God Speaks
The LORD Holds His People to Account for Their Sins; He Brings Judgment; Then He Forgives and Restores in Response to Faith and Repentance.
Verse of the Day: [Micah addresses the LORD.] Who is a God like You, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again show compassion on us; You will tread our sins under foot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. You will be faithful to Jacob, and show love to Abraham, as You pledged on oath to our ancestors in the days long ago. (Micah 7:18-20 NIV 2011)
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We Respond
Reflection: Consider the following questions regarding Micah 1-7:
- What does Micah 1-7 tell me about God?
- What does Micah 1-7 tell me about the human beings He created?
Here is one possible answer to each of these questions for each chapter. Ask the Holy Spirit if there are any others for you personally to ponder.
Micah 1
1. Although God’s patience is infinite, He will not let His people continue to sin and defame His glorious name. In this case God was using Micah to warn both Samaria and Jerusalem that He was about to act against their rebellion. He would use various forms of discipline to bring them back in line with His wonderful plan for them.
2. Even the people God has specifically chosen and blessed as His people don’t always obey Him but instead rebel against Him and His ways.
Micah 2
1. God continually warns people of impending judgment. He longs for them to repent and return to Him so that He can bless them.
2. Even people who claim to be the “people of God” are plotting against the innocent and/or needy. God will give them their comeuppance and pay them back in kind for what they have done to others if they do not repent.
Micah 3
1. Micah 3 is an example of how the LORD God calls out the leaders of government, religion, and forecasters of the future for how they are severely misleading and mistreating those who are trying to live according to God’s plans, purposes, and principles.
2. Micah 3 is an example what happens when people, especially leaders and people in authority, turn away from or against the LORD or just ignore Him and do their own thing.
Micah 4
1. Verses 1-8 tell God’s plans to bless His people at some future time, while verses 9-11 tell how Jerusalem is currently suffering; but God will intervene according to His plan (verses 12-13).
2. People are to remain in submission to God, not just do their own thing or outright rebel against Him and His ways.
Micah 5
1. God is concerned about small or little-known people, places, or things such as Bethlehem Ephrathah. He will use them to express His glory.
2. When people honor God, follow His ways, and submit to His discipline, He will give them victory over their enemies, and they will live undisturbed in the land.
Micah 6
1. God holds people (and nations) accountable for their decisions and actions.
2. People are designed to fear the LORD, to do what is just and right, to lovingly show mercy, and to walk humbly with God Almighty.
Micah 7
1. God is described in verses 18-20 as pardoning sin, forgiving transgressions, not staying angry, delighting to show mercy, having compassion, stamping out sins, removing iniquities, being true to those He chooses (and who turn back to Him), and keeping His promises.
2. People (in general) are described in verses 2-6 as not being upright, shedding (innocent) blood, hunting down and setting traps for even the people closest to them, skillfully doing evil, demanding bribes, dictating what they want, conspiring to get it, being prickly or dangerous, being confused as to what is right or wrong, not trusting or being trustworthy, dishonoring, or defying parents (or any authority figure), and engaging in household conflict.
Prayer: How might I pray regarding Micah 1-7?
Dear LORD, thank You that You care enough to confront us, Your people, about our sinful rebellion. Your purpose is always to draw us back to a proper relationship with You. Holy Spirit, please convict us of our sins, compel us to repent, convince us of the righteousness of Christ, and compassionately take control of our lives. Only You can cause me to live the way I should, for the glory of the LORD. LORD God, thank You for standing up for people who are seeking to follow You. You see what is being done, and You will act at the proper time. You are so worthy of our trust. LORD, may even the wicked leaders You are calling out in our day turn back to You in repentance and faith, so that righteousness may be restored in the world today. Jesus, Your suffering and death made that possible, and Your resurrection validated that fact. Father God, in Your own good and perfect time, please bring about the blessings You promised Your people in these chapters.Thank You, LORD God, that You are concerned about small or little-known people, places, or things like me, my family, and my community. Please use us to express Your glory. Please help us to honor You, to follow Your ways, and to submit to Your loving discipline. When we do these things, You promise in Your word (the Bible) to give us victory over all our enemies. Then we will live undisturbed in the land. LORD God, You do hold people (and nations) accountable for their decisions and actions. You designed human beings to fear You, LORD, to do what is just and right, to lovingly show mercy, and to walk humbly with You, Almighty God. Jesus Christ came to earth, lived, died, was resurrected, and sent the Holy Spirit to indwell people to make this possible. May You, LORD God, receive glory from all that Your servants say and do. Dear LORD God, help me to be honest and honor You even if I am the last person on earth to do so. I look to You, LORD, for help. I will confidently wait for You, my God, to save me. I will not listen to my enemies’ gloating taunts. I will patiently take Your just punishment for my sins against You. Afterward, You will bring me into the light of Your presence, and You will set things right. My enemies will see and be ashamed. The wicked people and nations will have to acknowledge Your great power and authority over them. They will stand awestruck and silent in terror before You, but You will bless those people and nations who have turned in repentance and faith to You. They will receive Your unfailing love, compassion, forgiveness, the removal of their sins, and Your faithful fulfillment of the promises You made to Abraham and Jacob long ago. You will receive all the glory forever, LORD. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on one of the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
What action does the LORD want me to take in response to Micah 1- 7?
- I will ask God to apply the forgiveness won for me by Jesus’ blood and rely on Him to help me (and my nation) to change.
- I will take courage and trust God to help me (and others) speak up for the truth.
- I will research what the people who are running for political office really think, say, and will do in regard to God, His ways and people of faith.
- I will do my part in supporting and voting for leaders who will follow God’s ways.
- I will check my thoughts and attitudes and confess when I have been rebellious or arrogant, then ask the Holy Spirit to help me to change.
- I will ask the LORD to search my heart to reveal and remove any and all sins, especially the ones mentioned in Micah 7:2-6.
- I will join with others to praise God for all that He is, has done, and will do as mentioned in Micah.
- I will pray for God to send revival to my own heart, my family and friends, my community, county, state, nation, and world.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with ________.
[Special note: This post is being prepared the evening after there was an unsuccessful attempt to take the life of Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States of America.]