Series in Micah - Weeping, Mourning, and Judgment Part 2

 

Weeping, Mourning, and Judgment Part 2 

Micah 1:13-16

Have you ever had someone blame you for something that went wrong, and then to find out they were right. The problem may have begun with your lack of foresight, forethought, and the ensuing actions assuredly spiraled out of control. Tragedies happen like a fire that got out of control, a child playing with a hidden loaded gun, or driving impaired and arrested for the death or injuries of a family.

Such was the accusing of certain towns and peoples in Micah’s finger of judgment from God on the nation of Israel. So let us read the first portion of the text. “You who live in Lachish, harness fast horses to the chariot. You are where the sin of Daughter Zion began, for the transgressions of Israel were found in you. Therefore you will give parting gifts to Moresheth Gath.”

Micah now delivers the message to the one city who is being accused of as the origin of Israel’s sin in Judah. Lachish was a lushish border city in the valley near Jerusalem, it was considered the entry point for the sins of Jeroboam from the northern kingdom into Judah and Jerusalem. It was a city that would have been used as a boarding stable and livery for the military horses and chariots, for Micah mocks them to try a speedily departure from the coming punishment of God. Then Micah uses an assonance for the town of Moresheth, for the town's name sounds like “betrothed” in Hebrew. Lachish would be used as the bride’s parting gift, her dowry to the enemy. This town would soon depart from its familiar surroundings and be taken away as a bride departs her family.

Application - This prophet of God had a flare for poetic justice. Pun intended. I know that we aren’t to use sarcasm as believers, but there seems times that it rightly fits. I grew up in Salem, Oregon and its name means peace, and it is the capital seat for the Oregon government. There is little true peace coming out of Salem these days in the form of righteousness and true justice; it is more like bedlam. Alas, the columns of peace and Truth have departed the halls of justice. 

Even in our own lives, we have associated or have been the instigator and proprietor of problems that have not been righteous before God. And in God’s justice, we have received the applied judgment of His discipline. And in the bigger picture of the proposed future of the United States by some religious pundits. There is no mention of the United States in the eschatology of Scripture, no superpower, no dominant power from the west, or even a plausible and applaudable mention of a former glory. We are humbled or diminished to lesser nations. Why? First, we don’t have a covenant with God like the nation of Israel. Secondly, we don’t have to look any further than God’s word. We have sinned greatly against God and against the innocent as a people. Yes, we are a nation founded on the moral principles of God’s Word, but God will judge us individually as well as collectively. We have made God’s name a disdain  among the world, for we have followed in the same sins of Jeroboam, just like Lachish. “I ripped the kingdom from the hands of David’s family and gave it to you, but you weren’t at all like my servant David who did what I told him and lived from his undivided heart, pleasing me. Instead you’ve set a new record in works of evil by making alien gods—tin gods! Pushing me aside and turning your back—you’ve made me mighty angry.” (1 kings 14:8-9 MSG) 

We have made alliances with the ungodly and we have assimilated the sins of ancient countries and postulated a false truth that is relegated to only relativity of mankind’s preferences. In other words, we have stunk it up to heaven, and God doesn’t like stink!

Micah concludes the assonances of the towns names to their coming punishment. So let’s read the last portion of the text, “The town of Akzib will prove deceptive to the kings of Israel. I will bring a conqueror against you who live in Mareshah. The nobles of Israel will flee to Adullam. Shave your head in mourning for the children in whom you delight; make yourself as bald as the vulture, for they will go from you into exile.”

Micah proclaims God’s judgment on deception, he brings the town of Akzib, whose name rhymes with “deception” for the town is like a dried up stream, a water source that was unreliable. Just as people trusted in the water only to be deceived, and like the water, they will cease to exist as a town. 

Now Micah makes the association with the Assyrians who will conquer the northern kingdom when he uses the town of Mareshah, which means to possess, conqueror; for the conqueror would soon be conquered. Sennacherib, the Assyrian general, came and conquered and made Lachish his headquarters and launching point for the attack upon Jerusalem. 

Finally, Micah possibly alludes to king David who fled to the stronghold of Adullam, where he hid from king Saul, (1 Samuel 22:1). Micah mocks the ruling nobles to flee to these ancient strongholds as a place of security. In the Assyrian’s conquering process, it was a custom of conquerors to shave the heads and bodies of the conquered. It was a sign of humiliation of their being conquered, “In that day the Lord will use a razor hired from beyond the Euphrates River—the king of Assyria—to shave your head and private parts, and to cut off your beard also.” (Isa. 7:20 NIV) Also as an act of mourning in Israel, for God punishing sin. “I will turn your religious festivals into mourning and all your singing into weeping. I will make all of you wear sackcloth and shave your heads. I will make that time like mourning for an only son and the end of it like a bitter day.” (Amos 8:10 NIV)

Micah brings the message of doom and devastation to the people of both of the kingdoms of Israel because of their sins, transgressions, and iniquities. They will resemble the vulture, a carrion bird who feasts on the unclean dead things, and the conquerors will take their children into exile; separating them as they watch their children taken in a different direction. They would feel the pain of separation just as God did when Israel and Judah fled in their harlotry of sin and transgression.

Application - As stated earlier, we are no different than the kingdoms of Israel or of this world when it comes down to sin. Our fate is in the hands of Almighty God. “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Heb. 10:31 NIV). But there is hope for us, like king David when he sinned by taking a census that God didn’t authorize, we can choose to humble ourselves to our merciful God, “I’m in a desperate situation!” David replied to Gad. “But let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for his mercy is great. Do not let me fall into human hands.” 

Yes, these are desperate times, and we have sinned against God greatly in our rebellious ways, possibly to the point of great judgment or chastising discipline from God. So  let’s humble ourselves and repent (turn away from) our rebellious sins, heinous iniquities, and our profligacies and licentious transgressions. For if we don’t, history will repeat itself, and we will find ourselves in the wrong line before God Almighty. 

 I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation for all those who have not yet received Jesus Christ for salvation. For Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second,

 B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, 

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

I have revised my webpage on Spiritual warfare. Please give it a look. Thank you. http://uss-warfare3.webnode.com