Category: Micah

What is Required?

Micah 4-7

After the heavy words of judgment in chapters 1–3, Micah shifts his tone in chapter 4. We are given a beautiful glimpse into a future when there is a godly rule from Zion, and nations will come to learn His ways (Micah 4:1–4). Peace replaces war. Oppression is overturned. God gathers the lame and makes them into a strong nation (4:6–7).

Micah chapter 5 reveals God’s answer to a broken world: a king born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). This prophecy clearly points to Jesus, the ruler who will bring security and peace to all of the Earth. Though God is serious about his judgement, He is also a gracious and merciful God who has offered redemption for us. 

Micah chapter 6 is home to my personal favorite verse. For some reason, Micah 6:8 constantly comes up in any messages I do. I believe it’s because it so broadly applies to many message themes and is an answer to the idea of sacrifice. First, Micah exaggerates the idea of a sacrifice that would be worthy to be in the presence before God in Micah 6:7:

“Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” (‭‭Micah‬ ‭6‬:‭7‬)

Afterwards, he amends by stating my favorite verse:

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (‭‭Micah‬ ‭6‬:‭8‬)

Sometimes, it may feel like a lot to read through the Bible, meditate on His words, and realize that there is a lot that we are called to do. However, we come almost full circle here with this idea of walking humbly with God. If we do this, and we put our faith in him and act justly, we are more worthy of our calling in his presence than any sacrifice ever could make us. 

Then, at the finale of this book, Micah laments. He laments the corruption and distrust in Israel, and he laments the misery in the nation. However, he does not end the book on a sour note. Instead, Micah presents words that should echo for us in times of darkness.

“But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.” (‭‭Micah‬ ‭7‬:‭7‬)

Micah ends on a message of clear hope. Hope in God being with him. Hope in God redeeming the nation of Israel with the remnant of Jacob. Hope in God delivering on his promises. 

-Colby Leggitt

Discussion Questions:

  1. Why do you think the people offered sacrifices instead of obedience?
  2. What does it practically look like to “act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God” in your life or community?
  3. Micah 7:7 says, “My God will hear me.” Do you live with that same confidence? Why or why not?
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Warning, Mourning and a Whisper of Grace

Micah 1-3

Like many times in history, Israel had to be confronted by a prophet who had a message from God that wasn’t savory. That is, in times of comfort, complacency, and wickedness they would find that they were not walking with the Lord. In Micah 1-3, Micah speaks for the Lord and completely rebukes the state of Israel and the leaders that allow for it to be in the state it is. Their morals have been corrupted, their path is unjust, and they have implemented idols again into their nation. 

The themes from previous days’ devotions persist here. Violent imagery and a great lament is detailed in Micah 1-3 as he warns and mourns the judgement that is to come. The imagery from Micah 3:1-4 is especially fiery and vivid to the imagination as Micah rebukes the leaders of Israel. To pile onto the agony being described, Micah also details that God will be separated from those in religious authority in Israel in Micah 3:7:

“The seers will be ashamed

    and the diviners disgraced.

They will all cover their faces

    because there is no answer from God.”

With this, we must reflect on our own lives. In a position of leadership, we must set an example. James 3 echoes this idea of the judgement that will be faced by those who teach and lead those astray. If we are to act as examples for others, we must also walk in the ways of the Lord. Micah is clear with this striking message: where in our lives have we settled for religiosity without righteousness? Comfort without compassion?

God’s heart breaks over injustice. He doesn’t just call it out. He promises to act. That’s a sobering reminder: God cares too much to remain silent in the face of oppression. However, tucked inside Micah’s warnings is a whisper of grace: “I will surely gather the remnant…” (Micah 2:12). God’s judgment is never the end of the story. Even as He tears down, He is preparing to build again. On that foundation, with that remnant, he will build on principles of humility, justice, and faith.

-Colby Leggitt

Discussion Questions

1. Where in your life or community do you see injustice that needs to be addressed?

2.Are there areas where you’ve grown comfortable with compromise or overlooked truth?

