Reading: Micah
For, behold, the Lord cometh forth out of His place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth. And the mountains shall be molten under Him, and the valleys shall be cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a steep place. For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and what are the high places of Judah? are they not Jerusalem (Mic. 1:3-5)?
The word of the Lord that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem (Mic. 1:1). The prophet Micah is unique in that he was the only prophet to speak equally to both Israel and Judah. He was the first prophet to foretell Judah's fall and Jerusalem's destruction. Micah was not a timid prophet. He did not attempt to soften his words to protect the feelings of his audience, and he was harsh in his assessment of ongoing sin. He openly derided the seers and diviners of the day, warning them to expect God’s judgment for proclaiming peace to people living outside of the Lord’s will (3:5-6). He urged the people of both nations to turn their attention to him instead. But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the Lord, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin (3:8).
Micah’s message to Israel was blunt: Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the field, and as plantings of a vineyard: and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and I will discover the foundations thereof (1:6). For her wound is incurable; for it is come unto Judah; he is come unto the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem (1:9). Her depravity had reached a point of no return, and God’s judgment was coming. Micah warned Judah to spiritually wake up and recognize the danger before it was too late. 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? The Lord’s voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it (6:8-9). But God had gifted Micah with an uncommon understanding of the hearts of men, and it was clear from his message that he didn’t expect that they would heed his warnings. Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest (3:12).
Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame (2:6). No one from either nation wanted to hear what Micah had to say. Israelites believed he was undermining their strength and capitalizing on their troubles, and Judeans believed he was unfairly holding them responsible for Israel’s sins. At this point, Micah could have thrown up his hands, said, “I tried,” and walked away, but he didn’t. Instead, he doubled down on his message; he got louder and more insistent. He couldn’t force people to understand and respond, but he made sure they were given the opportunity to hear.
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine(II Tim. 4:2).
Thought For TodayIt is not that God’s Word is harsh but that the listener's heart is closed and unwilling.
Christ Revealed: By Jonah’s experience in the great fish (Jon. 1:7 – 2:10). Jesus used this historical event as an illustration to tell of His death, burial, and resurrection when the Pharisees demanded a sign from Him (Matt. 12:39-41; also I Cor. 15:3-4).
Pray For Staff: Tifany Parisi • Country: Chad (11,412,107) Central Africa • Major Languages: French, Arabic • Religious Freedom • 53.1% Muslim; 20.1% Catholic; 14.2% Protestant 7.3% % Animist; 0.5% Other; 1.7% Unknown; 3.1% Atheist • Prayer Suggestion: Thank God for guiding you to sacrifice freely for what pleases Him (Ps. 54:6).