Micah 3:6

Micah 3:6 says, 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.  Having warned the false prophets to prepare for war, God began to tell them some of the things that were going to happen to them.  God said that these false prophets were to no longer have any visions, nor would they divine the future.  It is not that before they had visions from God about the future, but now they would not even have the false visions and prophecies that they claimed to have before.  Those who claim to speak for God when they are really only attempting to prove their own value need to be aware that God will ultimately judge them, and their works will be shown to be the works of darkness.  Verse seven adds, Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.  Micah said in the coming judgment of Israel that those who had prophesied peace would be ashamed and confounded.  He said they would cover their lips, because there would be no answer from God.  I believe this warning still applies.  When we make false prophecies in the name of God, we will ultimately be held accountable for them, and at that time we can only be ashamed and without anything to say in our defense.  Verse eight continues, 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 sins.  Micah proclaimed himself to be full of power by the spirit of God.  Just saying that did not make it true, but the truth of Micah's power under God's strength and guidance came from his prophecies being fulfilled.  Micah didn't come promising peace, but instead came prophesying destruction.  We today must be true to God's word and follow His will, even if all that is promised in this world is war and destruction.  Until Christ returns, there can be no real peace in the world, no matter what is promised in the name of God.  Still, we as followers of Christ can live in peace because we are secure in God's everlasting protection.  Verse nine states, 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. Micah was speaking to those who were called God's people, and he said the hated judgment and perverted all equity.  I believe Micah was saying that there was no real justice to be found with them.  Verse ten adds, They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.  Their chief cities were made prosperous by the blood of their oppressed citizens and by dealing in sinful ways.  Verse eleven continues, The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.  All those who were supposed to represent God for the good of all His people were serving material rewards instead.  Micah said that even when they did this that they would claim God was with them so no evil could come to them.  When we begin to think that just because we claim to be God's people and live only for what is most profitable for us that God has to protect us, we are sadly mistaken.  Verse twelve concludes, 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.  Micah warned them of the coming total destruction of Zion and Jerusalem.  We can be just as certain of the coming destruction of anything that we build that is not built under God's leadership.

Micah 3:1

Micah 3:1 says, 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?  Micah asked the heads of Israel to hear what he was saying.  He then questioned if they were not the ones who should know judgment.  I believe this means God's judgment.  The next two verses refer to some of the evil ways the leaders were treating those under them.  Verse two adds, Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones;  Verse three continues, 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.  Instead of treating those under them fairly, the prophets and rulers abused them for their own profit.  I don't believe that the rulers had any concern for those that they ruled over.  They felt free to abuse them any way they chose.  We need to remember that these were God's chosen people that Micah was speaking to, and their rulers had become this corrupt.  If those chosen to rule over God's people were this corrupt, then what hope was there for the rest of the world?  Verse four states, 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.  This was still addressed to the religious leaders and false prophets.  God said that when adversity came upon them then they would hypocritically call out to Him.  We cannot expect to live our lives guided by our own selfishness and expect God to bail us out when things go wrong.  Verse five adds, Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him.  God warned the false prophets who promised peace in the name of God that God Himself had not promised should prepare for war instead.  When people begin to make promises in the name of God that do not truly come from God, then destruction will certainly await them.  We, as followers of Christ cannot allow ourselves to become guilty of doing this.

