The Book of Micah
Student’s Study Guide
Human Author: Micah
Divine Author: God the Holy
Spirit
Date of Writing: c. 735-700
BC
Key Thought: Denunciation of
sin
“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?”
~*~
Introduction
The book begins
with the wretched estate of
MICAH 1
First Division Micah 1-2
Judgment upon
1 The word of the LORD that
came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of [the good king] Jotham [750-732
BC], [the evil king] Ahaz [735-732 BC], and [the godly king] Hezekiah
[715-686], kings of
1:1 Micah is called “the Morasthite”,
which means a man of Moreshah, a town located to the south west of
2 Hear, all ye people;
hearken, O earth [land], and all that therein is: and let the Lord GOD [Adonai
Jehovah] be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.
1:2 Hear, all ye people. All of
1:2 from His holy temple. The memory of the tabernacle
in the wilderness is involved (Lev. 1:1) when the voice of Jehovah could be
heard from the sanctuary setting forth the holiness that characterized the
people in whose midst He dwelt. Now the Lord speaks from the sanctuary to
condemn those who have violated His Word. He is a witness against His own
people.
3 For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth.
4 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.
1:3-4 From His secret dwelling place the Lord
God has come forth to consider the spiritual state of
5 For the transgression
[rebellion] of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the house of
1:5 The particular
transgression of the nation involved spiritual adultery due to apostasy or a
turning away from the Law of the Lord. The nation has embraced the worship of
other gods displayed in the creation of high places of worship.
6 Therefore I will make
1:6 Because the people
would not repent and destroy the false idols God will judge the nation and
destroy the false relics Himself.
7 And all the graven images
thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires [temple gifts] thereof
shall be burned with the fire, and all the idols thereof will I lay desolate:
for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, and they shall return to
the hire of an harlot.
1:7 hires. The hires or gifts
representing
8 Therefore I will wail and
howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons
[jackal], and mourning as the owls.
1:8 I will. This is either the
language of anguish of Micah as he identifies himself with the sorrows of
Judgment Upon
9 For her wound is incurable; for it is come unto
1:9 her wound. There comes a time when
there is no stopping the hand of divine judgment. While grace is long suffering
discipline will come, it must come. The attribute of love in the heart of God
must not be stressed to rob Him of His holiness and justice. Sin is like a
spreading pestilence. While it may start in
10 Declare ye it not
at
1:10. tell it not in
11 Pass ye away, thou
inhabitant of Saphir [lit. beautiful, fair, a Judean town located 3 ½ miles SE
of Ashdod], having thy shame naked: the inhabitant of Zaanan [lit. their flock] came not forth in the
mourning of Beth-ezel [lit. a place near];
he shall receive of you his standing.
12 For the inhabitant of Maroth [lit. bitterness, located in the W part of
All of this sorrow came from the Lord. It is
a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God who is angry.
13 O thou inhabitant of
14 Therefore shalt thou give presents to
Moresheth-gath [lit. possession of
15 Yet will I bring an heir
[conqueror] unto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah [lit. chief place, a fortified city of
16 Make thee bald [shave], and poll [mourn] thee for thy delicate children
[lit. sons of your delight]; enlarge
thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee.
Questions and Answers on Micah 1:1-7
1. What is the time period for
the prophecy of Micah?
Answer.
2. To whom was the message of
Micah directed?
Answer.
3. What has brought forth the
judgment of God?
Answer.
4. What will the wages of sin
always be?
Answer.
5. What is the prophet Micah’s
response to the knowledge that judgment is coming upon his nation?
Answer.
6. What is the prophet Micah’s
response to the knowledge that judgment is coming upon his nation?
Answer.
7. Whom should the Christians
lament in the spirit of the prophet Micah?
Answer.
8. List the twelve cities that
Micah mentions in 1:8-16.
Answer.
9. What is said to come down
from the Lord unto the gate of
Answer.
10. Who should expect to be
first in the punishment when the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against
sin?
Answer.
Personal Application and Reflection
1. Does it matter where the
money or gifts come from that are given to the Lord?
2. Whom should the Christians
weep over in the spirit of the prophet Micah?
3. Who should expect to be
first in the punishment when the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against
sin?
4. What are some modern day
examples of great cities being destroyed by the ravages of God’s judgment?
5. When you are in mourning,
what do you do to express deep grief?
Micah 1: 3 For, behold, the LORD cometh forth
out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the
earth.
MICAH 2
Introduction
Commenting upon Micah 2 Dr. H. A. Ironside
noted when people do not walk in gospel obedience to revealed truth they lose
the power to distinguish truth from error, and may, “under the deadening
influence of the deceitfulness of sin, do the most outrageous things, and calmly
announce that they were for the glory of God; yea, and be deeply grieved if
their high pretensions are not recognized and bowed to” (Notes on the Minor
Prophets).
Upon
cruel oppressors (2:1-11)
1 Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! When
the morning is light, they practice it, because it is in the power of their
hand.
2:1 Woe. In Scripture the
word “woe” speaks of great judgment and grief. God is a God of mercy but
He is also absolute holiness and will not let the guilty go unchallenged or
unpunished. Those who devise iniquity in their hearts and engage in sexual
misconduct upon their beds will know a day of divine visitation. Eagerly do the
wicked rise early to fulfill the imaginations of their hearts because they know
they have the power to hurt others.
2 And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses,
and take them away: so they oppress [defraud] a man and his house, even
a man and his heritage.
3 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold,
against this family do I devise an evil, from which ye shall not remove your
necks; neither shall ye go haughtily: for this time is evil.
2:3 To the same degree the
wicked had sown no mercy to others so the Lord would show the people no mercy.
Their former pride and haughtiness against accountability would not save them.
4 In that day shall one take up a parable [taunting song] against you,
and lament with a doleful lamentation, and say, We
be utterly spoiled: he hath changed the portion of my people: how hath he
removed it from me! Turning away he hath divided our fields.
5 Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot in the congregation of the LORD.
2:4-5 In that day. In the day of divine
judgment God promised lamentations and mourning would succeed the careless
songs of sinners. Their fields would be divided among strangers to the point
that none would be left with authority to “cast a cord” or divide the
land and measure it off to place the landmarks accurately.
6 Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they
shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame.
2: 6 Those who are the object of God’s
impending judgment do not want to hear they are in trouble with the Lord. In an
attempt to silence their conscience they silence the messenger of God calling
for repentance. They do not want to be made to feel shame.
Special Note
2:6 An alternative translation of this verse
would make the passage to mean that God stops any more prophetic words of
warning from being uttered lest the people feel shame and repent (see Matt.
