Micah 1:1-16

Micah writes to both the nation of Israel and Judah, but mostly to Judah.  As he writes Israel is about to be overthrown by the Assyrians and his message is one that calls for Judah to wake up from their slumber so that they do not suffer a similar fate.  Micah and Isaiah write at the same time and have similar messages but Isaiah was focused more on Jerusalem and the leadership of the nation while Micah lived in a more rural setting and his focus was on the people in general.  This first chapter starts out with a stern warning for the nations of Israel and Judah and ends with Micah’s lament over the plight of his people.

MICAH WARNS ISRAEL AND JUDAH: Micah calls for the people of both nations to hear his message.  It is a message of warning that the Lord has been observing the lives of the people and is coming down to judge the nations for their evil acts and idolatrous worship.  The Lord’s judgment will melt the mountains and the valley will open up to swallow them.  The reason for this judgment is plainly stated as the transgressions of the people.  Micah points so the cities of Samaria and Jerusalem as the sampling of what the nations were doing as well as an example of what God was planning to do.  The cities were full of high places that were used for idolatrous worship and full of injustice and sinfulness.  God promises to destroy Samaria and make the city into a field as all of the buildings would be destroyed.  The idols would be broken into pieces and all of the wealth of the city would be consumed.  The idols had been made from prostitution and now they would be sold into captivity like a prostitute is sold for her body.  God always warns all of us of the consequences of sin and His coming judgment of sin.  It is up to us to pay attention and turn from our sin before it is too late.


MICAH MOURNS ISRAEL AND JUDAH: The message of the prophets was not an easy message for them to proclaim.  They cry out in pain over all that they must tell the people.  They truly hurt over the knowledge that they were given of God’s plans and coming destruction of the nations they lived in and loved.  Micah mourns the message he must proclaim.  He strips off his cloths and howls like the animals cry in the night.  The damage done to the nations is without remedy and this judgment of death has entered the city of Jerusalem.  Micah goes city by city in Judah lamenting the judgment and calling the cities to repent.  He describes the results of God’s judgment in each of these places and cries out over the pain that this destruction is causing him and the nation he loves.  He calls for the nation to cry out with him and repent; to shave their heads and tear their cloths in repentance because they are about to be taken away as slaves to a foreign country.  It is a very sad thing to see the judgment of God that will come upon the face of this earth.  God’s judgment is coming and we should mourn the plight of the nations who have turned their backs on God.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Isaiah 54:1-17

Hope is a wonderful blessing from God, without which we would be vulnerable to all kinds of destructive tendencies in our lives.  Today’s society is marked by depression, anger, fear, anxiety and self-righteousness, in large part, because of the sense of hopelessness that prevails in our culture.  Isaiah writes to a people who are about to be taken into captivity because of their sin.  God knows that they will feel rejected, threatened and hopeless so He reveals His future plans for the nation in order to give them hope in the midst of the coming trial.  Hope is the expectation of good based upon the promises of God.  Many times when our lives are marked by the sins mentioned above it is because we have forgotten or failed to focus upon the promises of God’s Word. THE PROMISE OF GOD: From the very first day that God revealed His plan for the nation of Israel, He promised numerous descendants.  God chose Abraham, not because he was more righteous than any of the other people of his
Read more

1 Timothy 2:11-15

Let a woman learn quietly   with all submissiveness.    I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.    For Adam was formed first,   then Eve;   and Adam was not deceived, but   the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.    Yet she will be saved through   childbearing—if they continue in   faith and love and holiness, with self-control. There is certainly controversy and confusion about this passage in many churches today.  The idea of a distinction between men and women and their roles in the family and church certainly goes against the flow of many cultures around the world.  Some would argue that the literal and plain teaching of this passage is no longer applicable to today’s culture.  However, it is always dangerous to discard biblical teaching or try to interpret Scripture based on the cultures in which we live.  Certainly, the Spirit who inspired this text was aware of the many changes that would occur in future cul
Read more

1 Timothy 2:1-7

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and   dignified in every way.    This is good, and   it is pleasing in the sight of   God our Savior,   who desires   all people to be saved and   to come to   the knowledge of the truth.    For   there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,   who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is   the testimony given   at the proper time.    For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying),   a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.   Prayer is one of the greatest privileges believers have and it should be one of our greatest priorities.  Too often our lives are more often marked by complaining about our circumstances and our political leaders than by prayers for them.  The government in Paul’s day
Read more