Short Reflection from Micah 1-7

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (OVU) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible]

[8:22 pm, 01/02/2022] S.R: 𝕄𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕙 𝟙:𝟠

"Because of this I must lament and wail, I must go barefoot and naked; I must make a lament like the jackals And a mourning like the ostriches."

Like Micah, I do need to lament and weep before the Lord for the ignorance of my people!

 

𝕄𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕙 𝟚:𝟟

"Is it being said, O house of Jacob: 'Is the Spirit of the LORD impatient? Are these His doings?' Do not My words do good To the one walking uprightly?"

For a genuine Christian, every instruction of God is sweet and profitable! Is it to you and me? Hmm!

 

𝕄𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕙 𝟛:𝟝

"Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray; When they have something to bite with their teeth, They cry, "Peace," But against him who puts nothing in their mouths They declare holy war."

This chapter is against civil and religious leaders. May I never be indicted for this reason! These religious leaders went after greed and threat. They proclaimed peace if they were given food. And they pronounced problems if they weren't fed. My dad used to say the same thing regarding some evangelists in our area that they would pray long and happily if the home they entered prepared a meat curry, but they would be dull if it was a vegetable. 😬😂

Church, let's equally thank God when the church meal is pork or dal after the Worship Service! 😎

 

𝕄𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕙 𝟜:𝟚

"Many nations will come and say, "Come and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD And to the house of the God of Jacob, That He may teach us about His ways And that we may walk in His paths." For from Zion will go forth the law, Even the word of the LORD from Jerusalem."

In one of the groups, I am reading the book of Isaiah. And chapter 2 has this prophecy as well!

Let me just copy-paste what I posted there:

𝕀𝕤𝕒𝕚𝕒𝕙 𝟚:𝟛

"And many peoples 𝕎𝕚𝕝𝕝 ℂ𝕠𝕞𝕖 𝔸𝕟𝕕 𝕊𝕒𝕪, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕒𝕪 𝕥𝕖𝕒𝕔𝕙 𝕦𝕤 𝕔𝕠𝕟𝕔𝕖𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕨𝕒𝕪𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝕨𝕖 𝕞𝕒𝕪 𝕨𝕒𝕝𝕜 𝕚𝕟 𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕡𝕒𝕥𝕙𝕤." For the law will go forth from Zion And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem."

Notice the tense. It's future tense. This is what should happen and will surely happen!

Now, look at what they are doing! They love to go temple. They are inviting people. [And how many of us show up to church with friends gladly? Hmm!]

Look at their intention:  They go to the temple to be taught and to obey exactly! [Many professing Christians don't want to be taught. Even when they are taught, they don't learn anything, they don't obey anything nor remember anything! 😬]

Takeaway: Church is not for entertainment, nor for emotional satisfaction, or to meet friends primarily. It's to know the ways of God and walk/obey them!

 

[1:01 pm, 28/07/2022] S.R: 𝕄𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕙 𝟜:𝟙𝟚

"But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD, And they do not understand His purpose; For He has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor."

Let the people of God be calm and continue to live righteously without desiring the ways of the world. The Lord does care about His glory and He shall vindicate it someday for everlasting!

 

𝕄𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕙 𝟝:𝟚

"But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity."

This is concerning Christ, but God often raises man of God from an unlikely place. May He raise up among us too! 🙏

 

𝕄𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕙 𝟞:𝟙𝟜-𝟙𝟝

"You will eat, but you will not be satisfied, And your vileness will be in your midst. You will try to remove for safekeeping, But you will not preserve anything, And what you do preserve I will give to the sword. You will sow but you will not reap. You will tread the olive but will not anoint yourself with oil; And the grapes, but you will not drink wine."

Ever experienced something like this? Then, time to return to godliness and righteousness!

 

𝕄𝕚𝕔𝕒𝕙 𝟟:𝟠

"Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the LORD is a light for me."

This is a wonderful chapter. Even our Lord Jesus quoted this chapter in commissioning His disciples. Not only the greatness of God but also the goodness of God is seen in this verse and this chapter. Maybe I should preach a sermon from this chapter one of these days!