13:13-15).
7 O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the LORD straitened [angry]? Are these his doings? Do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?
2:7 In the matter of administering a righteous
judgment God declares He is not unreasonable. His words minister good to anyone
who walks uprightly. If people repent God shows mercy. God is more willing to
save than individuals are willing to be saved. But the problem is the heart.
The heat is deceitful and desperately wicked. It can become emotionally harder
than stone and so will not respond to words of warning or grace.
8 Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye pull off the robe
with the garment from them that pass by securely [peaceably] as men averse
[returning] from war.
2:8 Professing people of the covenant can act as
enemies of the Cross. It is imperative that any true profession of faith be
manifested by good works, not acts of violence and robbery indicated by
stripping off the costly outer robes from those that pass by. The integrity of
the church is lost when individuals believe salvation brings no change in
behavior.
9 The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses;
from their children have ye taken away my glory for ever.
2:9 Women were the objects of abuse and injustice as
well as men. Widows were left without legal protection. They were forced from
their homes. Mother and child were thrown into the streets by unscrupulous
creditors.
10 Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest:
because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction.
2:10 The Lord calls His people to depart from
every expression of evil. Holiness not haughtiness in sin is to characterize
the Christian. The believer is to flee fornication and not rest in the company
of the profane. To do so is to be polluted and then destroyed. Self destruction
comes by provoking God. The judgment will be as severe as the transgression.
11 If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the prophet of this people.
2:11 False prophets promising ease to God’s people
in time of judgment have consistently plagued the church. In the modern era, in
1830, a popular teaching was introduced into American theology promising the
church would escape great tribulation. The Bible teaches the opposite. Acts
14:22 “we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” Unfortunately, those who preach ease to God’s
people are accepted as true prophets.
Upon a remnant (2:12-13)
12 I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather
the remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the
flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of the multitude
of men.
13 The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass before them, and the LORD on the head of them.
2:12-13 The principle of abounding grace in the
midst of abounding sin is brought forth in the closing verses. Despite severe
judgment God will remember to have mercy. The church will be assembled as a
remnant is kept
according to the election of God. Like sheep in a
pen, like a flock in a pasture the elect
will be gathered. Then, a divine Breaker will be sent to help the sheep escape
bondage. He will set the captive free. Next, in marvelous grace the
Messiah shall lead His sheep from glory to glory and
they shall rejoice.
“Rejoice, ye people, homage give,
To God with voice of triumph sing;
He ruleth in dread majesty,
The great, the universal King.
He putteth nations under us
And maketh us triumphant stand;
He giveth for our heritage
His promised rest, a goodly land.
God hath ascended with a shout,
Jehovah with the trumpet’s sound;
Sing praise to God our King,
sing praise,
Yes, let His glorious praise abound.
Our God is King of all the earth,
With thoughtful heart
His praise make known;
O’er all the nations God doth reign,
Exalted on His holy throne.
To praise and serve our cov’nant God
The princes of the earth draw nigh;
All kingly pow’rs belong to Him,
He is exalted, God most high.”
Thomas Williams, 1789
~:*~
Questions and Answers on Micah 2
1. What does the word “woe”
signify?
Answer.
2. What are the characteristics
of the wicked?
Answer.
3. What do people do when they
do not want to listen to the voice of God?
Answer.
4. What do false prophets
promise?
Answer.
5. What is the principle of
abounding grace?
Answer.
1. Is it possible for a genuine
Christian to become the enemy of God? Why or why not?
2. Define holiness.
3. Based on failed predictions
and teaching contrary to the historic faith can you identify any modern day
false prophets?
4. What are your thoughts about
the concept of the church being taken out of the world during a time of great
tribulation? What biblical evidence is used for this teaching? Are the passages
appealed to valid? Explain.
5. Do you know individuals who
could be characterized as an “enemy of the cross”? What have they said
or done to deserve this characterization?
Micah 2: 1 Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! When the morning is light, they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand.
MICAH 3
Second Division
Micah 3-5
1 And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the
house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment?
3:1 heads of Jacob. The gospel calls all men
to repentance including princes (verses 1-4) along with priests and prophets
(5-8).
2 Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from
off them, and their flesh from off their bones;
3:2 In the soul of the unrighteous there are
deep emotions of intense joy and pleasure for the sins of the flesh are loved.
There is also deep hatred of good and resentment of any call to repentance.
Every person must be self conscious of the emotions in the heart.
3 Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron.
3:3 When individuals of wealth and position
lose respect for the common people they are treated with distain and exploited.
The masses become little more than meat for the fleshpots of the privileged. A
quote is attributed to Pope Leo X of the Reformation era,
“What a profitable thing this myth about
Jesus Christ has been to us!”
4 Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will
even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill
in their doings.
3:4 While God is longsuffering not willing that any
should perish, perish many do because they abuse the goodness of God for His
death. Then the hour comes when God is needed. Individuals cry but the heavens
are as brass. God stops listening to the wicked and will even “hide His face
from them”.
5 Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err [go wrong], that bite [do harm] with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.
3:5 While the princes rule and abuse people by the
power of their position the priests cause the people to err by perverting the
Word of God. The priests offer a false peace while preparing hearts to war
against God through the will to power and the promise of personal pleasure.
6 Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a
vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun
shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.
3:5 God’s judgment upon the church is to remove
spiritual fellowship with Himself and then take away doctrinal understanding
thereby plunging souls further into darkness. Those who serve not the Lord
Jesus Christ but their own appetites and by good works and fair speeches
deceive the hearts of the simple give people a heavenly way to go to hell with
a religion without righteousness (Rom. 16:18).
7 Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea,
they shall all cover their lips [upper lip]; for there is no answer of
God.
3:7 God knows how to make the guilty ashamed. One
day He shall. Every false teacher will have their eyes opened and their tongues
silenced as their hearts tremble in fear as the great spiritual sin they have
committed. False prophets and teachers stand in contrast to the Servant of the
Lord is full of power by the Holy Spirit.
8 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 The servant of the Lord filled with the Holy
Spirit will be faithful to call people to repentance by declaring specifically the transgressions
that people are guilty of committing.
9 Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of
the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity.
3:9 The prophet Micah and thus the Lord pleads with
the children of the covenant to listen to the gospel call of repentance. But
the people do not listen. While abhorring justice and perverting all that is
decent and holy the rulers build up Zion and declare the Lord is in their midst
and honors all they do.
10 They build up Zion with blood [violence], and Jerusalem with
iniquity.
