Reading

• Micah 6:1-7:20

Devotional

Today’s reading concludes our look at Micah’s prophecy to Judah. GOD reminds Judah of His goodness and faithfulness to them and of their betrayal. He tells them what their life purpose is:

⁶ With what shall I come before the LORD, And bow myself before the High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, With calves a year old? ⁷ Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, Ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? ⁸ He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?
(Mic. 6:6-8 NKJV)

GOD doesn’t ask much of us and our task is not too difficult, considering that He is our helper. The situation in Judah is dire; evil runs rampant and even families are enemies and untrustworthy. Sin reigns and GOD is going to cast it out from them to purify them.

¹ WOE IS me! For I am as when the summer fruits have been gathered, as when the vintage grapes have been gleaned and there is no cluster to eat, no first-ripe fig for which my appetite craves. ² The godly man has perished from the earth, and there is none upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; each hunts his brother with a net…⁶ For the son dishonors the father, the daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law–a man’s enemies are the men (members) of his own house. ⁷ But as for me, I will look to the Lord and confident in Him I will keep watch; I will wait with hope and expectancy for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.
(Mic. 7:1-7 AMP)

Even in the worst of situations the righteous man can take comfort because GOD knows them and will not forget nor leave them! Micah was brokenhearted over the situation in his homeland. Yet his calling was to preach this message of repentance when no one cared. He knew by GOD’s revelation what would happen to his people and their land. Yet, despite this, he still hoped and trusted and rested in GOD. And GOD is faithful; despite His righteous punishment of Judah, He would not cast off His people and would raise them up again to be victorious over their enemies.

⁸ Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light. ⁹ Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the LORD’s wrath, until he pleads my case and upholds my cause. He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness. ¹⁰ Then my enemy will see it and will be covered with shame, she who said to me, “Where is the LORD your God?” My eyes will see her downfall; even now she will be trampled underfoot like mire in the streets.

¹¹ The day for building your walls will come, the day for extending your boundaries. ¹² In that day people will come to you from Assyria and the cities of Egypt, even from Egypt to the Euphrates and from sea to sea and from mountain to mountain. ¹³ The earth will become desolate because of its inhabitants, as the result of their deeds.
(Mic. 7:8-13 NIV)

At this news, Micah worships GOD, saying:

¹⁸ Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. ¹⁹ You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. ²⁰ You will be faithful to Jacob, and show love to Abraham, as you pledged on oath to our ancestors in days long ago.
(Mic. 7:18-20 NIV)

There is no one as merciful as our GOD! Praise be to His high and holy name!