Micah Chapters 3,4 & 5
Chapter 3 the prophesy is directed to and at the "leaders of Israel."
Let's take a look at some wisdom.
Proverbs 29:2
[2] When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.
Micah 3:1-2
[1]Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of Israel. Should you not embrace justice, [2] you who hate good and love evil;
It is quite clear that the leadership in Israel was wicked.
Psalm 97:10
[10] Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
All throughout scripture this same message is constant.
GOD is good and Satan is evil!!!
This is and always will be the case, from the beginning until God puts Satan into the lake of fire.
Micah 3:1-3
Should you not embrace justice, [2] you who hate good and love evil; who tear the skin from my people and the flesh from their bones; [3] who eat my peoples flesh, strip off their skin and break their bones in pieces; who chop them up like meat for the pan, like flesh for the pot ?
What is it that causes people to rebell against God?
Here again, scripture is full of answers.
PRIDE, SELFISHNESS, & GREED are all about who???
ME, MYSELF and I.
God speaks directly to us about this and condemns them.
They are all directed at us by Satan to prevent us from having a strong relationship with God.
Psalm 97:10
[10] Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
Micah 3:5 through 12 are what God has to say to these evil leaders.
Micah 3:11 is a strong statement directed right at them.
[11] Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the LORD s support and say, Is not the LORD among us? No disaster will come upon us .
This is flat out deception!
Micah 3:12[12] Therefore because of you, Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets.
Evil leaders bring down the whole nation of Israel.
Everyone suffers.
Point to ponder: Was everyone in Israel guilty because of evil leadership?
Or, were the people innocent victims?
MICAH 4:1-8
This passage is a shining message of hope from God.
Yes, the consequences of sin will be rough, but God's love also gives hope to those that trust him and follow his words.
Let's do a quick review of the future. (This is a real oxymoron).
How do you review the FUTURE?
When you know God's Word, you know the future!!!
God has given us a perfect vision of the future.
Note: See the accompanying printout of an end times "time line"
Micah 4:9-13
This section describes more of the pain that will be felt before the restoration of Isreal. But, he does it in a way that provides HOPE.
Israel will become the superpower on earth.
Micah 5: 1-15
Here we go!!!!!!
This is the message that fulfills God's promises to Israel and right along with it God's fulfillment of his promises to the rest of the believers.
Micah 5:1-4 NIV
[5] Marshal your troops now, city of troops, for a siege is laid against us. They will strike Israels ruler on the cheek with a rod. [2] But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. [3] Therefore Israel will be abandoned until the time when she who is in labor bears a son, and the rest of his brothers return to join the Israelites. [4] He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.
Verses 1 & 2 describe the predicted birth of the Savior Jesus Christ.
Verses 3 & 4 describe the joy and peace found in Him.
Verses 5 - 15 tell about the power of christ to overcome evil and bless his followers.
FINAL THOUGHTS
GOD IS TRUE TO HIS WORD.
WE HAVE CHOICES. 9
WE KNOW THAT BAD CHOICES BRING ABOUT BAD THINGS.
BUT, GOD IS TRUE TO HIS WORD.
1 John 1:9-10
[9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.