11 The heads [rulers or civil leaders] 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.
3:11 One of the marks of a false minister is that he
is a hireling, he is in the ministry mainly for the money (John 10:12-13). The
priests “teach for hire”. They
care nothing for the people of God. Other characteristics of the religious
hypocrite are a self-assurance that God is pleased with their behavior and that
no harm will come to them.
12 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 The rulers and the priests had taken the name
of God and made Him the minister of unrighteousness. For this evil Zion was to
be plowed as a field and Jerusalem destroyed. The Holy Mount was to be treated
as the idolatrous high places of the groves. When righteousness is not
respected God will remove the candlestick of the church and expose all
pretensions. The One who is Holy and True will not allow inequity to continue
unchecked and unchallenged.
Questions and Answers on Micah 3
1. Describe the emotions in the
soul of the wicked.
Answer.
2. What does God know how to do
with the wicked?
Answer.
3. Does God hear all prayers of
all men?
Answer.
4. Give one distinguishing sign
of a false prophet or minister of the gospel.
Answer.
5. What will God do when
righteousness is not respected?
Answer.
1. One source that provides
sinful pleasure in the modern world is the Internet. In adult chat rooms homes
are being destroyed and lives are being changed as individuals meet on line to
converse in the most profane way. There is a love for evil conversation. Is your
life free of conversing in ungodly conversations?
2. Have you witnessed how some
people with money and position can use their resources to perform good works
but only so they can lead people away from righteousness? If so, give an
example.
3. Have you been filled with
the Holy Spirit? How did you know you were filled?
4. What are modern examples of
popular doctrines but without a Biblical foundation?
5. What sexual sins are
professing Christians capable of committing? What is the biblical and secular
evidence for this?
Micah 3: 8 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.
~*~
Student’s Study
Notes
1. The Old Testament speaks of
God filling men with the Spirit of wisdom in order to make the high priestly
garments of Aaron (Ex. 28:3) and the Ark of the Covenant (Ex. 31:3 cf.
35:31,35).
·
Exodus 28:3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I
have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to
consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.
·
Exodus 31:3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and
in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
·
Exodus 35:31 And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom,
in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;
·
Exodus 35:35 Them hath he filled with wisdom of heart, to work all
manner of work, of the engraver, and of the cunning workman, and of the
embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the
weaver, even of them that do any work, and of those that devise cunning work.
2. The Old Testament speaks of
God's glory filling the Holy Tabernacle (Ex. 40:34) and the earth (Num. 14:21),
Solomon's Temple (1 Kings 8:10,11 cp. 2 Chron. 5:13,14; 7:1,2; Isa. 6:1).
3. The Psalmist prayed that the
whole Earth be filled with God's glory.
·
Psalms 72:19 And blessed be his glorious name for ever: and let the
whole earth be filled with his glory; Amen, and Amen.
4. In Ezekiel's Temple Vision
the glory of God filled the structure.
·
Ezekiel 10:3 Now the cherubims stood on the
right side of the house, when the man went in; and the cloud filled the inner
court.
·
Ezekiel 43:5 So the spirit took me up, and brought me into the inner
court; and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house.
·
Ezekiel 44:4 Then brought he me the way of the north gate before the
house: and I looked, and, behold, the glory of the LORD filled the house of the
LORD: and I fell upon my face.
5. In the New Testament John
was filled with the Holy Ghost.
·
Luke 1:15 For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall
drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy
Ghost, even from his mother's womb.
·
Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost. Luke 1:11 And there
appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar
of incense.
·
Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost. Luke 1:67 And his father
Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost, and prophesied, saying,
·
The disciples at Pentecost were filled with the Holy Ghost. Acts 2:4
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
·
Peter was filled with the Holy Ghost. Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled
with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of
Israel,
·
A multitude of saints were filled with the Holy Ghost. Acts 4:31 And
when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together;
and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God
with boldness.
·
Paul was filled with the Holy Ghost in Acts 9:17 and again in Acts
13:9. Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and
putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that
appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest
receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. Acts 13:9 Then Saul, (who
also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him,
6. Every Christian is commanded
to be filled with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18).
The command is to be obeyed but what does it mean? “And be not drunk
with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit”
·
The Pentecostals says it means to be able to speak in tongues.
·
The Dispensationalists says it means to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit
and to have no unconfessed sins.
·
The New Testament seems to teach that whenever people were filled with
the Holy Spirit they all witnessed for Christ with power so that souls were
saved.
v
John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Ghost with the promise that "many
of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord (Luke 1:13-16).
v
After Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost she spake with a loud
voice and said a word of testimony about the coming Saviour to be born of the
Virgin. Luke 1:41-42 And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the
salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with
the Holy Ghost: 42 And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art
thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.
v
When Zacharias was filled with the Holy Spirit he had great power to
witness. Luke 1:67 And his father Zacharias was filled with the Holy Ghost,
and prophesied, saying,
v
Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered to begin His
supernatural ministry. Luke 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost
returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,
v
In the book of Acts whenever people were filled with the Holy Spirit,
they witnessed with power. Six times the
phrase "filled with the Holy Ghost is used. Five times we are told that witnessing for
God took place.
q
At Pentecost people filled with the Holy Ghost began to witness for
Christ (Acts 2:4) and souls were saved (Acts 2:41). Acts 2:4 And they were
all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the
Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:41
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there
were added unto them about three thousand souls.
q
Peter was filled with the Holy Ghost (Acts 4:8) and preached. Acts
4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the
people, and elders of Israel,
q
In Acts 4:31 a whole group of disciples were filled again with the Holy
Spirit and people were saved (Acts 4:32). Acts 4:31-32 And when they had
prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were
all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul:
neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his
own; but they had all things common.
q
Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, witnessed in mighty power (Acts
6:5-8) and souls were later saved. Acts
6:5-8 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man
full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor,
and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6 Whom they set
before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 7
And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in
Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the
faith. 8 And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles
among the people.
q
Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, began His powerful ministry (Acts
9:17; Acts 13:9-12). Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way, and entered into
the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even
Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that
thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. Acts 13:9-12 Then Saul, (who also is called
Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10 And said, O full of
all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all
righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11
And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind,
not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a
darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the
deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine
of the Lord.
q
Barnabas too was filled with the Holy Spirit and won many souls to the
Saviour. Acts 11:24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of
faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.
7. Even the Old Testament
passages that teach of God filling Bezaleel, demonstrate the fact that the Holy
Spirit was given to testify about Christ for the Ark which Bezaleel constructed
was all about Christ.
