“Tension builds as the crowd waits for the famous person to arrive. At last, the moment comes, and the person walks into the room, surrounded by an aura of greatness. Everyone has seen this great one a hundred, or a thousand, times on TV or in the movies, but never in person. There is a sense of magic in the air. A movie actress, a football or basketball star, a notable political figure, a famous pop singer – the great one could be any of these. But she is beautiful and famous. Or he is big and handsome and rich.
It has always been this way. People set the rich and famous, the strong and powerful, on tall pedestals, sometimes so tall that they are revered to the point of worship. So it was in the time of Micah, a time of unusual prosperity in both the northern kingdom of Israel and the southern kingdom of Judah. Power and affluence were everywhere, along with a lifestyle that honored, almost worshiped, the rich, famous, and powerful. The people had become blind to the sins growing in the garden of prosperity. Wallowing in wealth, the people were equally blind to the growing power of Assyria to the north.
Judgment would come, Micah proclaimed. It would come only after repeated warnings, but then, like a loving father should, God would discipline. As strong as God’s love is for his people, his hatred of sin is equally intense. Only discipline could root that sin out. And there would be a healthy dose of it.
Micah describes the coming judgment of Samaria, capital of Israel. The graphic description of the punishment is so vivid and terrible that Micah himself is bowed down with grief.
But Micah also has words of hope. Discipline works to preserve, not destroy. A small remnant of people would heed God’s discipline, rededicate themselves to be faithful to him, and form the core of ancestors from which Jesus, the Messiah, God’s Son, would be born. Micah not only predicted the birth of Jesus but even the place of his birth (5:2) hundreds of years before it actually occurred. (Wow!)
In a day when we revere the wealthy, the famous, and the powerful, particularly those popularized by the media, we face the same problems as the people of Micah’s day. Lulled to sleep by our apparent affluence, we are blind to the destructive forces that threaten our personal lives and our entire society. Our greatest threat is perhaps no longer from the outside but from within. Erosion of virtues and values may undo us more effectively than all the armies on earth. (Wow! This is so true. Working in education, we see this erosion play out each year.)
Micah's message is still fresh and up-to-date. His is a call for repentance, cleansing, and forgiveness. Worship God, not personalities. Live a holy life rather than trying to imitate the rich and famous. Decide to be part of God’s remnant that remains faithful to him when the rest of society has turned away. Be one of the few who will pass along a spiritual heritage to future generations. If God is not at work in us, he is at work elsewhere. Decide to be one of the faithful in whom God works. (Touch Point Bible)
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Create in us a spirit that seeks to please you and not man. Help us release ourselves and open our hearts to you, so you can dwell in us and work through us. Give us patience and a desire to embrace the youth of these fallen virtues and values, so that we can change the trajectory of our lost souls. And, Lord, thank you for giving us the opportunity to study another one of your amazing books. 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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