WE WILL FOLLOW THE LORD OUR GOD FOR EVER AND EVER
Though the nations around us follow their idols,
We will follow the Lord our God forever and ever. Micah 4:7
Micah was a minor prophet. His book was written between 735-700 B.C. and is located toward the end of the Old Testament.
God does not change. He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He has not changed his mind concerning sin and evil. When we are saved by Jesus Christ, then we are under grace. However; we are still commanded not to be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Jesus Christ is our example of how to live.
Micah 1:2-5
1-Attention! Let all the people of the world listen! Let the earth and everything in it hear.
2-The Sovereign Lord is making accusations against you; the Lord speaks from his holy Temple.
3- Look! The Lord is coming!
He leaves his throne in heaven and tramples the heights of the earth.
4- The mountains melt beneath his feet and flow into the valleys like wax in a fire, like water pouring down a hill
5- And why is this happening?
Because of the rebellion of Israel- yes, the sins of the whole nation.
Who is to blame for Israel’s rebellion?
Samaria, its capital city!
Where is the center of idolatry in Judah?
In Jerusalem, its capital!
Notice here that Micah says that the capital city of Israel is to blame for the sins of rebellion of the whole country. Throughout the books of the prophets we can read that God blames the judges, the politicians, and the false preachers for the rebellion and back sliding of a nation. It is the leaders of a nation that have much to do with what happens in a country.
Micah 2:1-3
1- What sorrow awaits you who lie awake at night, thinking up evil plans.
You rise at dawn and hurry to carry them out, simply because you have the power to do so.
2- When you want a piece of land, you find a way to seize it.
When you want someone’s house, you take it by fraud and violence.
You cheat a man of his property, stealing his family’s inheritance.
3-But this is what the Lord says: “I will reward your evil with evil’ you won’t be able to pull your neck out of the noose. You will no longer walk around proudly, for it will be a terrible time.
God sees the wicked and he says “I will reward your evil!” Ruthless, deceitful, greedy, power hungry leaders cause much destruction of a country.
Micah 2:7
7-If you would do what is right, you would find my words comforting.
8-Yet to this very hour my people rise against me like an enemy!
You steal the shirts right off the backs of those who trusted you,
making them as ragged as men returning from battle.
9-You have evicted women from their pleasant homes and forever stripped their children of all that God would give them.
Micah 3:1-2
1- I said, “Listen, you leaders of Israel! You are supposed to know right from wrong,
2- but you are the very ones who hate good and love evil.
Micah 3:9-11
9-Listen to me, you leaders of Israel! You hate justice and twist all that is right.
10-You are building Jerusalem on a foundation of murder and corruption.
11-You rulers make decisions based on bribes;
you priests teach God’s laws only for a price;
you prophets won’t prophecy unless you are paid.
Yet all of you claim to depend on the Lord.
For God’s remnant living throughout the world, realize that many of the horrible things that are happening in your country are because of the people who have run and are running your country. Micah 2:9 says that people “have evicted women from their pleasant homes and forever stripped their children of all that God would give them. Notice that Micah points out that the leaders of Israel were living very corrupt lives, but they claimed to depend on the Lord. God knows our hearts, our motives, and our actions. The leaders may have been fooling some of the people but they were not fooling God. And we must find our hope in God. God is just. God will answer the prayers of his righteous people. He will deliver his people from evil.
Micah 4:1-7
1- In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s house will be the highest of all--the most important place on earth.
It will be raised above the other hills, and people from all over the world will stream there to worship.
2- People from many nations will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of Jacob’s God.
There he will teach us his ways, and we will walk in his paths.”
For the Lord’s teaching will go out from Zion. His word will go out from Jerusalem.
3- The Lord will mediate between peoples and will settle disputes between strong nations far away. They will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will no longer fight against nation, nor train for war anymore.
4- Everyone will live in peace and prosperity, enjoying their own grapevines and fig trees, for there will be nothing to fear.
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies has made this promise!
5- Though the nations around us follow their idols, we will follow the Lord our God forever and ever.
6- “In that coming day,” says the Lord, “I will gather together those who are lame, those who have been exiles, and those whom I have filled with grief.
7- Those who are weak will survive as a remnant; those who were exiles will become a strong nation.
Because God is the same yesterday, today, and forever what he promised to do for the remnant in 700 BC he still will do for his remnant today. It is most important for us to remember; “Though the nations around us follow their idols, we will follow the Lord our God forever and ever.”
Isaiah 63:15-17
Lord, look down from heaven; look from your holy glorious home, and see us.
Where is the passion and the might you used to show on our behalf?
Where are your mercy and compassion now?
Surely you are still our Father!
Even if Abraham and Jacob would disown us,
Lord, you would still be our Father.
You are our Redeemer from ages past.
Lord, why have you allowed us to turn from your path?
Why have you given us stubborn hearts so we no longer fear you?
Return and help us, for we are your servants the tribes that are your special possession.
I Timothy 2:1-4
I urge you, first of all to pray for all people. Ask God to help them, intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.
2- Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.
3- This is good and pleases God our savior
4- who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.