·
Exodus 31:3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom,
and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
·
Exodus 35:31 And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom,
in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;
·
Exodus 35:35 Them hath he filled
with wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver, and of the
cunning workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, and in purple, in scarlet,
and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of them that do any work, and of
those that devise cunning work.
8. The conclusion of the matter
is plain.
·
The Bible commands believers to be filled with the Holy Spirit, to be
controlled by Him, and to be under His guiding influence.
·
The Bible promises a special filling, an anointment, a power from on
high for soul winning efforts. But this
filling only comes by believing the promise associated with the Great
Commission, praying, supplicating, and waiting expectantly.
~*~
MICAH 4
Description of the kingdom (4:1-5)
1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain
of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and
it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it [Isaiah 2:2-4].
4:1 the last days. Many spiritual blessings are identified with
the Messiah in the last days. Turning to the New Testament the last days
are declared to be fulfilled in Christ and in the church age.
·
Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will
pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall
prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream
dreams:
·
2 Timothy 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times
shall come.
·
Hebrews 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he
hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
·
2 Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days
scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
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.
4:2 The provisions of this passage seems to be
fulfilled in the church according to Hebrews 12:22—23. This is expressly
stated: ‘But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God,
the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and
church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of
all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect.’ There are two rules
of biblical hermeneutics or principles of interpretation to guide the believers
understanding of the Scriptures.
v
Let the New Testament interpret the Old Testament.
v
When it does, believe what is said.
3 And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar
off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into
pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall
they learn war any more.
4:3 The image of a sovereign Judge among the nations
and a Prince of Peace are associated with and fulfilled in Christ.
The Sovereign Savior
·
Matt 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is
given unto me in heaven and in earth.
The Ascended Christ
·
Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are
above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
·
Acts 2:33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having
received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this,
which ye now see and hear.
The Ruler and Judge of the Universe
·
Rev 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations
with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.
·
Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written,
KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
The Prince of Peace
·
Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the
government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful,
Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree;
and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath
spoken it.
4:1-4 The secular counterpoint to the
millennial concept is called “Utopia” which literally means, “Nowhere.” Another name is “Communism”. An alternative to secular Utopia, ungodly
Communism or dispensational millennialism is to find messianic promises
spiritually fulfilled in Christ and in the church during the present age and in
the ages to come.
·
Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding
riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
·
Ephesians 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of
men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
·
Ephesians 3:21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus
throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
·
Colossians 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from
generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
When Jesus returns the second time for all
who believe according to promise (Heb. 9:28; Acts 1:11) there will be a new
heaven and a new earth as time will be no more. Death will be swallowed up in
victory and the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our God (1
Cor. 15:1ff).
The eternal rule and reign of Christ will be
established, not for only a mere thousand years but forever and ever.
5 For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and [or, but] we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.
4:5 When Jesus comes every knee shall bow and
every tongue confess that He is Lord to the glory of God.
Establishment of the kingdom
(4:6-13)
6 In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth [is lame], and I will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted;
7 And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far
off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from
henceforth, even for ever.
8 And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of
Zion, unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come
to the daughter of Jerusalem.
4:6-8 When the ascended Lord gave power to His
disciples on the day of Pentecost, Jerusalem became the joy of the earth for
the gospel was preached to many tongues and nations (Acts 2:1-12).
9 Now why dost thou cry out aloud? Is there no king in thee? Is
thy counsellor perished? For pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.
10 Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a
woman in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt
dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou
be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.
11 Now also many nations [Gentiles] are gathered against thee, that
say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion.
12 But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they
his counsel [guidance]: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.
13 Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn
iron, and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many
people: and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance
unto the Lord of the whole earth.
4:7-12 Before the Messiah, before the fullness of
the Spirit being poured out, before the day of Pentecost, before the gospel
would go unto the ends of the earth, before any of these great events the
covenanted people must cry out. Jerusalem must be destroyed and the children
carried to Babylon. The enemies of the church must magnify themselves against
her till the hour of her favor was to come and the Lord Himself was appear to
redeem His own according to the election of grace.
With the coming of the Messiah the wealth of the
nations would be devoted to Him through whom all joy is found. Their substance
would gladly be given to Him. All of this has been realized reflected in the
conversion of Zacchaeus and the willingness of the church to give the resources
of the world to spread the gospel (Luke 19:5; Acts 20:35).
Questions and Answers on Micah 4
1. In what other passage are
the words of Micah 4:1-3 found?
Answer.
2. Comment on the term “the
last days.”
Answer.
3. What two secular concepts
replace the biblical image of the reign of the Messiah?
Answer.
4. What images of the Messiah
are presented in Micah 4:3?
Answer.
5. What had to happen before
the Messiah would come?
Answer.
1. If Scripture is to be
interpreted as literally as possible whenever possible as some Bible scholars
insist, who and what determines what is possible?
2. Do believe there is a
dramatic distinction between the church of the Old Testament and the church of
the New? Explain.
3. Does God have a plan for
national Israel that is distinct from the plan of His new covenanted people?
What might that plan be? Use Scripture to defend your answer.
4. Do you believe that when
Jesus comes the second time for all who believe there is still 1,000 more years
of human history filled with bloodshed and violence and death? Why? What
biblical passages would you appeal to for such a belief?
5. What percentage of your
income do you give to the Lord? What does your income tax statement reflect?
Micah 4: 4 But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it.
~*~
MICAH 5
Rejection of the King at His
first coming (5:1-2)
1 Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid
siege against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the
cheek.
5:1 The rejection of the Messiah was foretold by
Isaiah and by Micah. Both predicted He would be treated in a violent manner. “I
gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I
hid not my face from shame and spitting” (Isa. 50: 6).
When Jesus was taken into the home of the High
Priest they “did spit in His face, and buffeted Him; and others smote Him
with the palms of their hands, saying Prophesy unto us, Thou Christ, Who is he
that smote Thee?” In like manner in the Roman pretorium the soldiers
“spit upon Him, and took the reed, and smote Him on the head” (Matt. 26:67, 68;
27:30).
“Up Calvary’s mountain,
one dreadful morn,
Walked Christ my Savior,
weary and worn;
Facing for sinners
death on the cross,
That He might save them
from endless loss.
Blessèd Redeemer! Precious
Redeemer!
Seems now I see Him on Calvary’s tree;
Wounded and bleeding,
for sinners pleading,
Blind and unheeding—dying for me!
“Father forgive them!”
thus did He pray,
E’en while His lifeblood
flowed fast away;
Praying for sinners while in such woe
No one but Jesus ever loved so.
O how I love Him, Savior and Friend,
How can my praises ever find end!