3. How can you walk more humbly and live more justly today?

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Waiting & Acting

Old Testament: Micah 7

Poetry: Psalm 85 (day 2)

New Testament: Luke 19


“But as for me, I will look to Yahweh; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me.” — Micah 7:7 (LEB)


“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” — Luke 19:10 (LEB)


In a world often overwhelmed by corruption and despair, both Micah 7 and Luke 19 offer us powerful messages of hope and redemption. These passages remind us that no matter how bleak our circumstances may seem, God’s love and salvation are always within reach.


Micah 7 depicts a society engulfed in sin and injustice. The prophet agonizes over the overwhelming corruption, yet he chooses to watch in hope for God. Micah’s confidence is not rooted in the present circumstances but in the unchanging nature of God. He waits patiently for the God of his salvation, assured that God will hear him.


In Luke 19, we see the fulfillment of the hope that Micah clung to. Jesus encounters Zacchaeus, a tax collector despised for his dishonest, corrupt ways. Despite Zacchaeus’ reputation, Jesus seeks him out, calling him by name and choosing to stay at his house. This act of grace leads to Zacchaeus’ repentance and transformation. Zacchaeus’ story vividly illustrates Jesus’ mission: to seek and save the lost.


Both Micah and Zacchaeus found their hope in God. Micah trusted in God despite his society’s moral decline, while Zacchaeus found redemption through an encounter with Jesus. We, too, are called to place our hope in God, trusting in His promise of salvation. Zacchaeus’ transformation shows the power of God’s grace. No one is beyond redemption; Jesus seeks us out, offering a chance for a new beginning. Our lives can be profoundly changed when we come to God through Jesus. Micah’s patient waiting for God’s salvation and Zacchaeus’ immediate response to Jesus’ call both demonstrate the importance of faith in action. We must wait with hope, but also be ready to act in response to God’s call.

-Jeff Ransom


Reflection Questions:

  1. How can you place your hope in God amid the challenges and uncertainties in your life?
  2. In what areas of your life do you need to experience the transformative power of God’s grace?
  3. How can you be a faithful steward of the resources and opportunities God has entrusted to you, making Him known, while actively waiting for His guidance?


This week, consider these questions and take steps to deepen your relationship with God, embodying the hope and transformation He offers to all who seek Him through Jesus.

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When He Hides His Face

Old Testament: Micah 3

Poetry: Psalm 83

New Testament: Luke 17:11-37

Who doesn’t love a good game of hide n seek? I have memories of my dad getting in on a game of hide n seek by helping one of us kids get up to the never-accessed attic from the hallway game closet. That round lasted a LONG time. And just last week I watched as cousins enjoyed the thrill of the classic game at my sister’s house. But what about when God hides?

When I think of hiding in the Bible I think first of all of Adam and Even hiding in the garden, and then of Jonah hiding on a ship to Tarshish. When people hide it seems it is often because of fear, embarrassment, and/or shame. But, what about when God hides his face? I think we can rule out fear, embarrassment and shame. And, it is definitely no game. So, what causes God to hide His face?

The verse I am referring to is Micah 3:4 – “Then they will cry out to the Lord, But He will not answer them. Instead, He will hide His face from them at that time Because they have practiced evil deeds.” (NASB). I looked at 55 other translations/paraphrases (made easy on biblegateway). I will compile some of the other options together: Someday you will beg the Lord to help you in your time of trouble, you will plead with Him, you will pray to Him, but He will not answer, He will not listen, He will not even look at you. Do you really expect Him to answer? But he will turn away from you, He will hide His face from you because of your sins, because of your evil deeds, because they/you have acted so wickedly.

So, what makes God hide His face from them – or from you?

Sin.

A few years ago I did a bit of study on prayer and more specifically unanswered prayers – or prayer requests that don’t receive the answer we were asking for when we asked. I keep the worksheet I created in my Bible because I keep adding to it as I find more and more reasons and instances as I read and re-read the Bible. Some of the reasons for “unanswered” prayers given in God’s Word are: not enough faith, asking with wrong motives, it’s not in God’s will or it’s just not time for it, yet. But, by far I have found the most examples and teachings about prayers not being answered – or even heard – because of unrighteousness.