Bible Reading Reflection from Micah 1-7

[Originally posted in a WhatsApp group (JAC) as a daily reading update (reflection) from each chapter of the Bible] 

𝕄𝕀ℂ𝔸ℍ 𝟙:𝟠

"Because of this I must lament and wail, I must go barefoot and naked; I must make a lament like the jackals And a mourning like the ostriches."

God is great! Man has greatly sinned. God's Judgment is great! Micah sees great suffering. His lamentation is deep!

Nowadays, people don't lament anymore. They don't even blame God anymore. They don't even curse God anymore. When they do such things, though blasphemous and sinful, at least, they acknowledge there's a God in heaven.

People ignore God these days. If they blame, it's upon the government or the environment! But the similarity is that people are not taking responsibility. God wants us to acknowledge our sins and His faithfulness to be saved!

 

𝕄𝕀ℂ𝔸ℍ 𝟚:𝟙-𝟚

"Woe to those who scheme iniquity, Who work out evil on their beds! When morning comes, they do it, 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕚𝕥 𝕚𝕤 𝕚𝕟 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕣 𝕠𝕗 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕚𝕣 𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕤.They covet fields and then seize them, And houses, and take them away. They rob a man and his house, A man and his inheritance."

Injustices around us. Those who are in power mistreated those who are weak. And the weak in turn curse the powerful. People want power not just to protect themselves from mistreatment, but that they too can afford to live like others.

I can't imagine how kings conquered others' lands in the past. We can't do that now. Even in the case of war, people give back the land they have conquered like Israel giving back the land to Egypt.

Maybe, centuries later, we may look back to our capitalism of today, the billionaires of today, and wonder how such things happened!

Big businesses are becoming greedier. Rich in money and popularity; unfortunately, not in compassion and charity.

Greed is a vice; Compassion is a virtue.

 

𝕄𝕀ℂ𝔸ℍ 𝟛:𝟠

“On the other hand I am filled with power-- With the Spirit of the LORD-- And with justice and courage To make known to Jacob his rebellious act, Even to Israel his sin.”

Interesting verse indeed! Micah denounced all the prophets and rulers. He said they were all godless people. And in this verse, he was saying that he was not like the other prophets!

Imagine, if someone says, like this, in our time! A lot of people will label him "Proud" "Arrogant" "Boastful" etc.

Paul says, "Imitate me as I imitate Christ." We must live like Paul, like Micah, like, Nehemiah, to be able to tell others, "Look at the things I do, I am different. Imitate me!"

 

𝕄𝕀ℂ𝔸ℍ 𝟜:𝟞-𝟟

""In that day," declares the LORD, "I will assemble the lame And gather the outcasts, Even those whom I have afflicted. I will make the lame a remnant And the outcasts a strong nation, And the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion From now on and forever."

God's Promises even amid prophecy of punishment! Because He is in control of everything. He does everything not only righteously but is also for our own good!

In that day! O that day!  We shall see, understand, affirm, and rejoice perfectly!

 

𝕄𝕀ℂ𝔸ℍ 𝟝:𝟚

"But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity."

God has the habit of choosing unlikely people, stuff, and situations, to work wonders in life!

If we think, we are somebody, that is a sign that God will probably disagree with us.

I had some juniors who always asked for my help in my seminary days, and now they are pursuing their doctorate or pastoring a megachurch outside India. Well, I am still learning humility!

 

𝕄𝕀ℂ𝔸ℍ 𝟞:𝟠

"He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?"

One of the most well-known verses from the book of Micah! Redeemed People of God should be living like God's people, rich in righteousness and godliness. Even here, Micah pointed out what had been missing among the Israelites:

1. To do justice

2. To love kindness

3. To walk humbly with God.

We often cry for justice when we are victims, and cry for kindness when we are offenders.

What about the other way round: showing kindness to our offenders, and doing justice to those whom we have offended. Definitely, we will find ourselves walking humbly with God when we do that!

 

𝕄𝕀ℂ𝔸ℍ 𝟟:𝟠

"Do not rejoice over me, O my enemy. Though I fall I will rise; Though I dwell in darkness, the LORD is a light for me."

What a confession of hope! It's easy to be bitter in trouble, in failings, in adversity. To be discouraged, to be complaining, to be envious of others.

Well, this verse is an expression of hope and trust in God!