Through years unnumbered
on Heaven’s shore,
My tongue shall praise
Him forevermore”
~*~
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.
5:2 This text is applied to the Messiah in Matthew
2:5. Seven centuries before the Lord Jesus was born the place of His birth was
given. Mark well the Old Testament passages that are quoted in the New
Testament but then remember this: “It is a small thing how you mark your
Bible, but it is all important that it mark you.”
Interval between the royal rejection and return (5:3)
3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which
travaileth [is in labor] hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren
shall return unto the children of Israel.
5:3 give them up. Because the Messiah would
be rejected God would give Israel up to a period of travail. In AD 70 judgment
would fall upon the nation. Once more the Jews would be dispersed among all
people. They would be scattered among the countries of the earth. And the
voices inviting judgment would ring across the centuries, “His blood be upon
us and our children” (Matt. 27:25).
5:3 the remnant. In the New Testament
this remnant is spoken of in Romans 11:5. “Even so then at this present time
also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.”
The Messiah's second coming
(5:4-15)
4 And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.
5:4
When Jesus comes the second time
in all of His power and glory He shall “be
great unto the ends of the earth.”
Never again will any one spit on Christ or raise a hand in violence
against Him.
Never again will unholy hand hurt His holy
body or pound nails into His flesh. He shall be great unto the ends of the
earth forever and ever.
Come, Thou almighty King,
Help us Thy Name to sing,
help us to praise!
Father all glorious, over all victorious,
Come and reign over us,
Ancient of Days!
Jesus, our Lord, arise,
Scatter our enemies, and make them fall;
Let Thine almighty
aid our sure defense be made,
Souls on Thee be stayed;
Lord, hear our call.
Come, Thou incarnate Word,
Gird on Thy mighty sword,
our prayer attend!
Come, and Thy people bless,
and give Thy Word success,
Spirit of holiness, on us descend!
Come, holy Comforter,
Thy sacred witness
bear in this glad hour.
Thou Who almighty art,
now rule in every heart,
And ne’er from us depart,
Spirit of power!
To Thee, great One in Three,
Eternal praises be, hence, evermore.
Thy sovereign majesty
may we in glory see,
And to eternity love and adore!
Charles Wesley
~*~
5 And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come
into our land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise
against him seven shepherds, and eight principal [princes] men.
5:5 Returning to a more contemporary event Micah
anticipates an Assyrian invasion of Israel. When it comes the men of Israel
will fight. Shepherds and princes will unite in hand-to-hand combat with
Assyrian soldiers and shall prevail, if not initially then ultimately. This has
proven to be true. Today, Israel is recognized as a nation among others in the
world while Assyria has been relegated to the dustbin of history.
6 And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and [even] the land of Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian, when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders.
5:6 In the day of ultimate victory for the church
with Jesus Christ, the Man of Peace as her leader all the enemies of the
covenanted people will be defeated. Historically the haughty Assyrians were to
overthrown, and in modern times, by way of application any and all institutions
that oppose the church shall be destroyed. This includes socialistic regimes,
communism, Marxism, atheism and any other entity that dares to replace or
destroy the church of the Living Lord.
7 And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a
dew from the LORD, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man,
nor waiteth for the sons of men.
5:7 Once freed of all enemies, political and
spiritual, the church as the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many
people “as a dew from the Lord, as the showers upon the grass,” bringing
joy and blessing to all at the command of the Lord. The church will tarry for
none.
“We're marching to Zion,
beautiful, beautiful Zion,
We're marching upward to Zion,
the beautiful city of God.”
~*~
8 And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of
many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among the
flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth in
pieces, and none can deliver.
5:8 the remnant of Jacob. As salvation is of
the Lord so is the preservation of the people of God in time and eternity. The
doctrine of the security of the Believer is one of the most precious teachings
in Scripture. It brings comfort to the heart in times of persecution and
hope in days of pain and suffering. The remnant of Jacob “shall be”.
There is divine certainty in the decrees of the
Almighty despite the hardships of life.
“God hath not promised
skies always blue,
Flower strewn pathways
all our lives through;
God hath not promised
sun without rain, Joy without sorrow,
peace without pain.
But God hath promised
strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.
God hath not promised
we shall not
know
Toil and temptation, trouble and woe;
He hath not told us we shall not bear
Many a burden, many a care.
God hath not promised
smooth roads and wide,
Swift, easy travel, needing no guide;
Never a mountain rocky and steep,
Never a river turbid and deep.”
But God hath promised
strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.
Annie J. Flint
~*~
9 Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine enemies shall be cut off.
5:9 thine hand. Despite a sad but popular
teaching that the church shall end in shame and apostasy the prophetic Word
of God declares triumph for the church. The church cannot fail. The church
remains the most glorious institution on earth. Her glory and victory is
assured. Dr. Vernon Grounds, chancellor of Denver Seminary tells of an incident
that happened while he was in seminary. Since the school had no gymnasium, he
and his friends played basketball in a nearby public school.
Nearby, an elderly
janitor waited patiently until the seminarians finished playing. Invariably he
sat there reading his Bible. One day my friend asked him what he was reading.
The man answered, ‘The book of Revelation.’ Surprised, my friend asked
if he understood it. ‘Oh, yes,’ the man assured him. `I understand
it.’ ‘What does it mean?’ Quietly the janitor answered, `It means that
Jesus is gonna win.’”
Grounds concludes, “That’s
the best commentary I have ever heard on that book. Jesus is going to win.
That’s the Biblical mind-set.”
10 And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that I will
cut off [destroy] thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy
chariots:
11 And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy
strong holds:
12 And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt
have no more soothsayers:
13 Thy graven images [Ex. 20: 4] also will I cut off, and thy standing [statues] images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands.
14 And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so will I
destroy thy cities [enemies].
15 And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen,
such as they have not heard.
5:10-15 As evil had a point of origin so it will
have a point of ultimate termination and eradication. The prophet shares what
the Lord will do to the enemies of the church.
v
The Lord will cut off their means of waging war. “I will cut off
[destroy] thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy
chariots.”
v
The Lord will weaken their financial institutions and fortified
strongholds.
“I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy strong
holds.”
v
The Lord will destroy false spiritual strength. The world of the occult
will be judged. “I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou
shalt have no more soothsayers.”
v
The Lord will destroy ever vestige of false worship. He will cut off all “standing [statues] images out of the midst
of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands.”
The wicked will be astonished at the judgment that
falls upon them as every evil is rooted out.
Questions and Answers on Micah 5
1. What was predicted seven
centuries prior to the birth of the Messiah?
Answer.
