Iron
and Brass
Micah 4:12 “But they know not the
thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they his
counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves
into the floor.
13 Arise and
thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine
horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou
shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will
consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their
substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.”
1. The Thoughts
2. The Horn and The
Hoofs
3. The Consecration
1. The Thoughts
Verse twelve: “But they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor."
All men [all people] have minds that are totally darkened with sin.
Let me make it as graphic, and as personal as I can.
We all have minds with the thoughts blacker than the Ace of Spades
. It is … as it says it is … in Ephesians chapter four, verse eighteen: “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:” [Ephesians 4:18].
Now, that is a bleak assessment of all men, and of all women and of all children [all mankind] in this world, isn’t it? But, this is in fact, God’s opinion. [In the final analysis, only God’s opinion matters!] “But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth.” [Job 23:13]
Now, since our understanding is “darkened”, and since we are “alienated from the life of God”, we have this following problem. We do not know God, and more than that, we can not understand God.
Therefore, what is said by the Holy Ghost in Romans chapter eleven, verse thirty-four, stands true to this very day for us all: “For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counseller?” [Romans 11:34] And now for this, which is in Isaiah chapter fifty-five, verse eight and nine, God affirms … through His prophet: “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” [Isaiah 55:8-9]
Now, the Spirit of God builds on these “thoughts” [in verse twelve] … with First Corinthians chapter two, verse sixteen: “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him?” [1 Corinthians 2:16a]
God’s thoughts are “deep” thoughts. [Psalm 92:5] “O Lord, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep.”
Man’s thoughts are “vanity”. [Psalm 94:11] “The Lord knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.”
Now, God sees the very “imagination” and the very “thoughts” of men. Do you doubt me? I am not asking you to believe me. Believe God!
Turn with me to the book of Genesis chapter six, verse five: “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” [Genesis 6:5]
God sees everything, my friend. I mean everything! God searches the heart of a man! He searches my heart, and your heart.
God told this very thing to Solomon in First Chronicles chapter twenty-eight, verse nine: “And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.” [1 Chronicles 28:9]
2. The Horn and The Hoofs
Verse thirteen: “Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the Lord, and their substance unto the Lord of the whole earth.”
Here is one for the future! It is called a prophecy. It will surely come to pass. There is somebody here [which is the daughter of Zion] being invited to arise and thresh. They that “thresh” are in a harvest.
Friend, there is going to be a harvest. This harvest will be at the end of this age [which is the time of the Gentiles].
There is something else found here. This daughter of Zion’s HORN will be made IRON.
Now, what does this mean? It means this. When the Lord [in First Samuel chapter two, verse one] interceded in Hannah’s behalf, her horn was said to be “exalted”.
Listen to what the word of God says, [listen to it]: “And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the Lord, mine horn is exalted in the Lord: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.” [1 Samuel 2:1]
3. The Consecration
When a person is … in the LORD, he is saved! Israel at the end of the seven year Tribulation will also be saved, and have her horn exalted. Her “horn” will be made iron! [Her horn will be made hard, strong and powerful.]
Now, that is not all! Her “hoofs” will be made “brass”. [Her hoofs will be made hard, strong and powerful.]
God’s people, Israel, will be given in the coming harvest iron horns and brass hoofs for a great beating that is coming to the nations that will be gathered to the Middle East to “the winepress”, which winepress is revealed to us in the King James Bible. Are you ready to see this?
Turn to the book of Isaiah, chapter sixty-three, verse three, look, see: “I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.” [Isaiah 63:3]
[God says He is alone here in Isaiah “I have trodden the winepress alone”, but Micah seems to be pointing to the same event “and thou shalt beat in pieces many people.” Somehow, it all comes together. God will take care of the details.]
This is the coming great winepress.
Now, for more, turn to the book of Revelation chapter fourteen, verse twenty: “And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.” [Revelation 14:20]
The winepress has come. [The nations of the world are going to take a beating from the “horn” and “hoofs” of the daughter of Zion.]
Once this event at the end of the Tribulation transpires, then we will have this. Jesus [in Matthew chapter nineteen] shows us this scene. We are peering into the future! “And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” [Matthew 19:28]
Let me explain. In a time to come, which is in the seventh millennium, it will be time of “the regeneration” [this will be the Kingdom of Heaven]; we will see … they, who are of the nations, that have survived this “winepress” … seeking the Lord in Jerusalem, and all the while, clinging to the skirt on a consecrated, purified people [the Jews].
God consecrates the daughter of Zion’s work of gain … gained by a horn of iron and hoofs of brass.
What a marvelous sight, and what a sight this will be!
Look with me in the book of Zechariah chapter
eight, starting with verse twenty-one: “And
the inhabitants of one city shall go to another,
saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord,
and to seek the Lord of hosts: I will go also. Yea,
many people and strong nations shall come to seek
the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before
the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of hosts; In those
days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take
hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall
take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying,
We will go with you: for we have heard that God is
with you.” [Zechariah 8:21-23]