Micah 6:1 – 7:20

February 14, 2012

It is the LORD who brings peace. (Micah 5:5)

Micah 6:1–2 - "Hear what the LORD says: Get up; plead your case in front of the mountains; let the hills hear your story... listen to the LORD's legal case... listen, the LORD has a legal case... and he will accuse." Micah 6:8 - "The LORD has told you what he wants from you: to do what is right (act justly) to other people, love being kind to others, (love mercy) and live humbly obeying your God."

The voice of the LORD calls. The wise person listens and chooses to honor Him. Micah 6:9 - "Pay attention to the rod of punishment, pay attention to the One who threatens to punish."

• Are you still hanging on to those things that I call wicked?
• Are you still using cursed false measures?
• Can I forgive people who cheat others with wrong weights and scales?
• Are you still doing cruel things?
• Are you still telling lies?

As for me (the LORD), this is what I will do:

• I will attack
• I will ruin
• I will make you sick
• You will not be satisfied
• You will work and work but you won't be successful
• You will plant but you won't harvest
• You will try everything but nothing will come of it

This is because you chose to follow other gods instead of following me, "so I will let you be destroyed." Micah goes on to say that it is your own family that will turn on you, setting traps, doing evil, untrustworthy, ruthless, anything to seek their own gain. But! The LORD is kind. Micah 7:7 - "I will look to the LORD for help. I will wait for God to save me; my God will hear me." The NIV says it this way: "But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior, my God will hear me."

What a contrast between the statement, "My God will hear me" in Micah 7:7 and, "They will cry to the LORD but he won't answer them" in Micah 3:4.

God is in control (Micah 7:9–10):

• He will defend me
• He will bring about what is right for me
• He will bring me out into the light
• I will see HIM set things right
• My enemies will see this
• They will be ashamed

Micah 7:10 (NIV) - "She who said, 'Where is the LORD your God?' My eyes will see her downfall; even now she will be trampled under foot like mire in the streets."

Micah 7:15 - "As in the days when I brought you out of Egypt I will show them miracles." Then they will know that I AM the LORD. Micah 7:18 - "There is no God like you. You pardon sin. You forgive the transgressor. You are full of mercy and compassion. There is hope for the lost."

LORD, please give my sister and brother-in-law another opportunity to change their hearts and minds. Wrestle from their hands anything that is keeping them from turning to you. May they know that you are the LORD God All-Mighty. Amen.


Next Entry: Nahum 1:1 – 3:19