2. To whom does the remnant
refer?
Answer.
3. Which mighty ancient empire
did Micah predict would be overthrown?
Answer.
4. Comment on the decrees of
the Lord.
Answer.
5. List some of the evils the
Messiah will root out on behalf of the church.
Answer.
1. Have you been taught to fear
the future and have put your hope in escaping any time of great tribulation to
come? Why?
2. Do you believe the church
has a glorious future of triumph and victory or do you believe it is destitute
to apostatize? Use Scripture to support your answer.
3. What hardships have you
suffered in life? Have you ever suffered for the sake of righteousness in that
you stood up for a principle or promise of the Word of God? Please share.
4. Do you believe that Jesus
Christ is now King and that He rules and reigns as the Messiah over the affairs
of the earth? If not, why not?
5. What evidence is there in
chapter 5 that the prophet saw not only the first coming of Christ but His
second advent as well?
Micah 5: 4 And he shall stand and feed in the
strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they
shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.
MICAH 6
Third Division
Micah 6-7
The people's ingratitude and
sin (6:1-7:6)
1 Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend [plead] thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.
6:1 Hear ye now. Having looked into
the future the prophet returns to the present to press home upon the conscience
the sins of the people for the Lord has a controversy with His people.
2 Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD's controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead [argue] with Israel.
6:2 In biblical poetical language mountains
and hills are often used as a simile for the major cities and their adjacent
villages. They are called upon to give “ear” or to give a hearing to the
controversy the Lord has with His people.
Communion is no longer possible until the vital issue of sin is dealt
with.
3 O my people, what have I done unto thee? And wherein have I wearied thee? Testify against me.
6:3 Taking the role of a wounded lover the Lord asks
what He has done to deserve unethical treatment by His own. How has He provoked
them to the point they can argue they are weary of Him and can justify turning
to false lovers in the form of pagan gods?
4 For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out
of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
6:4 In self defense and to establish His
righteous case Lord goes back into history to remind the people of the covenant
how He had brought the fathers “up out of the land of Egypt.” God had
redeem or purchased His people.
5 O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.
6:5 In order to bring conviction to their hearts the
people of the covenant are called upon to remember how the Lord would allow no
one to curse them. When judgment was necessary the Lord administered
disciplined that they “might know the
righteousness of the Lord.” The purpose of the chastisements was to turn
cursing into blessing.
6 Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before
the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a
year old?
6:5 Assuming the people desired to repent, the
prophet asks a rhetorical question. “How was fellowship to be restored?”
“Would it be on the basis of proper sacrifices offered?”
7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten
thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my
transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
6:7 The answer to the rhetorical questions is, “No!”
God does not want animal or human
sacrifices. What He does want is a righteous life.
8 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?
6:8 Only when the people bowed low before the Lord,
acknowledged their sins and set out in the power of the Holy Spirit to live a
holy and righteous life would fellowship with the Lord return. Only by gospel
obedience is there a happy sense of the Lord’s favor which exalts the heart and
brings inner peace and lasting happiness.
“Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance,
glad hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.
O Jesus, Lord and Savior,
I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement,
didst give Thyself for me.
I own no other Master,
my heart shall be Thy throne.
My life I give, henceforth to live,
O Christ, for Thee alone.
Living for Jesus Who died in my place,
Bearing on Calvary
my sin and disgrace;
Such love constrains me
to answer His call,
Follow His leading and give Him my all.
Living for Jesus, wherever I am,
Doing each duty in His holy Name;
Willing to suffer affliction and loss,
Deeming each trial a part of my cross.
Living for Jesus through earth’s
little while,
My dearest treasure,
the light of His smile;
Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,
Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.
Thomas
O. Chisholm
~*~
6:8 In Matthew 23:23 Jesus referred to this passage
when condemning the Pharisees saying, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! For ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the
weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to
have done, and not to leave the other undone.”
9 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.
6:9 The voice of the Lord is the most precious voice
that ears will ever hear. It is a spiritual voice but it is just as real as the
sound of a human voice. The man of wisdom will listen for it. The man of wisdom
will yield to the rod of divine judgment because of the Righteous One who has
appointed it. Psalms 94:12 “Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD,
and teachest him out of thy law; 13 That thou mayest give him rest from the
days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked.”
6:9 hear ye the rod. God has reasons for
chastening His children.
v
Chastening is designed to lead the Christian to repentance. 2 Corinthians 7: 9 Now I
rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for
ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in
nothing.
v
Chastening is designed to restore the heart to fellowship with the
Lord. That
which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have
fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his
Son Jesus Christ (I John 1:3). Ps 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray:
but now have I kept thy word.
v
Chastening is designed to make the Christian more fruitful and faithful. 1 Corinthians 4:2
Moreover it is required in stewards that a man be found faithful.
v
Chastening is designed to keep the Christian humble. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the
revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan
to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I
besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me,
My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of
Christ may rest upon me.
v
Chastening is designed to make the believer more spiritually
discerning.
1 Corinthians 11:31-32 For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be
judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should
not be condemned with the world.
v
Chastening is designed to make the believer more effective in
service. Therefore, my beloved
brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord,
forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord (I Corinthians
15:58).
10 Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the
wicked, and the scant [lawless] measure that is abominable?
11 Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with
the bag of deceitful weights?
12 For the rich men thereof [of the city] are full of violence, and the
inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in
their mouth.
6:10-12 The sins of the saints are enumerated so
self-judgment can take place.
v
Covetousness. Treasures are horded.
v
Extortion. The lawless take from others in an abominable manner.
v
Unrighteousness in business transactions occurs because of false balances.
v
Violence. The most ruthless and violent are the riches people in the city.
v
Deceit.
People speak lies for deceit is in their mouths.
13 Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in
making thee desolate because of thy sins.
14 Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall
be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver;
and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword.
15 Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the
olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not
drink wine.
6:13-15 Apart from repentance the wrath of God would
be poured out upon the nation.
v
Poor health. Diseases prevail where sin is not repented. The modern AIDS epidemic
cannot be dismissed as simply a social problem, it is a spiritual problem.
v Malnourishment. “Thou shalt eat, but not
be satisfied.”
v
Military defeat. “that which thou deliverest will I give up to the
sword.”
v
Crop failure. “Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap.” The olives would produce no oil, the vine no
wine.
16 For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of
Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and
the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my
people.
6:14 The chapter closes with the most serious sin of
the saints and that is a fundamental disrespect for the Word of God. While
Jehovah’s law was not honored “the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the
works of the house of Ahab.” God has
no choice but is compelled to make the people of the covenant “a desolation
and the inhabitants thereof an hissing” until there repentance is as deep
as the transgression. Those who are determined to self destruct will find God
to be just as determined to administer righteous discipline.
