Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

God continues speaking through Micah. He now speaks of the redemption He had just talked about. How would it come about? Messiah. The One to be Ruler in Israel, who had existed in eternity since the beginning. He would come to Bethlehem Ephrathah, the birthplace of David and David’s line. This is meant to comfort the people because they had lost hope for Messiah. The descendants of David had already been taken captive. If the prophesies were true, the kings would be destroyed by these invading armies. How could anyone survive to be a descendant of David? To be a ruler? God spoke hope to them. He WOULD come. He WOULD stand and feed His flock as their shepherd. In God’s strength and majesty. In the Name of the Lord. He would be great not in one place, but throughout the entire earth. He WOULD be Peace. The enemies would not be able to stand against Him. Yes, Assyria would come in and trample them. They would be scattered throughout the Earth. The remnant would be among the Gentiles. But Messiah would come and His hand would be lifted against their adversaries. He would rule and bring deliverance. Strongholds and sorceries would be destroyed. The idols and sacred pillars would be ground down. Vengeance would be against the nations.

God had been the deliverer of the people in the past. God would be the deliverer of the people in the future. Therefore, the Lord called the Earth to witness His voice: the people had NO REASON to forsake Him. God asks, with the Earth as His witness, what He had done to them? How had He wearied them? He asked them to reveal ANY unfair treatment toward them. He had brought them out of oppression in Egypt. He gave them leaders to walk with them. He had protected them against Balak’s desire to curse them. He had given them the Land. He had acted toward them NOT according to their ACTIONS, but according to His COVENANT with them. Because of this treatment, they would know His righteousness. God knew they would question Him and ask what sacrifice or what offering they could give to avert judgment. But He responds to it by saying that He would not be satisfied with thousands of sacrifices or ten thousand rivers of oil offerings. Should the people then give their firstborn for their transgressions? God says NO! Human sacrifice is NOT acceptable. The Lord had shown the people what they should do as they awaited the One who could pay for their transgressions (Jesus): do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before God. They had not done this. They were cheating people with their weights and measures (commerce). They were taking advantage of each other. They were lying and spreading lies. The rich were violent with the poor. Because of these behaviours coming out of wicked hearts, judgment was coming. They had violated the covenant. God had ALWAYS kept it, but they had turned away from it. They would eat and not be satisfied. They would not be able to save themselves from hunger. They would sow, but not reap. They would tread the olives, but not harvest the oil. They would make sweet wine, but not drink it. Omri and Ahab were dead and gone, but the people were still choosing to follow their ways. God would make them a desolation. They would bear the reproach of their actions before Him.

“Woe is me! For I have become like the gatherings of summer, like the gleanings of the grape harvest, when there is no cluster of grapes to eat or early ripened fruit that my soul desires.” (Micah 7:1)

Micah was lamenting the condition of the nation. He had caught the emotions of the Lord and was wailing at the lack of godly people. He wasn’t happy about how they were living. He – like God – was SORROWFUL that judgment had to come. That the faithful had perished (there was a remnant, but the vast majority were not). They were hunting each other, seeking blood, bribing, lying, and scheming. Justice could not be relied on. The BEST of the people (again, the majority) were like thorns. All they do is hurt each other. Children dishonour their parents. A person’s enemies are the people of their own household. All around Micah was evil, so he determined to keep his eyes on the Lord.

Micah spoke to his enemies and told them not to rejoice against him or the nation as a whole. Yes, they would be judged for the iniquity of the nation. Yes, they would have sorrow. But the Lord would be a light in their darkness. He would bring them to the light. He would bring them salvation. He would bring them His righteousness. Jerusalem would be restored and rebuilt. The people would be brought back to the Land. Yes, the Land would be desolate for a time, but that time would not be forever. The Shepherd of the People would come and gather His flock. He would show them wonders and the nations would be ashamed. They would hide from Him and the miraculous restoration of the nation.

No one is like Yahweh God. He delights in mercy. He doesn’t remain angry forever. He has and will again have compassion on Israel. He will cast their sins into the sea. He will give them Truth. He will give them the mercy He promised to Abraham. He will walk in what He swore to their forefathers.

Summary

Key Players: God, Micah

Key Verse(s): Micah 5:2-4; 6:1-5, 13-16; 7:1-7, 14-20