Monday
August 10, 2009
DOES HIS WORD MAKE YOU UNCOMFORTABLE?
The LORD spoke his word to Micah, who was from Moresheth, when Jotham, Ahaz,
and Hezekiah were kings of Judah. This is the vision that Micah saw about
Samaria
and Jerusalem.
Listen, all you people!
Pay attention, earth and all who are on it.
The Almighty LORD will be a witness against you.
The Lord will be a witness from his holy temple.
The LORD is going to come from his place.
He is going to come down and step on the worship places of the earth.
Mountains will melt under him like wax near a fire.
Valleys will split apart like water pouring down a steep hill.
All this is because of Jacob's crime and Israel's sin.
What is Jacob's crime? Isn't it Samaria?
What is Judah's worship place? Isn't it Jerusalem?...
I will mourn and cry because of this.
I will walk around barefoot and naked.
I will cry like a jackal and mourn like an ostrich.
Recently, my people have turned into enemies.
You take coats from those who pass by without a care
as they return from war.
You force the women among my people out of their pleasant homes
and take my glory away from their children forever.
Micah 1:1-5, 8; 2:8-9
Wow, today we start a run through on Micah, who was a contemporary of Isaiah
and Amos. Both Israel and Judah experienced a resurgence of power and great
material prosperity during these years, but prosperity was not universal. Those
newly rich in both kingdoms used their wealth to exploit the poor, thereby
creating a great social divide. Many families lost the land given their
forefathers by God; which He intended to be handed down from generation to
generation.
Courts were controlled by the wealthy, of course, making fraud and bribery
tools for injustice; forcing many poor families to sell themselves and their
families into slavery. Naturally, those in control refused to honor the ancient
Mosaic Law that required the release of a Hebrew slave after seven years
of service.
Holiness is one of the most important of all Biblical concepts. Whenever the
Old Testament addresses God speaking in or from His "holy temple," the image
implies divine judgment. In the Old Testament the "Holy" is that which is set
apart to God, separated from everything that is common or profane. Holy objects
such as the golden vessels used in the temple, Holy ground, and especially Holy
people, were considered God's own and were to be for His use and service
only. Where do you fall in this category? As for me, I fall way short, way,
way, short!
God wasn't happy then with places of worship - I just wonder what He thinks of
them now? Just think about it in light of what we put first, what do we really
go to church for anymore?
In Biblical times, individuals showed their sincerity and humility before God
for their grief over sins by loud weeping, wailing, howling, and moaning.
Many times they also stripped off their finer clothing, and wore only the
oldest and most threadbare of garments. Yet Micah, rather than adopting a
holier-than-thou
attitude, took it a step further because he was crushed by the enormity of the
sins prevalent in his society; knowing he was a member of that society,
and therefore not guiltless himself, therefore, Micah, naked - wept and moaned
in grief and sorrow. If we are to have an impact on our world, we must recognize
that fact, humble ourselves as Micah humbled himself (leaving our clothes on of
course), and then set out to do all we can to effect change.
Father, please let us hear Your Word, and heed Your Word especially when it
makes us uncomfortable.
O. Addison Gethers
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