CHAPTER 6

1 Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice. 2 Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD's controversy, and ye strong foundations of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will plead with Israel. 3 O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me. 4 For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. 5 O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may know the righteousness of the LORD.

This is the beginning of two complaints from our Lord to the nation. Both complaints are treated as if they are presented in a court of law. This first complaint is actually a question: "What have I done to weary thee," asks our Lord?

Then God states the facts...He has only treated them WELL! God has never treated anyone badly! WHy then had they left worshipping God? Indeed, why do WE?

We are sinners all! When we sin, God calls to us and speaks of His goodness toward us. He has given us life when we were nothing. He has sent the good news of salvation to us when we were headed toward eternal hell. He has washed us in the blood of His own Son when we simply surrendered to His call. He has promised us His presence and eternal life in glory with Him.

Through this setting of a "court case," God intends to bring the nation to repentance. Through His Holy Spirit speaking to our hearts, He is doing the same with us. Let us resolve to not be like Israel and Judah, but REPENT and remain CLOSE to God in fellowship and servantship.

6 Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? 7 Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Here, the other side of the "court case" is presented. It seems to me that Micah is answering because Israel will not. Micah is convicted of God's goodness toward him, and is repentant....Israel certainly wasn't. If Micah, God's anointed prophet was convicted, should not we be also convicted? Should we not realize God's goodness toward us and be repentant from waywardness?

What can a man do to EARN salvation? NOTHING!!! It is given by grace!

What does God REQUIRE of saved sinners? WALK HUMBLY, DO JUSTLY, and LOVE MERCY!

WALK HUMBLY! Realize that He is GOD, and we are servants. We are bought with a price, washed by His blood, and GIVEN eternal life. Shall we not let Him be GOD, and we His servants?

DO JUSTLY! Exercise righteous judgment and decision making according to God's will defined in His Word. Live lives reflecting God's righteousness in all our relationships.

LOVE MERCY! The characteristic of God which brought us salvation should be reflected in our attitude toward others. ANYONE can be forgiven and saved. EVERYONE deserves a chance! Let all around you hear your own testimony of the Gospel of Christ.

9 The LORD's voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it. 10 Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked, and the scant measure that is abominable? 11 Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of deceitful weights? 12 For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth. 13 Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee desolate because of thy sins. 14 Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword. 15 Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives, but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not drink wine. 16 For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the reproach of my people.

The second complaint of God is that the nation hasn't followed His will according to His Word. God's voice has spoken truth and righteousness. He has spoken by His "law" and "prophets." Have they not heard? Will they not listen?

God has said that He is a "jealous God" (Exodus 20:5), and that they should make "no graven image" (Exodus 20:4). But they have "yet the treasures of wickedness" within their houses!

God has said that they should have a "just weight" (Deuteronomy 25:15) and be not deceitful in measurement. But they are deceiving one another in sales by measurement!

Verse 12 says they are "full of violence" and "their tongue is deceitful." BOTH of these things are uncharacteristic of God's children!

"Therefore" (verses 12-15), they will reap the rewards of their unjust practices. Court is OVER! Judgment is rendered!

And the answer of Micah for the nation is in the first verses of the next chapter.

CHAPTER 7

1 Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grapegleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the firstripe fruit. 2 The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net. 3 That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up. 4 The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn hedge: the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation cometh; now shall be their perplexity. 5 Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom. 6 For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house. 7 Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.

Truly God is righteous and all men are sinners. There is "NONE upright among men" (verse 2)! We are totally unproductive of good works (verse 1)! Just as Isaiah said, "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags ; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." (Isa 64:6)

Murderers, deceivers, and bribe-takers, and liars! That's what verses 2-4 tell us we are! And because we are, we have no real TRUST (verse 5) in anyone!

We are pride-filled and rebellious in nature, causing conflict even in the most intimate relationships (verse 6).

What can we DO? We can only look to GOD! (See verse 7)
We must cry out to God for forgiveness, and trust in Him for eternal salvation.

In verse 7, allow me to call your attention to the word "wait." It is the Hebrew word "yachal" (yaw cal),implying patience, hope, and trust. This does not mean to just SIT and WAIT. It means to be INTERTWINED with God while trusting and hoping. Therefore it means to be SERVING! Think of the term "waitress," a person who "waits" on tables!

8 Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me. 9 I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness. 10 Then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the LORD thy God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets.

Take heed atheistic, and unbelieving person! Do not mock because a saved sinner receives discipline from God! He is punished here, but shall be VINDICATED fully at death! The saved sinner may bear the "indignation" of God on this earth. But when death comes, he will be EXONERATED!! He will be brought to the "light" of heaven, and SEE the Light of heaven (Christ) fully!

"THEN" those who have mocked believing Christians will "SEE" the Truth and they will know "SHAME!"

11 In the day that thy walls are to be built, in that day shall the decree be far removed. 12 In that day also he shall come even to thee from Assyria, and from the fortified cities, and from the fortress even to the river, and from sea to sea, and from mountain to mountain. 13 Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein, for the fruit of their doings.

Israel will again flourish, and "the decree" of judgment shall be removed. Those who have been "scattered" because of God's judgment upon them, will return from all the places where they have been sent. Keep in mind, it may not be those who have been scattered that will return. It will be their descendents. God teaches one generation by His treatment of the former. Take note that God's disciplinary judgment is simply the "fruit of their doings." It is actually our own sins that bring destruction!

But before this time of flourishing, the land will suffer desolation because of the nation's iniquity. That nation which stands as an insolent teen before God will certainly be brought down, and a new generation will be raised to reverence God.

14 Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in the days of old. 15 According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I shew unto him marvellous things. 16 The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might: they shall lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf. 17 They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and shall fear because of thee. 18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy. 19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. 20 Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.

These final verses of this chapter are a prayer from Micah. The prayer concerns two aspects of God: judgment and mercy.

First, Micah prays that indeed God will "feed" His people with the "rod" of correction. Even during the correction, they are cared for and upheld by God. They will find food, shelter and all their needs met.

Also, other nations will SEE this affliction and will reverence God for His justness. The other nations will be amazed at God's correction coupled with His care.

Secondly, Micah's prayer includes praise for God's mercy. "Who is like our God?! He pardons iniquity and passes over transgression, saving a remnant. God does not retain anger, but acts in mercy."

Through God's compassion, He subdues sin! I'm reminded here of Romans 5:8, "For God commendeth His love toward us,in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ DIED for us." God's demonstration of love, mercy and forgiveness turns us toward Him and away from our sins.

Notice verse 20. God performs "TRUTH" toward His people. Men are UNfaithful, but God is ALWAYS faithful and completes His promises!

My dear Christian friend, if you have been unfaithful in your commitment to God, Know this: The conviction you feel from His Holy Spirit is seeking to COMPEL you back toward Him!

PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US IN BIBLE STUDY TOMORROW.