Addressing this issue, A.W. Tozer wrote, “We
must face the fact that many today are notoriously careless in their living.
This attitude finds its way into the church. We have liberty, we have money, we
live in comparative luxury. As a result, discipline practically ;has
disappeared. What would a violin solo sound like if the strings on the
musician’s instrument were all hanging loose, not stretched tight, not
“disciplined”? (Men Who Met God ).
Ephraim Repenting
Jeremiah 31:18-20
“My God, till I receive Thy
stroke,
How like a beast was I!
So unaccustom’d to the yoke,
So backward to comply.
With grief my just reproach
I bear;
Shame fills me at the thought,
How frequent my rebellions were,
What wickedness I wrought.
Thy merciful restraint I
scorn’d,
And left the pleasant road;
Yet turn me, and I shall be turn’d;
Thou are the Lord my God.
“Is Ephraim banish’d from my
thoughts,
Or vile in my esteem?”
No,” saith the Lord, “with all his faults,
I still remember him.
“Is he a dear and pleasant
child?”
Yes, dear and pleasant still;
Though sin his foolish heart beguiled,
And he withstood my will.
“My sharp rebuke has laid
him low
He seeks my face again;
My pity kindles at his woe,
He shall not seek in vain.”
Olney Hymns,
by
William Cowper,
from
Cowper’s Poems,
Sheldon & Company, New
York
~*~
Questions and Answers on Micah 6
1. In biblical language what do
mountains and hills often represent?
Answer.
2. On what gospel terms can
fellowship with the Lord be restored?
Answer.
3. Why does God chastise His
children?
Answer.
4. List some of the sins of the
saints that the heart must be guarded against.
Answer.
5.
Answer.
1. Does God have a controversy
with you because of sin in your life? Are there any strongholds that dominate
your life and break sweet fellowship with the Lord?
2. What specific sins do you
struggle with in your soul? Are others aware of these sins are have you kept
them hidden from public view?
3. How has God chastened you in
the course of your journey in grace? Be specific.
4. Are you afraid of any of the
forms of judgment enumerated? Why or why not?
5. List some modern day signs
that God has a controversy with a country and is judging it. Begin with Israel
as per Romans 11:25.
Micah 6: 8 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?
1 Woe is me! For I am as
when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grape gleanings of the
vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the first ripe
fruit.
7:1 The plight of man engulfed in sin is
continually set forth. The mixed message of judgment and mercy must be sounded
forth again for the strength of sin is tenacious. Sin never lets the soul go
easily. Even in the presence of Jesus the demons shriek and rage and cast the
body of their victim one last time before obeying for obey they must. “O
Lord, make sin obey Thy Word. Tell sin to leave my heart alone.”
“Vice is a monster of so
frightful mien,
As to be hated needs but to
be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar
with her face,
We first endure, then pity,
then embrace.”
Alexander Pope
~*~
The soul of the saints
becomes like fruit gathered in summer, it is shriveled up. There is no cluster
to eat, there is no spiritual fruit to enjoy. Only by the grace of God is there
a lingering desire for spiritual fruit as in days before. “My soul desired
the first ripe fruit.”
“Come, Thou Fount of every
blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious
sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I’m fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.”
Robert Robinson
~*~
2 The good man is
perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all
lie in wait for blood; they hunt every an his brother with a net.
7:2 the good man is perished. Sin can
saturate a society to the point the righteous feel orphaned and alone as Elijah
thought he was the last of the faithful remnant.
3 That they may do evil with
both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a
reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they
wrap [weave it] it up.
6: 3 do evil. When sin controls the
soul there is an eagerness to engage in evil. Both hands grasp at sin in
earnest. People in places of power and
position are no exception. Bribes are accepted. Clever ways are created to take
money from others.
4 The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation cometh; now shall be their perplexity.
5 Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.
7:4-5 When society is characterized by evil
people they will enter the church. Friendships cease to exist for no one can be
trusted. There is no confidence in any guide. Even a lover is not to be
trusted. “Keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.”
Why? She will betray you.
6 For the son dishonoureth
the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law
against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house.
7:6 This passage is used by Christ in Matthew
10: 21 to show how the enemies of the church will be found among family
members. This has proven to be true. In a given family one may follow Christ
while others do not.
A Prophet’s Prayer of Intercession (7:7-20)
7 Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.
7:7 The voice of hope is heard in this
passage for God has granted repentance unto life. The soul that looks unto the
Lord, the heart that waits for the God of salvation will not be disappointed. “Hurry
Lord. Do not tarry. Come to Thy church even in this hour. Fly on wings of an
eagle. Make haste to come down and visit your people. Praise and glory waits
for you Lord. Come.”
Come, Holy Spirit, God and Lord!
Let all your graces be outpoured
On each believer’s mind and heart;
Your fervent love to us impart.
Lord, by the brightness of Your light,
You in the faith do men unite
Of every land and every tongue;
This to Your praise, O Lord, be sung.
From every error keep us free;
Let none but Christ our Master be,
That we in living faith abide,
In Him with all our might confide.
Lord, by Your power prepare each heart
And to the weakness strength impart,
That bravely here we may contend,
Through life and death to You ascend.
Translated by Martin Luther
~*~
8 Rejoice not against me, O
mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall
be a light unto me.
7:8 The enemies of the church are warned not
to rejoice when wickedness seems to triumph. The righteous shall rise again
thought they might sit in darkness. The Lord will come to be a light unto the
faithful, repentant heart.
9 I will bear the
indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my
cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and
I shall behold his righteousness.
7:9 The repenting heart will bear the
discipline of the Lord because there has been sin in the soul, which cannot be
denied. But the good heart will wait for the Lord Jesus to act as Advocate and
the Great High Priest and plead on its behalf. Then the Lord will bring the
heart forth to the light and the glory and the righteousness of God will be
enjoyed.
“Open my eyes, that I may
see
Glimpses of truth Thou hast for me;
Place in my hands the wonderful key
That shall unclasp and set me free.
Silently now I wait for
Thee,
Ready my God, Thy will to see,
Open my eyes, illumine me,
Spirit divine!
Open my ears, that I may
hear
Voices of truth Thou sendest clear;
And while the wave notes fall on my ear,
Everything false will disappear.
Open my mouth, and let
me bear,
Gladly the warm truth everywhere;
Open my heart and let me prepare
Love with Thy children thus to share.”
