appointed Saviour and King) returned as the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9 v 6), and the rightful heir to David’s throne so declared at his birth (Luke 1 v 32).

The thoughts of the Lord are revealed in the Bible. There is a plan - may we prayerfully read and understand it.