In this chapter, Micah tells the people that his message from God would have been different if they had chosen to do right. Here’s the chapter in its entirety: “How terrible it will be for you who lie awake at night, thinking up evil plans. You rise at dawn and hurry to carry out any of the wicked schemes you have power to accomplish. When you want a certain piece of land, you find a way to seize it. When you want someone’s house, you take it by fraud and violence. No one’s family or inheritance is safe with you around!
But this is what the Lord says: “I will reward your evil with evil; you won’t be able to escape! After I am through with you, none of you will ever again walk proudly in the streets.” (Wow! Do right and treat people right!)
In that day your enemies will make fun of you by singing this song of despair about your experience:
“We are finished, completely ruined!
God has confiscated our land, taking it from us.
He has given our fields to those who betrayed us.
Others will set your boundaries then, and the Lord’s people will have no say in how the land is divided.
True and False Prophets
“Don’t say such things,” the people say. “Don’t prophesy like that. Such disasters will never come our way!”
Should you talk that way, O family of Israel? Will the Lord have patience with such behavior? If you would do what is right, you would find my words to be good. Yet to this very hour my people rise against me! You steal the shirts right off the backs of those who trusted you, making them as ragged as men who have just come home from battle. You have evicted women from their homes and stripped their children of all their God-given rights. Up! Begone! This is no longer your land and home, for you have filled it with sin and ruined it completely. (Wow….even in this last hour the Lord is ready to forgive His people, but they continue to do wrong.)
Suppose a prophet full of lies were to say to you, “I’ll preach to you the joys of wine and drink!” That’s just the kind of prophet you would like!
Hope for Restoration
“Someday, O Israel, I will gather the few of you who are left. I will bring you together again like sheep in a fold, like a flock in its pasture. Yes, your land will again be filled with noisy crowds! Your leader will break out and lead you out of exile. He will bring you through the gates of your cities of captivity, back to your own land. Your king will lead you; the Lord himself will guide you.” (Micah 2) (Yes, Lord! Thank you!)
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Thank you for giving us hope, knowing that if we are a part of the few who continue to serve you, you will restore us completely. And, Lord, help us love others and be a blessing and not a taker. Lord, we love you!
May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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