WEEK 39, DAY 271; TODAY’S READING: MICAH 1-7

OVERVIEW:

Micah prophesies of God’s wrath (chapter 1); God’s attitude toward oppression (chapter 2); God’s judgment on Israel’s leaders (chapter 3); the restoration of Israel (chapter 4); Christ foretold (chapter 5); the Lord’s controversy (chapter 6); the eventual restoration of Israel (chapter 7).

HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:

Micah, whose name means, “who is like Jehovah”, was a country boy from the foothills of Judah. He prophesied to the nation of Israel for a 25-year period between 735–710 B.C. His ministry spanned the reigns of Jotham (750–731 B.C.), Ahaz (731–715 B.C.), and Hezekiah (715–686 B.C.). Most of his prophecy is directed toward Judah (the southern kingdom) since the northern tribes of Israel were about to fall to Samaria. He was a contemporary of Hosea and Isaiah.

God opens the book by foretelling His judgment against Judah and Israel, specifically naming the capital cities of each: Jerusalem, the capital of the southern kingdom of Judah, and Samaria, the capital of the northern kingdom of Israel. (1:1) You’ve just gotta love Micah’s heart for the Lord, and His people, as his message to the people literally brings him to tears, and mourning! (1:8–9) This prophecy is partially fulfilled when Israel is taken captive by Samaria in 722 B.C. and Judah is taken captive by Babylon in 605 B.C. However, when taken literally, the verbiage points to a future time when Israel (as a nation) will once again be judged. There is no doubt that the reference in 1:3 to the “Lord coming forth out of His place to tread upon the high places of the earth” refers to the coming tribulation, which, of course, culminates with “the Day of the Lord”, the second coming of Christ.

In chapter 1, God addresses through Micah, one of Israel’s key sins against God, namely, the sin of idolatry. In chapter 2, God singles out another of Israel’s key sins: the sin of injustice. He specifically speaks to those who devise ways to oppress their neighbor. (2:2) Recognize that God makes it clear throughout the Bible that He will repay those who oppress the less fortunate, especially the fatherless and widows! (Jeremiah 7:5–7; 23:3–5; Ezekiel 22:7; Zechariah 7:10–12; Malachi 3:5) God also makes clear that one of His key priorities, and one of the key priorities of His children, is showing compassion on the fatherless and widows, by “visiting” them “in their affliction”. (James 1:27; Isaiah 1:17; Exodus 22:22; Deuteronomy 10:17–18; 14:29; 16:11, 14; 24:19–21; 26:12–13; Psalm 68:5; 146:9) Oh, may we share our Lord’s heart of compassion by looking for those around us who are oppressed, and may we seek opportunities to minister to the affliction of the fatherless and widows in our church, in our community, and in our world! When we truly understand the heart of God, we will be compelled to minister to widows and single moms, young people whose fathers have died or abandoned them, and those who have been oppressed by others. Real ministry means really sacrificing to meet the needs of others!

Micah 2:10 warns Israel to prepare for their coming captivity and warns them against prophets who were telling them that the captivity wasn’t coming. (2:11) Micah tells the people that the prophets who were telling them the positive things they wanted to hear, regardless of how ridiculous their prophecies were, were the prophets they were actually choosing to follow! (2:11) Mark it down, the popularity of a preacher in no way indicates the accuracy of a preacher! The Bible proves over, and over again, that people tend to blindly follow preachers who scratch them where they itch! God tells us in 2^nd Timothy 4:2–4 that this will be especially characteristic of people living in our time! We must be very discerning!

In chapter 3, God warns the leaders of Israel that they will be held accountable for how they abused His people in failing to care for them, protect them, and lead them. Just as the antichrist will proclaim peace before the tribulation (Daniel 8:25), the leaders of Israel were proclaiming peace before the coming captivity (3:5). God promises His judgment upon them. (3:5–7) Do note, that God’s judgment always begins at His house, and with His leaders! (1^st Peter 4:17)

In chapter 4, Micah prophesies of the coming millennium. This chapter parallels Ezekiel’s prophecy in Ezekiel 44–48. Micah provides a beautiful description of life during Christ’s millennial reign, in 4:1, as Micah describes the Lord’s people “flowing” into Christ’s glorious presence! It is a time when the Lord will rule and reign in His kingdom over all the nations of the earth (4:7); and nations will finally be at peace with other nations. (4:3–5) In this present time, world leaders keep working tenaciously to bring peace on earth apart from Christ. There will never be peace on this earth, however, apart from Christ! Be sure to note that this principle also applies to our own personal walk as well. Every individual on this planet wants their hearts, minds, and lives to be shrouded in peace. Few, however, want Christ! Apart from Christ ruling and reigning in the kingdom that we call our life, we will never experience any lasting peace! Daily, let us surrender every aspect of our lives to the Lordship of Christ, and allow His kingdom, in all of its power and glory, to be established in us, and discover His glorious peace!

Micah chapter 5 contains one of the most well-known prophecies concerning Christ, the very city of His birth! (5:2 — “Bethlehem”) Micah also reveals the magnificence of Christ’s kingdom, as it is established on the earth, via His second coming. (5:4) Note also that “the Assyrian” in this chapter is a specific reference to the coming antichrist. (5:5–6)

Micah chapter 6 contains, as it were, a trial. The Lord is presenting His legal case (“controversy” — 6:2) against His people. He calls on nature to serve as the jury (6:1), and Micah to act as His prosecuting attorney. He reminds Israel of His goodness to them, even in the leaders He had provided for them. (6:3–5) He specifically references Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. From a mere practical and devotional standpoint, what is awesome about this reference to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam is that all three of them were by no means perfect! In fact, Aaron and Miriam are most often remembered by their failures (the golden calf and questioning Moses’ authority) than they are anything else! Yet, God holds all three of them up in this passage as His chosen leaders and reminds Israel that they are actually a sign of His goodness. Let that be an encouragement to all of us who have failed as a leader or have failed in properly following God’s set leader(s).

What God was desiring as the outcome of His “trial,” was for Israel to rise above mere religious ceremony, and experience a genuine relationship with Him! (6:8) He wanted them to walk “WITH HIM”! He wanted them to do what was right, but show mercy to those who didn’t! Even though we live in a different dispensation, Micah 6:8 provides a pretty simple, and yet, comprehensive overview of how God intends for His people to live their lives: “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.” Perhaps we could express it this way: God wants us to:

Micah ends his book prophesying about the eventual restoration of Israel. (7:12–20) That is certainly an incredible reality for the nation of Israel, and yet, from a devotional and inspirational standpoint, it is also an incredible and blessed reminder to us that God delights in mercy (7:18); He has compassion on us (7:19a); He pardons our iniquity (7:19b); and He has cast all of our sins into the deepest sea (7:19c)!

CHRIST IS REVEALED:

As the RULER IN ISRAEL WHO WAS BORN IN BETHLEHEM — Micah 5:2 (Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem as the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God shall give to Him the throne of His father David — Luke 1:32–33; 2:4–6.)