Micah has many examples of the people’s unrighteousness. In this chapter he is speaking of the leaders of Judah and Israel and how they hate what is good and love what is evil. Perhaps if you think really hard you might be able to think of a time when you celebrated something that grieves God or you put down, ignored or disrespected something He created and called good? Where else have you seen evil celebrated and goodness trampled upon? Micah also spoke of the prophets who were leading Israel astray and their selfishness in looking out for themselves and their needs instead of speaking God’s truth and warnings to a nation in danger of God’s coming wrath. He says, “They will all cover their faces because there is no answer from God” (Micah 3:7 NIV). And, suddenly, our ‘game’ of hide and seek now has no seekers at all. Because of sin. What happens when no one is seeking? Game over. Israel would be finding out very soon what happens. For even though they say, “Is not the Lord among us? No disaster will come upon us” (Micah 3:11 NIV); disaster is indeed coming. They will find, just as Micah foretold, that you can’t live your sinful selfish lives against God’s laws and heart and then when you are in trouble expect God to sweep in to save the day. In fact, He is sometimes sending the disaster, because of their sinfulness. He is hiding His face from them – not because He isn’t powerful enough to stop the disaster. Not because He isn’t loving enough to stop the disaster. Indeed, God has a love for the whole world and hates the spread of sin – so it could be precisely His love to send the disaster/judgment/day of trouble before even more are led astray.

Don’t wait til it is too late. Be a Micah. Stand up against sin. Be filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord. Speak and show justice and might. Don’t follow the lies of unrighteous leaders. Follow His laws. Love Good. Hate Evil. Seek God’s face – always.

-Marcia Railton

Reflection Questions

  1. Are you good at recognizing what God calls good and what He calls evil? Do you hate what He calls evil and love what He calls good? How could you get better at recognizing and treating evil as evil and good as good?
  2. What examples can you give of leaders who hate what is good and love what is evil? How does this affect a whole family/church/nation?
  3. If our sin and unrighteousness keeps God from hearing and answering our prayers – and we know ALL have sinned – how do we continue to seek God and turn from sin so that He does not hide His face from us?
  4. How can you be a Micah amongst the false prophets and sinful, selfish leaders? What do you need on your side (see verse 8)? How do you get it?
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A Prophet You Would Like

Old Testament: Micah 2

Poetry: Psalm 82

New Testament: Luke 17:1-10

What is your favorite book? Who is your favorite speaker? Do you have a favorite preacher? What kind of prophet would you really like to listen to?

The verse in Micah 2 that really caught my attention this time around was verse 11 – “Suppose a prophet full of lies would say to you, ‘I’ll preach to you the joys of wine and alcohol!’ That’s just the kind of prophet you would like!” (Micah 2:11 NLT). It got me to thinking – maybe I should be spending a little more time listening to the preachers and prophets that I DON’T really like listening to.

Poor Micah might not have been a very popular guy in his day and age. Most of the people of Israel and Judah would rather not hear what he had to say. His social media accounts might not have had a lot of friends and followers and his devotions might not have gotten a lot of likes. Sometimes when we speak the truth it’s not real popular, and neither are we. But being popular and comfortable isn’t nearly as important as speaking and hearing and doing what God desires. I think Micah recognized this when he said, “If you would do what is right, you would find my words comforting.” (Micah 2:7b NLT).

How do we recognize a prophet that is full of lies? There are so many lies being circulated today. Whether they come from the Dove chocolate candy wrapper, social media or the preacher/prophet at the local church – everything we hear needs to be checked. Not just to see if it’s popular (do a lot of people believe it). Not just to see if it is comforting (do I like to listen because it makes me feel good). But of life and death consequence – does it line up with what God says is right and true and beneficial – even when it is unpopular and uncomfortable. And if it doesn’t line up with God’s standards, disregard it! And seek truth elsewhere! How do we know if it lines up with what God says is right and true and beneficial – even when it is unpopular and uncomfortable? Take a look (a lot of them, actually) in His Book! Like everyday – every book of the Bible (not just our favorites) – all year long.