Clara H. Scott
~*~
10 Then she that is
mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me,
Where is the LORD thy God? Mine eyes shall behold [gloat over] her: now shall
she be trodden [trample] down as the mire [mud] of the streets.
7:10 The enemies of Judah underestimated God.
In the day of divine deliverance they will be ashamed. One day the church shall rejoice over all her
enemies as well and then rise up in judgment against them. Former enemies will
be stripped of their power and trampled.
11 In the day that
thy walls are to be built, in that day shall the decree [boundary] be
far removed [enlarged from its center in Jerusalem].
7:11 As Micah predicted a period of exile for
the Jews so he predicted their return. The walls of the city would be rebuilt
and the borders enlarged.
12 In that day also he [they] shall come even to thee from Assyria, and from the fortified cities, and from the fortress even to the river, and from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain.
7:12 As the Jews shall be regathered so the
elect shall be regathered from the north, south, east and west according to
promise. Matthew 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a
trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one
end of heaven to the other.
13 Notwithstanding the land
[of Promise] shall be desolate [empty] because of them that dwell therein, for
the fruit of their doings.
7:13 Before there can be a glorious future
judgment must have her perfect work. Micah takes a final look and sees the Land
of Promise will be made desolate. Evil may be repented of but the righteousness
of God will not stop the harvest from the seeds of sin sown.
The Prophet Micah Prays for the People 7:14-17
14 Feed [rule] thy people
with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily [unmolested] in
the wood, in the midst of [beautiful] Carmel: let them feed in
[productive pastoral areas such as] Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old.
7:14 Micah petitions God to feed or shepherd
His people as in days of old. The Psalmist prayed “Cause me to hear thy
loving kindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the
way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee” (Psalm 143:8). The shepherd would use his rod to lead the
sheep out of the fold, to bring straying
members and to protect the flock.
So the church must pray that Christ will
shelter, feed and protect her for the elect are the flock of His inheritance.
Deuteronomy 4:20 But the LORD hath taken you,
and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto
him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.
Psalms 28:9 Save thy people, and bless thine
inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.
The Lord answers the Petition of the Praying Prophet Micah
15 According
to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him
marvellous things.
7:15 As God delivered His people from Egypt
so He can deliver them once more from their enemies. He can perform “marvelous things” or
great wonders of miracles (Exodus 3:20).
16 The
nations shall see and be confounded at all their might: they shall lay their
hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf.
7:16 The enemies of God once questioned His
presence and power. Now they will be ashamed at such unworthy thoughts about
Him. In a gesture of reverential silence they put a hand upon their mouth.
17 They
shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like
worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear
because of thee.
7:10 lick the dust. In a position of
ultimate lowliness and humiliation the enemies of the Lord move. They come like
worms out of the earth to submit to His will in fear.
7:10-17 The prophet anticipates a restoration
of the people of the covenant to their land. Though they shall go under the rod
they shall not ultimately or finally perish for God will have mercy. A remnant
shall return according to the election of grace. And the enemies of the people
of the covenant will be ashamed. They shall also be astonished at the favor the
Lord will show to those on whom He will have mercy. By way of spiritual application the Lord may
discipline the church but in the end the church shall know great grace and
mercy.
A Doxology of Divine Glory 7:18-20
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 forever, because he
delighteth in mercy.
7:18 Jehovah is transcendent, splendid and
separate.
19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
7:19 Jehovah is holy and demands that sin be
judged. Iniquities will be subdued. In the midst of judgment there will be
mercy as sins are cast “into the depths of the sin.”
“A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
A wonderful Savior to me;
He hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock,
Where rivers of pleasure I see.
He hideth my soul in the cleft of
the rock
That shadows a dry, thirsty land;
He hideth my life
with the depths of His love,
And covers me there with His hand,
And covers me there with His hand.
A wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord,
He taketh my burden away;
He holdeth me up,
and I shall not be moved,
He giveth me strength as my day.
With numberless blessings
each moment He crowns,
And filled with His fullness divine,
I sing in my rapture, oh, glory to God
For such a Redeemer as mine!
When clothed in His brightness, transported I rise
To meet Him in clouds of the sky,
His perfect salvation,
His wonderful love
I’ll shout with the millions on high.
Fanny Crosby
~*~
20 Thou wilt perform the
truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our
fathers from the days of old.
7:20 Jehovah will keep His covenant promises.
Stress is placed upon God’s faithfulness and not man’s worth.
“Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Greater than all my sin;
How shall my tongue describe it,
Where shall its praise begin?
Taking away my burden,
Setting my spirit free;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.
Wonderful the matchless
grace of Jesus,
Deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Wonderful grace, all sufficient for me, for even me.
Broader than the scope
of my transgressions,
Greater far than all my sin and shame,
O magnify the precious Name of Jesus.
Praise His Name!
Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching to all the lost,
By it I have been pardoned,
Saved to the uttermost,
Chains have been torn asunder,
Giving me liberty;
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.
Wonderful grace of Jesus,
Reaching the most defiled,
By its transforming power,
Making him God’s dear child,
Purchasing peace and heaven,
For all eternity;
And the wonderful grace of
Jesus reaches me.”
Haldor Lillenus, 1918
~*~
d. September, 420 AD
“O God, who is a God like unto Thee? Who pardonest iniquity, passest by the transgression of the remnant of Thy people; who retainest not Thine anger forever because Thou delightest in mercy! Thou hast turned us again and hast had compassion upon us. Thou has subdued our iniquities and hast cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. Oh, preserve us this Thy mercy forever and ever, so that we may walk in the light of Thy Word and escape all dangers threatening us from Satan and the world, through Jesus Christ, Thy Son and our Redeemer. Amen. Amen. Amen.”
Questions and Answers on Micah 7
1. Describe the heart that is
willing to “do evil.”
Answer.
2. What are the enemies of the
warned not to do?
Answer.
3. How did Christ use Micah 7:6
in His teaching ministry?
Answer.
4. Describe the repenting
heart.
Answer.
5. What spiritual application
can be made from Micah 7:10-17?
Answer.
1. Have you ever felt as if all
“the good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among
men”? How did you get past the moment?
2. Have you had the experience
of being around an enemy of the church who rejoiced at some negative event that
happened to God’s people? How did you feel?
3. Do you engage in
intercessory prayer on behalf of others? Do you pray on a regular basis? Do you
have a set time and a sacred place where you seek to meet the Lord? If so,
where and when?
4. Summarize the message of
Micah in a paragraph.
5. What is your favorite
passage in Micah? Why?
Micah 7: 7 Therefore I will
look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear
me.