The Message of Micah
We have been looking at the Minor Prophets over the past month and they all brought messages to God’s people on behalf of the Lord. They spoke through visions, dreams and prophecies that brought an awareness of sin and a need for repentance as well as messages that brought healing and hope.
Micah was from a town called Moresheth that was 35km SW of Jerusalem. Micah was a contemporary of Hosea and Isaiah but prophecied closer to the downfall of Israel as his words come to life around 742 BC.
Micah had the guts to present the true picture of God as he builds his case like a prosecutor calling God’s people to justice. He didn’t mince his words and woven through the message of coming judgment, he brought out glimpses of the glory that await those who repent. Micah goes further to describe the God of glory and His glorious forgiveness that changes us forever.
The fact was that it was going to get ugly, but there was a bright future that awaited those who would be redeemed by it. It is our God who hates sin and all its abuse but who loves the sinner. Micah speaks out against both Israel and Judah and builds his case against the nations because of the need for justice and peace.
THE TRIAL BEGINS
Opening statement 1:6
The book breaks down into three specific parts and we see a reoccurring word, hear in 1:2, hear 3:1 listen and 6:1 listen. It is a classical use of Hebrew poetry. This is how we will take our cues on this book. It is 'shamma' in Hebrew which means to listen with understanding and obedience.
1. The case against the cities – Samaria was the capital city of Israel / Jerusalem was the capital of Judah 1:1- 2:11
The trail of sin that follows both nations are:
· Idolatry 1:7a – it begins with idols
The perversion of worship and the resulting acts of injustice that had affected the entire country. Idolatry always leads to sin which ruin us, ruin our spiritual eyes, ears and hands.
Is there idolatry in our cities?
Mark Driscoll relates the story of a time in India where of course it’s easy to spot the idols and when he spoke with the wife of a pastor there, she was very quick to point out the idols here.
She says, “I can’t stomach the idolatry.” That’s what she tells me. And I said, “What do you mean, you can’t stomach the idolatry?” She says, “Americans worship their sports teams. They worship their bands. They worship their sex life. They worship their body. They worship their stomach. They worship their income. They worship their job. They worship their house. They worship their car. They worship their clothing.” I thought, “You know, she is absolutely right.” And maybe we can see idolatry in the lives of other people more clearly than ourselves and we could see idolatry in the cultures of other peoples more clearly than we can see it in our own culture.
The idol of complaining…
By choosing to complain, by clinging to the idol of a perfect life...you are flushing away the grace of God.
-James MacDonald, July 27, 2011
Back to the CITIES at hand…
· Theft 2:8 - They rob others of the blessings that God gave them
· Greed 2:9 – They never have enough
· Debauchery READ 2:11 – they only want to hear that there will be plenty of wine and beer
(do you realize just how blunt he is being here!...talk about putting it in plain terms that everyone should understand
The case against the LEADERS Chapter 3
· Oppression 3:1-3 – they hate good and love evil – check the imagery…it is fierce, I think he is making his point!
· Hypocrisy 3:4 – they cry out to the Lord, but God sees right through it
· Heresy 3:5 – for prophets who lead my people astray – they were speaking their own words and not words from God.
· Injustice 3:9 - they distort all that is right
The case against the PEOPLE 5:5b -15; 6:9 -7:13
· Extortion and Lying 6:12
· Murder 7:2,3
The VERDICT from the JUDGE 6:1-8 zero in on v7,8
So, God call them to a humble fellowship with Himself which means He is calling us to a childlike dependence on Him.
A love for kindness is a heart that loves to show mercy and continues to look for ways to do just that.
Deed of justice are a call to an active lifestyle that represents and serves on behalf of those who are mistreated. To act justly means to accept responsibility for those who cannot defend themselves – the widows, orphans, disabled, poor and the unborn.
It is the same challenge that Jesus gave the Pharisees in Matthew 23:23 for neglecting the ‘ weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy and faith.
This past week in Guelph we have seen injustice and violence with the three separate incidences of arson confirmed by police investigation in the Grange Rd and Trailbrook area. It started first with propane tanks being blown up in a camper trailer, then a large gasoline can was set on fire in the backyard of a single mom with 3 children, then a garage fire.
These are the times we the church need to be at our best!
This week Debbie Cavan received a call from one of her former students, Sev, who had his garage set on fire. She called me and I had a chance to see the devastation and heartbreak and fear that has gripped this neighbourhood.
I asked him what we could do and he said we just want someone who will listen to us.
I was there and I listened to stories of how the people there are living in so much fear that they are sleeping on mattresses close to their doors and then watched as other neighbours were putting surveillance cameras on their home.
Was there a defining moment this week when God spoke to you about this situation or maybe you need to pray today and say God is there a role that you are calling me to play. Are you being called to go pray through that neighbourhood, provide meals for families?
It is my desire that as a church that our first response in situations like this would not be to say thank goodness, it wasn’t me but to listen and respond to the Spirit.
Some of you know that Jack P was involved in a motorcycle accident and I am so encouraged by those in our church who have been ministering to him, to fight for justice on his behalf in understanding his chronic pain.
Seize those opportunities…what is your purpose in all of this.
The Sentencing
In the midst of the realization that they are going to suffer and go into exile, there is a future promise of hope.
· One city will rise up 5:2-5
So, here we have this incredible prophecy given over 700 years before Christ’s birth about a town in sharp contrast to the mighty cities that will fall. It was here that the Messiah would be born and it was also in Bethlehem that God chose David. God chooses often the ordinary, the overlooked, those out of the way to proclaim His purposes. You might say of course, Bethlehem, because we can look back on the greatness of Jesus’ birthplace now, but it was a place that was obscure, it wasn’t the center of great commerce, but it was a humble place that magnified the glory of God.
And let’s not forget that David was also overlooked in this place. He was the last person that Jesse presented to Samuel as one of his sons because he was the youngest, but that’s where God does His greatest work, through little towns, young sons, slingshots, mangers and mustard seeds.
· One leader will rise up 2:12,13
Jesus is our King and here we see the fulfillment of that one leader, who being the very nature of God, came to us in the form of a servant. Philippians 2
· One ‘People’ will rise up 4:1-8, 7:14-20
In 4:1-8 God promises deliverance as a time of peace will come when swords will turn into the front of a plough and spears will turn into pruning hooks and they will walk in the name of the Lord.
7:18 Who is a God like you,
who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever
but delight to show mercy.
who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever
but delight to show mercy.
19 You will again have compassion on us;
you will tread our sins underfoot
and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
you will tread our sins underfoot
and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
Closing Statement
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