-Marcia Railton

Reflection Questions

  1. What prophets of lies have you heard? How did you distinguish it as untruth?
  2. Micah’s example of the prophet of lies spoke of the joys of wine and alcohol – a popular belief indeed that brings a lot of ‘comfort’ to many. What do you think Micah’s thoughts on wine and alcohol were? Do you think he was preaching God’s truth here? Do you see dangers in wine and alcohol? What problems could develop by listening to and following the prophet speaking of the joys of these beverages?
  3. Who do you listen to/read/watch? Why does what you listen to/read/watch matter?
  4. What other Bible passages can you find to support what Micah is saying?
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Accusations Against You

Old Testament: Micah 1

Poetry: Psalm 81

New Testament: Luke 16:16-31

The world could use more knowledge of the Old Testament minor prophets. I should become more familiar with them, too. I wonder what would happen if they became required reading in every college or high school curriculum? Could our world, our nation, our church, our family, me, learn a lesson from what God spoke through His prophets so many years ago? Would they listen?

This week our Bible reading will include one chapter of Micah every day. Some years we have read the whole thing in just one or two days. But this year let’s slow down a little and digest one chapter a day. Some days this week our devotions will be over other parts of our Bible reading, but still take the time to work through one chapter of Micah every day, as if it were required reading from God.

Unlike several of the books of prophecy which are directed to just one nation or city, Micah addresses both Israel and Judah and many specific cities in those countries. Micah includes three sections which each begin imploring his audience to listen and pay attention to the messages God gave him to tell of the capital cities, the leaders and the people of these countries (1:2, 3:1, 6:1).

As you read through Micah this week be watching for what we can learn about God. What are His characteristics, what does God like, what does He hate, what has He done, and what will He do? Not to spoil the whole plot, but you will find many instances of God’s justice and also many instances of His love.

Here in chapter 1 then we begin with Micah telling the people of the world to listen to the visions he has received from God in regards to the capital cities of Samaria and Jerusalem because “The Sovereign Lord is making accusations against you” (Micah 1:2). What does it mean to you that God is sovereign? Sometimes when we are accused of something we can easily dismiss the accusation because of who it comes from. But, not so easily done when the accusations are coming from the Sovereign God. Maybe this is something we ought to sit up and pay close attention to.

The next verse says, “Look! The Lord is coming! He leaves his throne in heaven …” So – we are not just to use our ears to listen – but also use our eyes to look and see the evidence. The Lord God is getting up off his throne. As a teacher or parent or baby-sitter it is interesting to watch a child who has heard the person in authority say what to do or not to do, but the child continues disobeying – until they see that authority figure start to stand up…and then they know it’s time to fall in line. It’s time to listen – and look – and obey. Because the LORD is not coming to give hugs and high-fives this time around. He isn’t bringing congratulations but accusations – and it’s not just talk. It’s time to act. The mountains are melting beneath His feet – because of the sins He has seen.

It is interesting that our other passages today share many of the same warnings and pictures of God. In Psalm 81 we hear, “Listen to me, O my people, while I give you stern warnings.” (vs 8). We see a people who did not want God around (vs. 11). We also see in this Psalm, what we will later see in Micah – what God does when His people DO come back to Him. When they DO repent, listen, follow Him and walk in His paths – THEN God subdues their enemies, and feeds them the finest wheat and satisfies them with wild honey from the rock (Psalm 81:13, 14, 16). While those who hate the Lord will be doomed forever (vs. 15).

Will you be eating wild honey from the rock or doomed forever?

Will you be like the rich man Lazarus or the beggar in Luke 16? If you are wanting some more information and discussion on this interesting parable, you might want to read the online REV Bible commentary on this passage.

-Marcia Railton

Reflection Questions

  1. Seriously consider, what accusations do you think the Sovereign Lord would make today against you, your church, your city, your capital city? Why are these accusations important to know and consider?
  2. The verse about the city of Lachish caught my attention, “You were the first city in Judah to follow Israel in her rebellion, and you led Jerusalem into sin.” (Micah 1:13) Your sins don’t just affect you. Where have you seen this slippery slope and growing snowball before? Thinking of your own life – who have you followed into sin – and then were you aware of who followed you and your sin? Could repentance work the same way?

