Introduction to Micah 6-7

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 1/3/2016 9:01 PM

My Worship Time                                                                       Focus:  Introduction to Micah 6-7

Bible Reading & Meditation                                                 Reference:  Micah 6-7

Message of the verses:  We will not post the verses from the sixth and seventh chapter of Micah, but will quote from some different people on what they believe we will find in these chapters.  Dr. Wiersbe entitles this last chapter of his commentary on the book of Micah “Thy Kingdom Come.”  He then writes three paragraphs to show the way that he will explain what we will find in these two last chapters of Micah and I will quote them along with something from John Gill.

“The prophet had delivered two of his three messages:  a message of warning (1-2) and a message of promise (3-5).  His third message was a challenge for the Jews to trust the Lord and obey His will, for only then could the nation escape terrible punishment and fulfill God’s purposes in this world.

“As you read Old Testament history and prophecy, keep in mind how important it was for Israel to be obedient to the Lord.  God had raised up the nation to bring blessing to the whole world (gen. 12:1-3), for it was through Israel that the Savior would come.  ‘Salvation is of the Jews’ (John 4:22).  When the Jews began to adopt the practices of the godless nations around them, it defiled them and made them less able to do the work God had called them to do.  It was because they despised their high and holy calling that the nation had to be chastened so severely.

“Micah’s first message was presented as a courtroom drama, and so was this third message.  The Judge declared the indictment (Micah 6:1-8), pronounced the sentence (6:9-7:7) and then graciously promised mercy 7:7-20)! Micah used these three factors—guilt, punishment, and mercy—as arguments to plead with his people to repent and return to the Lord.  ‘Trust the Lord, not in spite of these things but because of these things’ is his closing message; and it’s a message we need to hear today.”

John Gill writes the following on his introduction to chapter six:  “This chapter contains reproofs of the people of Israel for their sins, threatening them with punishment for them. The prophet is bid to tell them of the controversy the Lord had with them, which he did, #Mic 6:1,2; and the Lord calls upon them to declare if they had anything to object to his attitude towards them, #Mic 6:3; and then puts them in mind of the favors they had received from him, in bringing them out of Egypt, and giving them such useful persons to go before them, lead and instruct them, as he had, #Mic 6:4; and also reminds them of what passed between Balak, king of Moab, and Balaam the soothsayer; the questions of the one, and the answer of the other; whereby the designs of the former against them were frustrated, #Mic 6:5-8; but since the voice of the Lord by his prophet was disregarded by them, they are called upon to hearken to the voice of his rod, #Mic 6:9; which should be laid upon them for their fraudulent dealings, injustice, oppression, lies, and deceit, #Mic 6:10-12; and therefore are threatened with sickness and desolation, and a deprivation of all good things, the fruit of their labors, #Mic 6:13-15; and that because the statutes of Omri, the works of Ahab, and their counsels, were observed by them, #Mic 6:16.”

1/3/2016 9:19 PM