Micah 2:5

Micah 2:5 says, Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot in the congregation of the LORD.  I believe this verse and the next few relate to hypocritical worship.  Casting lots was used to determine God's will, and at times to determine an inheritance.  I believe that God was telling the people of Israel that there was no need to go through the motions of worship when they did not submit to the leadership of God.  If we are not following God in our lives today, then there is no use in pretending that we are worshipping Him by going through religious gestures.  Verse six adds, Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not prophesy to them, that they shall not take shame.  Micah said that God had called for those who prophesied to guit.  The prophets had ceased to proclaim God's word but were instead proclaiming what the people wanted to hear.  We can never change the word of God just because it is unpopular.  If we do, then we can not expect God to bless our words nor our work.  Verse seven continues, O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the LORD straitened? are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that walketh uprightly?  God asked if those who were called the house of Jacob, or God's people in other words, believed that the way they were living was directed by God.  As followers of Christ today, we must always live our lives for God's glory.  When we are following God's leadership then we can walk uprightly in the world.  Verse eight states, 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 as men averse from war.  God said that lately those who were called His people had risen up as enemies against Him.  Instead of treating strangers with courtesy, they had started taking everything they had from them.  Verse nine adds, The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses; from their children have ye taken away my glory for ever.  God said that women and children, like the strangers, were mistreated.  Instead of caring for them and showing the love of God to them, God's people had taken away His glory.  The way we treat others as followers of Christ should always bring glory to Him.  Verse ten continues, Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction.  Those who were called God's people were told to arise and depart because they had polluted their covenant with Him.  They could not rely on their physical birth and their empty worship to bring the blessings of God to them, and neither can we today.  Verse eleven says, 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.  I believe this is a warning against claiming to walk by the leadership of God when we are lying about that relationship.  We might as well be drunk on wine, since we are not filled with the Holy Spirit.  Verse twelve adds, 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.  God said He would gather the remnant of Israel.  God has never been totally devoid of those who follow Him.  When Christ came, He died to redeem all who put their faith in God.  Verse thirteen continues, 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.  Matthew Henry says that some believe the breaker refers to John the Baptist, but we can be certain that God is referring to the restoration of those who believe in Him.  Through Christ, God is our King forever.

Micah 2:1

Micah 2:1 says, Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand. Micah issued a warning against iniquity.  Those in power felt that they could do whatever they wanted to do because they had the power.  I believe that Micah was saying that they planned evil day and night.  Verse two adds, And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.  Those in power, who already had more than most, wanted even more.  They coveted what others had and oppressed the less fortunate.  We know this has not changed today, but it never should be true of God's people.  Verse three continues, 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.  We can see this statement as God being responsible for the evil that was going to happen to these people, this family that were supposed to be His.  Since I do not believe that God is responsible for evil, I believe that it means that God was going to remove His protective hand from them due to their sinful actions.  Verse four concludes, In that day shall one take up a parable 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.  Micah said that after this evil came on the people of Israel that they would lament, or mourn, the loss of God's protection.  If we become indifferent to God's guidance and protection in the world today, we should not be surprised if we find ourselves mourning about our lives.  We should not expect God's protection if we aren't following His will for our lives.

Micah 1:8

Micah 1:8 says, Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls.  Micah was not happy to be bringing these promises of destruction to those who were called God's people.  We today should not be happy at the judgment of those who are hypocritical in their claim to be God's people.  We should be filled with great sorrow as Micah was.  Verse nine adds, For her wound is incurable; for it is come unto Judah; he is come unto the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem.  I believe that Micah was telling the people that there was no easy way for them to be restored to God.  Though God offers us peace and protection through our faith in Him, if we make a hypocritical profession and continue to chase other gods, then His judgment is certain.  Verse ten continues, Declare ye it not at Gath, weep ye not at all: in the house of Aphrah roll thyself in the dust.  Micah begins to speak of particular places, starting with Gath.  Matthew Henry says that though God's people would be reduced to mourning that they weren't to do so in the presence of those who were God's enemies.  When we are guilty of sin, or know someone who is, we should repent without allowing God's enemies to use our repentance to discredit God.  In the next few verses Micah refers to particular cities and God's coming judgment.  Verse eleven states, Pass ye away, thou inhabitant of Saphir, having thy shame naked: the inhabitant of Zaanan came not forth in the mourning of Bethezel; he shall receive of you his standing.  The people of Saphir were known for their finery and beauty, but they would be stripped bare.  The people of Zaanan were known for their agricultural abilities, but these were going to fail under God's judgment.  Bethezel was near by, but there was to be no relief found there.  No matter what people feel makes them great, they will stand before God's judgment with nothing of value from this world, nor is there any place that they can flee to for safety.  Verse twelve adds, For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good: but evil came down from the LORD unto the gate of Jerusalem.  I believe that Micah was saying that waiting for good is not enough.  While they waited, God's judgment came.  Verse thirteen continues, O thou inhabitant of Lachish, bind the chariot to the swift beast: she is the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion: for the transgressions of Israel were found in thee.  Micah said that the people of Lachish had started to rely on their own power and to fall into idolatry, but their military strength would fail.  The next two verses speak of the futility of turning to other nations for deliverance.  Verse fourteen says, Therefore shalt thou give presents to Moreshethgath: the houses of Achzib shall be a lie to the kings of Israel.  Then verse fifteen adds, Yet will I bring an heir unto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah: he shall come unto Adullam the glory of Israel.  When deliverance came, it would be through God, and not through any ability of people to deliver themselves.  Verse sixteen continues, Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee.  Micah said that all that the people of Israel and Judah could do was sincerely mourn their disobedience to God.  We can never find peace and security anywhere but in following the will of God.  When we fall into sin, the only thing we can do is sincerely repent and ask God's forgiveness.