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His Love Endures Forever

Old Testament: Micah 3 & 4

Poetry: Psalm 136

New Testament: Matthew 22

If you are like me, it is troubling to watch what is happening today over in Israel.  Many lives have been lost in the Israeli Hamas war.  I feel bad for the innocent people who have lost their lives.  Moreover, I am confused about what I want to happen.  Of course, peace is the ultimate goal, but does blood have to be shed to reach that goal?

I wouldn’t necessarily pick such a grim and complex topic for a daily devotion, but I couldn’t help but think about what is happening today when I was reading today’s chapters in Micah, Psalms, and Matthew.  The topics were not all warm and fuzzy, in fact, they were quite violent at times.  I’m not sure what I read helped me frame my view of the war today, but I got a glimpse into the mind of God.  I still have more questions than answers, but I feel I am more prepared to understand why the events will unfold the way they will.

Let’s start with Micah.  When I heard what was happening in Israel, my first thought was that Israel was God’s chosen people and you really don’t want to mess with them if you value your own life.  I already know who wins in the end, and it is Israel.  But then I thought about all the times Israel turned their backs to God and bad things happened to them.  In Micah 3:9-12, it talks about the rulers of Israel who despised justice, distorted what was right, built Zion with bloodshed, and built Jerusalem with wickedness.  They thought that the Lord was among them so no disasters would come upon them.  Instead, because of them, Jerusalem became a heap of rubble.  Does this describe the leaders of Israel today?  Is it possible they are trying again to build up Jerusalem with wickedness and bloodshed?  Are they going against what God wants to happen when innocent people are killed?

Would God, the most loving being there is, be ok with so many people dying in a war?  Strangely enough, the answer to that came in Psalms 136.  The second part of all 26 verses says, “His love endures forever.”  It is a whole chapter that talks about many ways that God loved his people.  It starts out nice enough when it talks about how good He is and how He created great wonders for us, but it gets a bit weird later.  It talks about His love enduring forever because He struck down the firstborn of Egypt, swept Pharoah and his army into the Red Sea, struck down great kings, and killed mighty kings.  It is strange to read a verse that says, “to Him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, His love endures forever.”  I don’t usually consider killing children as a sign of His love enduring forever.  However, it was a sign of His love because he did it to help His chosen people.  He loved the Israelites so much, that He was willing to kill others that were against them.  Is it possible Hamas is being killed because of God’s love for the Israeli’s?

The chapters from Micah and Psalms are sufficient in framing the discussion, but I was surprised to see that even Matthew had a little bit to say about the subject.  The parable of the wedding feast includes the king who was so enraged, he sent his armies to destroy the murderers and set their city on fire.  And the chapter ends with Jesus quoting David who said, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies beneath your feet.”  These two examples in Matthew were not necessarily referring directly to the issue we are talking about today, but I thought it was interesting that God did not rule out violence to solve some of the problems talked about in Matthew.

I already mentioned I don’t have complete clarity about this war today, but in my position, I think that is fine.  I am not the one deciding how much death and destruction will occur and I really don’t think either side would listen to me anyways if I had an opinion.  I care about what is happening, but I am just not directly involved.  I am ok watching what is happening, and I think it will become clear with time how God wants this to play out.  My prayer is for peace, but I will be patient to see how that peace comes about.  Perhaps true peace won’t even occur until a time that Micah talked about in chapter 4 – when Jesus returns.  I will also pray for that day to come soon.

Reflection Questions:

Do you think God is an active participant in this war or is He just watching what is happening?

What is your prayer for this war?

