#48b - Micah - Afflict The Comfortable?
The role of a Prophet of God was never a comfortable one. It has been said that the job of a prophet is to afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted. This certainly characterizes Micah. In a time of ease and prosperity for Judah, God called Micah to declare in their midst: “behold, the LORD is coming out of his place and will come down and tread upon the high places of the earth…” (1:3) “Woe to those who devise wickedness and work evil on their beds?” (2:1) “Then they will cry to the LORD, but he will not answer them; he will hide his face from them at that time, because they have made their deeds evil. Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray,…” (3:4-5) “But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD; they do not understand his plan, that he has gathered them as sheaved to the threshing floor.” (4:12) “I will strike you with a grievous blow, making you desolate because of your sins.” (6:13) “… The day of your watchmen, of your punishment has come; now their confusion is at hand.” (7:4)
We can imagine those who heard Micah and thought: “That sounds awful, I can see some people who deserve God’s judgment.” In fact there were those who claimed to be prophets whose message was “peace,” “relax, we are God’s People and we worship at His Temple and keep His rules.” But it was those very people to whom God and Micah directed their warnings. The blind arrogance of false worship led them to oppress, in numerous ways, those they considered less righteous than themselves.
God sees everything. God saw, and sees, not only the sin of the self-righteous but the suffering of the oppressed who were being denied a clear picture of God by those who falsely claimed to represent Him.
So Micah not only warned of coming judgment but also proclaimed a coming rescue. “In that day, declares the LORD, I will assemble the lame and gather those who have been driven away and those whom I have afflicted; … and the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion from this time forth and forever-more.” (4:6,7) “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.” (5:2) “But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation, my God will hear me. … I will bear the indignation of the LORD because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon his vindication.” (7:7…9) And finally, 'Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. (7:18,19) Read carefully, these rescues are all God’s doing. But, what then is my part? Does God ask me to return to His Temple, to keep the Commandments, to offer sacrifices? Micah says: “He has told you, O man, what is good, and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justice and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (6:8) To begin with keeping the rules misunderstands all that the prophets say. Only after I recognize my sin and God’s grace and mercy can I obey God with a humble heart. Jesus came to Bethlehem not as a reward for our good behavior, but as a Redeemer of rebels who repent upon seeing His Glorious Grace.
Watch Bible Project video about Micah
We can imagine those who heard Micah and thought: “That sounds awful, I can see some people who deserve God’s judgment.” In fact there were those who claimed to be prophets whose message was “peace,” “relax, we are God’s People and we worship at His Temple and keep His rules.” But it was those very people to whom God and Micah directed their warnings. The blind arrogance of false worship led them to oppress, in numerous ways, those they considered less righteous than themselves.
God sees everything. God saw, and sees, not only the sin of the self-righteous but the suffering of the oppressed who were being denied a clear picture of God by those who falsely claimed to represent Him.
So Micah not only warned of coming judgment but also proclaimed a coming rescue. “In that day, declares the LORD, I will assemble the lame and gather those who have been driven away and those whom I have afflicted; … and the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion from this time forth and forever-more.” (4:6,7) “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.” (5:2) “But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation, my God will hear me. … I will bear the indignation of the LORD because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon his vindication.” (7:7…9) And finally, 'Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. (7:18,19) Read carefully, these rescues are all God’s doing. But, what then is my part? Does God ask me to return to His Temple, to keep the Commandments, to offer sacrifices? Micah says: “He has told you, O man, what is good, and what does the LORD require of you, but to do justice and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (6:8) To begin with keeping the rules misunderstands all that the prophets say. Only after I recognize my sin and God’s grace and mercy can I obey God with a humble heart. Jesus came to Bethlehem not as a reward for our good behavior, but as a Redeemer of rebels who repent upon seeing His Glorious Grace.
Watch Bible Project video about Micah