A Righteous Government At Last!

I have a strong suspicion that many of you, like me, are already beyond tired of the 2008 presidential campaign. What hope do any of us have of a righteous government in the United States ? I am quite certain that the vast majority of the readers of this column are of a similar political persuasion (social conservative) and belong to one of the major political parties. I personally fall within those parameters. But I also want to make it clear that in my opinion, there are no righteous political parties in this country. Political parties seek power. And they ride whatever political horse enables them to gain power. One would hope that leaders would be men or women of strong convictions which they will not compromise. But such leaders are not the norm in our political world.

There is good news today. Not that the election has been called off and the nasty campaigning is at an end. But that there is a new day coming when not only our country (or whatever form of it is left) but the entire world will experience a righteous government at last. The day, the government, and the influence of the government are described in Micah 4:1-5. We Biblicists certainly do have some great things to preach about regarding the future.

The Old Testament prophets were sometimes called seers because of their ability to see the future. Look at what Micah saw. A truly good government. This is a fascinating story. Effective (good) government is an elusive achievement as illustrated by the following humorous story in the form of a letter supposedly written to the Secretary of Agriculture.

Honorable Secretary of Agriculture, Washington , D.C.

Dear Sir,

My friend, Dan Hansen, over at Honey Creek , Iowa , received a check for $1,000.00 from the government for not raising hogs. So I want to go into the “NOT RAISING HOGS” business next year. What I want to know is, in your opinion, what is the best kind of farm not to raise hogs on? And what is the best breed of hogs not to raise? As I see it, the hardest part of the “NOT RAISING HOGS’ program is keeping an accurate inventory of how many hogs I haven’t raised. My friend Hansen … has been raising hogs for twenty years or so, and the best he has ever made on them was $422.90 in 1968, until this year when he got your check for the $1000.00 for not raising 50 hogs. I plan to operate on a small scale at first, holding myself to about 4,000 hogs not raised the first year, which would bring in about $80,000.00. Now another thing - these hogs I will not raise will not eat 100,000 bushels of corn. I understand that the government also pays people not to raise corn and wheat. Would I qualify for payments for not raising these crops not to feed my hogs I will not be raising? Also I am giving serious consideration to the “NOT MILKING COWS” business and any information you would have on the endeavor would be greatly appreciated.

Be assured, Mr. Secretary, you will have my vote in the upcoming election.

Patriotically yours, Don Genereaux Source Unknown – Bible.org

The future righteous government (both effective and good) will be located in Jerusalem . Micah makes it clear that Israel will again be in the land God promised her (Micah 4:1). Remember that the state did not exist for nearly two millennia. But all of those two thousand years, the written text of Micah lay there for any spiritually minded person to read and believe. Today our ability to accept the text as literal is somewhat enhanced because we see a state of Israel now in existence. She is indeed there, but not spiritually right and not secure. The day will arrive when she will be both right and secure.

It Shall Come To Pass In The Latter Days… (v. 1). Term, latter, usually has a Tribulation and Millennium context. Micah did not state when the last days will occur. Just like us, Israel was supposed to be looking all the time.

The Mountain Of The Lord’s House Shall Be Established...(v. 1). Mt. Moriah is where Temple was and will be built (Ezekiel 40-43). It will become the chief among the mountains. Apparently, the Temple sight will be center of millennial government, plus it will be the central government in the world. In the Old Testament, the religious system and government were intertwined. The Priests presided over worship functions and the King governed. The Millennial religious/political system will be unique. It will be directed by Messiah-King. And incredibly, Israel’s government will be the predominant one in world. She is so maligned and despised today that the change of attitude by the world’s population will be dramatic indeed.

The resurrection of the city of Jerusalem controlled by the Jews is in itself dramatic.

Ancient Jerusalem lies buried from thirty to one hundred feet below the level of the present city. Jerusalem has been besieged forty-six times. It has been completely razed to the ground seventeen times! Selected – Paul Lee Tan

But the establishment of a righteous government in the city of Jerusalem and the fact that it will be the central government of the entire earth is astronomically incredible. And the entire scenario is achieved by the return of Jesus Christ to assume his rightful place as the successor of David on the throne of Israel. That is the government I want to see.

Howard L. Wilburn