-Rick McClain

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But as for You…

Micah 5

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

One of the major downfalls of us as humans is that we love evidence. We hear a cool fact, and want to know where it is cited. We learn something in school, and we need a peer reviewed article. When a statistic is cited we like to know how the study was conducted. The cool thing about God is that he knows this about us. In Micah 5 we receive prophecy about Jesus which reads; “Now muster yourselves in troops, daughter of troops; They have laid siege against us; With a rod they will smite the judge of Israel on the cheek. But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.” (Micah 5:1-2)

This direct prophecy from God through Micah foretells of the only king the Israelites will ever need, Jesus Christ the Messiah. The remainder of Micah 5 relays the message that the land of the Israelites will be laid waste for their sins and for their breaking of the covenant God set forth to protect them.

There’s a message that parallels something rather unfortunate that goes on in our modern churches today. I have been quite blessed in my experience in church growing up. The people surrounding me who I have known as God’s people have acted accordingly. However, as I meet others my age, I learn that is not always the case. This experience, I have come to learn, is called church hurt. It seems to be when people experience behavior that doesn’t quite align with the ways a Christian should conduct themselves, causing a disruption between what is expected from God’s people and the reality of their actions. But like all sin it’s hardly anything new. Micah was attempting to call out the corrupt leaders of his day, comparing them to Ahab stealing the family vineyard from Naboth, (see 1 Kings 21) and to call out the Prophets who are offering “God’s protection” to those who are willing to pay.

Throughout the book, Micah continues to warn that God has withdrawn his protection and is going to allow the Babylonians to take over and use them to remove the corruption of the Israelites.

“Then the remnant of Jacob Will be among many peoples Like dew from the Lord, Like showers on vegetation Which do not wait for man or delay for the sons of men. The remnant of Jacob Will be among the nations, Among many peoples Like a lion among the beasts of the forest, Like a young lion among flocks of sheep, Which, if he passes through, Tramples down and tears, And there is none to rescue. Your hand will be lifted up against your adversaries, And all your enemies will be cut off.” (Micah 5:7-9)

This is where we are today. Remnants of Jacob. We wait for the day of our prophesied King to return to rule correctly. So what do we do in the meantime? Despite having a bad experience, continue meeting with your fellow Christians, but be on guard for the “Wolf in sheep’s clothing” (Matthew 7:15). There will be a day when we are gathered together as one nation truly under God, and we’ll be awarded according to our faith in the King born in Bethlehem which prompts us to obey and work for him.

-John Evans

Reflection Questions

  1. What is the good news of Micah 5? And for whom is it good news?
  2. What is the bad news of Micah 5? And for whom is it bad news?
  3. Do they both still apply today? Which do we hear more of today?
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Get Right with God

Micah 5-7

Many people point to Micah 6:8 as a simple, straightforward verse telling us how to get right with God:   Micah 6:8: “He has shown you, O man, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you?  To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”  

Let’s look at this in context.

Micah 6 starts out as a courtroom scene.  “Plead your case”… “For the Lord has a case against his people”.  God then reminded His people of the things He had done for them including leading them out of Egypt, protecting them from Balaam’s cursing them, and leading them into the promised land.

We might pause here to remind ourselves how the Israelites reacted to each of God’s protections that He pointed out to them here.  

  1. He led them out of Egypt to be His people, but they grumbled repeatedly, wanting to go back to Egypt; worshiped a golden calf; and didn’t trust that God could bring them into the promised land – so they had to wander in the desert for 40 years.
  2. He caused Balaam to bless Israel instead of cursing them.  This was a spiritual battle God was fighting on their behalf, without them even knowing about it.  Their response was to sin sexually with Moab’s women and worship Moab’s gods – so God sent a plague and killed many of the Israelites.
  3. He caused the Jordan River (at flood stage) to dry up, letting the Israelites cross on dry ground.  This was reminiscent of what He had done for the Israelites when they had left Egypt 40 years earlier.  God had done for Israel what they could not have done for themselves – but the people didn’t remember all the righteous acts God had done for them, and turned away again and again.

In Micah 6:6-7, we see that things we do can’t reconcile us to God, including bowing down to Him (presumably in hollow worship), performing sacrifices (remember that to obey is better than sacrifice), even sacrificing things most precious to us – including our children.  None of these things can reconcile us to God.

