Introducing the Lesson.

In a Secular society, it can be difficult to speak out on issues from a Christian perspective. If we say something is wrong, we are portrayed as being hateful and bigoted.

Today's study gives us a glimpse into the struggle the prophet Micah endured to convey the truth about who God is and what He expects from His people. We will be reminded that the problem of sin is real and that God is at work dealing with the problem and restoring those who approach Him in repentance.

God Rebukes Sin.

(A) Failure to Serve Only God (Micah1:1-7)

Micah was a prophet primarily to the southern kingdom of Judah during the reigns of Jotham (750-735 B.C.), Ahaz (735-715 B.C), and Hezekiah (715-686 B.C.) It is noteworthy, however, that Micah also prophesied regarding the northern kingdom of israel, often referred to as Samaria, its capital city (Micah 1 :6-7). Micah was from the village of Moresheth near Gath, about twenty-five miles southwest of Jerusalem.

Micah went right to the matter at hand: God's people were failing to worship only Him. In Micah 1:2-5, Micah set the scene as a courtroom. God is the judge. Jerusalem (Judah) and Samaria (lsrael) are the defendants. The nations are called to take note of the proceedings.

God's role as Judge is expanded in this context. God has already examined all the evidence and has determined the defendants are guilty. He comes with righteous anger. So powerful is His judgment that the mountains are said to melt like wax exposed to a flame and the earth splits Open (verse 4).

The Lord made it clear why He would battle against His people (verse 5). They had violated the covenant by indulging in worship of the false gods of the people who lived around them. Though His people still worshipped in the temple of the Lord, their hearts were far from God. They had failed to worship only Him.

Question: “What causes peeple to stray from the worship of God, to worship or serve other things?"

Hearts can become hardened by the deception of sin as people choose not to confess sin and repent of it. Hearts can be choked by the cares of this world, thus becoming less reliant on God. If peeple do not cherish spending time with the Lord, they likely will stray.

Samaria would be the first to experience God's judgment (verses 6-7). God would send an invading army that would level the city, leaving it so utterly destroyed that the area would only be suitable for vineyards. Aspart of God's judgment, the idols, images, and other items associated with the worship of false gods would be shattered and burned. Such images had been constructed from the wages of temple prostitutes, indicating the depth of Israel's depravity.

Now the Assyrians would take the materials and reuse them in the worship of their false gods. God would exile lsrael to other lands where foreign gods were worshipped. This prephecy was, fulfilled when the Assyrians conquered the land in 722 BC.

Question: “What lessons can we learn from Israel's idolatry?”

When we abandon the worship of God alone, whatever we turn to will be worthless in the end. It will not endure God's judgment. God's people must be faithful to the Lord and store up treasures that will endure forever.

(B) Failure to Do Good (Micah 6:1-13)

Like chapter 1, chapter 6 is presented as a courtroom scene. The Lord called for the mountains and hills to serve as witnesses (Micah 6:1-2). The Lord inquired what He had done that would cause His people to turn from Him (verse 3). He had dealt graciously with them (verses 4-5), redeeming them out of slavery in Egypt, providing leaders to guide them to the Promised Land, and turning Balaam’s curses into blessings. He gave them possession of the Promised Land, noted by the mention of Gilgal, wherethey crossed the Jordan River (see Joshua 3-4). .

Question: “Why is it essential that Christians remember what the Lord has done for them?”

Recalling what He has done can help us stay focused on worshipping Him and following His ways in the future. It is wise to recall God's past faithfulness and blessings as we go forward with Him.

Micah put himself in the place of his fellow Israelites to inquire what needed to be done to regain the Lord's favor (verses 6-7). Would making a few sacrifices be enough? Or did God require thousands of offerings to appease His anger? Should those who worshipped idols offer their children as sacrifices? Is that what the Lord wanted?

Most assuredly, the answer to these questions is no. The sacrifices God commanded were to be outward expressions of the people's inner trust and dependence on Him for His forgiveness, grace, and mercy. Micah was emphasizing that the Lord was not looking for the lsraelites to appease Him with some kind of temporal payoff. Rather, they needed to change their actions and attitudes.

The Lord had already revealed to them what was good and pleasing in His sight (verse 8). They had the law of Moses and the words of the prophets, which Micah summarized in three commands: Do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God. What God required of His people was not mere outward conformity, but to treat others with fairness and kindness, and to live in fellowship with and submission to Him.

God warned them of the consequences of failing to do what is good in His sight (verse 9). They ought to fear Him because He had the right as well as the means to punish them. Fearing Him would help them act wisely by doing what is good.

The Lord dealt with a specific example of the wrong taking place among His people: their unethical business practices (verses 9:9-12), They were cheating others by using dishonest measuring tools. In addition, they used violence to extort people and deceit to deprive them of justice. God's judgment on them for their wrongdoing had already begun (verse 13).

Sin Has Consequences

(A) Ruin and Shame (Micah 6:14-16)

Sin always has consequences and the Lord wanted His people to recognize the dangers their sinful ways were inviting. First, they risked becoming ruined or physically devastated (Micah 6:14-15). Hunger and shortages would become the norm. The economy would worsen as part of God's judgment on their unjust and unethical business practices. They would do the work, but others would reap the benefits of their labours.

Second, they would suffer shame and scorn as the Lord brought judgment on them (verse 16). The two sinful kings of israel named by Micah (Omri and Ahab) were described as doing evil in the eyes of the Lord, worse than all who were before them (see 1 Kings 16: 25-30) They had lived over a century before Micah, yet their reputation carried on, as their names had become synonymous with gross godliness. To follow in sinful tradition would surely bring Judgement.

Question: “In your experience, does knowing the consequences of sin deter people from doing what they know is wrong? Explain.”

Knowing an action is wrong and will bring consequences should deter people from doing wrong. Yet some do wrong things even when they know their actions to be sinful.

They convince themselves that they can avoid or manage the consequences, or that their behavior is justified. The consequences may not be immediate, but they will come, even if it be at the end of time as they stand before God at the Great White Throne Judgment.

Lesson continues.. (B) Injustice and misery (Micah 7:1-6)

^cheers!