Micah 1:1

Micah 1:1 says, 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.  Micah identifies himself and where he is from.  Then he declares that the word of the Lord came to him.  He didn't just come to an understanding of what was to happen on his own, but God revealed it to him.  When someone comes proclaiming God's word today, we need to know who they are, but more importantly we must know that what they proclaim really does come from God.  Micah prophesied during the reign of three kings, from one of the worst, Ahaz, to one of the best, Hezekiah.  Verse two adds, Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the Lord GOD be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.  When Micah was proclaiming God's word, he could not demand that they listen but could only ask that they listen.  We cannot demand that people listen to the gospel, but we can only ask that they do so.  Verse three continues, For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come down, and tread upon the high places of the earth.  God was coming in judgment against those who were called His people, and nothing could spare them.  If we, who are called God's people today rebel against Him, then instead of having peace with God we can be certain of His judgment against us.  Israel and Judah were God's people in name only.  Verse four states, 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.  Micah warned that there was no place where the people could go to escape the judgment of God.  Verse five adds, 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?  Through Micah God told the people that they were guilty of idolatry.  They may have questioned why they were to be punished, but deep down I believe they had to know.  As followers of Christ, we today know when we are outside the will of God.  Verse six continues, 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.  Instead of being under the protection of God, the nations of Israel and Judah were to be under His punishment.  Sin, especially idolatry, brings judgment and punishment from God, and we can only avoid it by God's grace in providing the only way to salvation, which is through faith in Christ.  Verse seven concludes, And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all the hires 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.  Micah told the people that all their idols would be destroyed.  When we stand before God, we can be certain that all those things that we put our faith in other than Christ will be destroyed.

We will now review some of the things that we learned from Paul's letter to the church, that group of believers, at Ephesus.  The first thing is that Paul was writing to those who had accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. His letter would have no real meaning to any who was not a follower of Christ.  Paul tells us that salvation through Christ was not some secondary salvation plan, but that from the beginning God knew that it would be the only way for people to be redeemed.  Like the Christians in Ephesus, we can be restored to God only through faith in Christ.  Paul told them that they were the adopted children of God.  The Christians at Ephesus, and anyone before or since, can only be adopted into God's family because of His action.  We can never earn nor force our way into God's family.  We will never be adopted because of our own worthiness, but can only be adopted by admitting our own unworthiness and accepting salvation, or adoption, by faith in Christ.  Paul stated that everyone, whether Jew or Gentile, had the same access to salvation through Christ.  The Jewish people were in no way superior to the Gentiles based on the fact of their physical birth.  Christ died for all people equally.  We today are in no way superior to other Christians based on where we were born nor what family we were born into.  All remain equal in Christ.  Paul called for unity in the church.  Since all had been saved by Christ's victory over death, then His followers were to be united by their faith in Him.  This always was and always will be true.  God gives us different gifts, but all are to be used for the spreading of the gospel and the edification of the church.  We are to grow and be rooted in our faith, and not be drawn away by any teachings of any person who would change the gospel.  Paul taught that husbands and wives were to be committed to each other as they are to Christ.  When both are following the leadership of the Holy Spirit, then there will be unity in purpose and the good of the other partner will always come first.  Paul told those at Ephesus and tells us today that we should put on the armor of God when we encounter opposition.  God will protect us, head to toe, in our everlasting, spiritual nature.  Since this is true, we can live without worry even in the evil world in which we live.