Then, we find the beautiful verse of what God really wants.  Not religious ceremonies, but moral and ethical conduct – “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

None of us can do these things until we first submit to God as broken sinners and allow Him to transform our lives.  We can only act justly once we have been justified.  We can only love mercy (and extend it to others) once we have experienced and recognized God’s mercy.  We can only walk humbly with our God after we bow humbly before Him, confess our sins, and claim his promise of forgiveness (I John 1:9).

Titus 3:5 reminds us, “He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.”  So people are misguided if they think they can follow this formula from Micah 6:8 to be saved.  It’s only because of our saving relationship with God that we can do what He requires in Micah 6:8.

As we continue reading Micah, we see that Israel hasn’t lived up to God’s requirements, so in 6:13, He says, “Therefore, I have begun to destroy you, to ruin you because of your sins.”  If God treated Israel this way, and if God doesn’t change, I’ll let you consider for yourself the implications for you and the implications for our nation.

Micah 7:13 is pointing to a time still in the future to us, when “the earth will become desolate because of its inhabitants, as the result of their deeds.”

But the last 3 verses of Micah remind us of who God is and what He has done in the past. 

Micah 7:18-20: “18 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.

19  You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.

20 You will be faithful to Jacob, and show love to Abraham, as you pledged on oath to our ancestors in days long ago.”

To quote Warren Wiersbe from his Bible commentary, “the better we know the character of God, the more we can trust Him for the future.  The better we know the promises and covenants of God, the more peace we will have in our hearts when things fall apart.”

In closing, 

  1. We need to recognize we can never measure up to God’s requirements on our own.  
  2. We need to humbly come to God as broken sinners, confessing our sins, and asking for His forgiveness.  
  3. We need to remember who He is, what He has done in the past, and what promises He has made for the future.  
  4. We then need to develop a deep personal relationship with God.  

Only then can we “be imitators of God as dearly loved children” (Ephesians 5:1).  And only then can we live a life acceptable to God – “To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

-Steve Mattison

Read or listen to today’s Bible reading plan passages at Bible Gateway.com here – Micah 5-7 and Revelation 10

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Know God’s Plan

Micah 3-4

Yesterday, we read about God’s words to a people who were on the breaking point. To be fair, Israel had seen a lot– civil disputes, mass religious wars, a kingdom divided. But here, Israel is facing its final days as an independent nation.

So we read Micah’s desperate attempts to warn his people– Israel and Judah both– that their only hope is to return to the LORD. Chapter 1 talked about the coming destruction. Chapter 2 talks about these “oppressors,” who are likely people of political or financial power that are abusing the people around them.

In chapter 3, Micah now addresses two groups of people: the political leaders and the prophethood. Micah tells the leaders that they “hate the good and love the evil,” (3:1). The prophets that Micah confronts were likely professional “prophets” that lived in the king’s court. They may or may not have been followers of the LORD and they were not like the prophets that God chose for Israel. Micah says they prophesy peace when it gets them something to eat (3:5) and teach the masses when it gets them paid (3:11). 

On and on, Micah confronts everyone in the nation who has shown corruption, greed, selfishness and evil. He closes chapter 3 by saying  these ways are going to leave Zion, God’s holy city– flattened to a plain. 

And then Micah’s message does a complete 180-degree turn. In chapter 4, he starts giving some really good news. He says that the house of the LORD will be a meeting place where everyone turns to know God (4:2). He says that God is going to bring the weak, lowly, hurt, sick, and anyone who’s been abused, and He is going to personally make them strong (4:6-7). 

And here we begin to see what we call “God’s redemptive-historical plan.” That’s a fancy way of saying that God’s plans span thousands of years. And although Israel rejected and resisted God, He would not give up so easily. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to be an atonement, a light, and a leader for all of humanity. And in this way, every good thing that God has promised to mankind will be made true in Jesus our King.

If this isn’t good news enough, wait until tomorrow, when Micah is going to have even better things to say! 

-Levi Salyers

Read or listen to the Bible reading plan passages at BibleGateway.com here – Micah 3-4 and Revelation 9

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