| Spending time in the Scriptures Micah | by A. Kimber | |||||
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As we come to Micah it’s potentially a book that you know very little about. We rarely seem to hear ministry from it and only occasionally is it mentioned. The book is taken up mainly with prophesy about events that would soon happen to Israel, Judah, Jerusalem and also Samaria. There are however a number of messianic prophesies the best known of which is probably in chapter 5 verse 2 where Christ’s birth in Bethlehem is foretold. Firstly Micah puts himself in a historical timeframe as the kings Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah reigned while he was a prophet. We see that this prophesy was brought before the whole world and we are told to listen and hear the Lord God witness against us. Micah’s not pulling any punches is he! Straight away we have God as righteous judge about to give sentence; God’s people have turned to idolatry again, even in the religious centre Jerusalem there are ‘high places’ and idolatry. As we progress into chapter two> the picture gets darker again as we see that there is covetousness leading to violent clashes over land and houses. The people are warned once again of the coming of the Lord to judge and destroy. Unfortunately as we read on the picture gets darker and darker! God’s people were not only involved in idolatry but Micah goes as far as to say that they hate the good and love the evil. The important thing to see is that this is occurring from the highest downwards, heads of houses are perverting justice, and not dispensing judgement, instead seeking to charge for the things that God made them responsible for. Yet at the same time these people are relying on their heritage saying that the Lord is among them so no evil can come upon them. Yet Micah foretells a time when people will come to hear the word of the Lord, and walk in his ways. When war will cease and the Lord will reign over the remnant as their God for ever and ever. This is contrasted to the surrounding nations who were looking at them, seeing them defiled and weak; Micah reminds us that although many gloat and rejoice in the apparent weakness they do not know the thoughts of the Lord and that they will one day be cut down and gathered in as sheaves. This theme continues into chapter> five where the prophesy continues to talk about the coming Lord and how He will stand in strength and how Judah will stand and destroy all those around, this is neatly summed up in verse 15 where we are told that ‘I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard’. Micah makes it incredibly clear, sacrifices won’t do. People were bringing all these things but yet the Lord simply wants them to be just, love mercy and walk humbly with God. Yet they weren’t doing this. Instead they continued in their violence and deceit so God sends the message that they can continue to eat but won’t be satisfied and sow but not reap. Concluding, Micah looks at the state of everyone around and despairs, there is no-one righteous to be found. No-one can be trusted, even family members will turn against one another. Yet as he closes Micah offers a wonderful light of hope; just as the nations are looking on, the Lord will come and will display his might. Yet to the nations that have turned against Him, He will have mercy and compassion. What a wonderful conclusion, much of this has yet to be fulfilled and does not have direct influence on the Christian Church today. Yet let’s learn from these people who had so many blessings from God yet fell to the things that surrounded them. We should take heed to this message and realise that a worldly Christian is just a thing of mockery and derision to the people around. One day they will be silenced as every knee will bow, until then let's be willing to be faithful to the word of the Lord and the many privileges and responsibilities He has given us. Micah 1:9 For her wound is incurable; for it is come unto Judah; he is come unto the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem. Micah 2:1 Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand. Micah 3:2 Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones; Micah 3:11 The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us. Micah 4:2 And many nations shall come, and say, Come, 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. Micah 5:2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Micah 7:18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
All quotes are from the King James version of the Bible unless otherwise specified. | ||||||
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