Corona Devo 3157
Micah was a prophet in the Bible (called to share His Word and ways with others).
Micah is fed up with folks rebelling against God.
Micah is lonely in his service to God.
Micah is angry, but righteously so.
Micah desires for more people living around him to live for God, instead of themselves.
Micah wants to glorify God with his life.
Micah has realized that it is not just that the people around him are not serving God boldly, but it is also that they have decidedly chosen unGodly ways, methods-of-business, and wicked weights-and-measures. Good has lost, and evil is reigning in Micah's day.
Micah is sad for God's chosen people because they are choosing themselves and not God.
Micah is mad that God's people are rebelling against God.
Let's meet Micah.
How miserable I am! I feel like the fruit picker after the harvest who can find nothing to eat. Not a cluster of grapes or a single early fig can be found to satisfy my hunger. (2) The godly people have all disappeared; not one honest person is left on the earth. They are all murderers, setting traps even for their own brothers. (3) Both their hands are equally skilled at doing evil! Officials and judges alike demand bribes. The people with influence get what they want, and together they scheme to twist justice. (4) Even the best of them is like a brier; the most honest is as dangerous as a hedge of thorns. But your judgment day is coming swiftly now. Your time of punishment is here, a time of confusion. ~Micah 7:1-4
Micah is lonely in his service to God.
Micah is praying (crying out!) to God in his lowness and in his frustration of folks living for themselves instead of living for God.
Micah is also wise and learned in God's Word and in God's ways.
Micah does not give up because people disappoint and fall short on him.
Micah turns his eyes, heart, and prayers heavenward.
As for me, I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me. (8) Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.
(9) I will be patient as the Lord punishes me, For I have sinned against him. But after that, he will take up my case and give me justice for all I have suffered from my enemies. The Lord will bring me into the light, and I will see his righteousness. (10) Then my enemies will see that the Lord is on my side. They will be ashamed that they taunted me, saying, “So where is the Lord—that God of yours?”
With my own eyes I will see their downfall; they will be trampled like mud in the streets. ~Micah 7:7-10
Micah is honest with God and himself about his inadequacies and his limits.
Micah admits his sins and Micah moves (freely!) forward in forgiven partnership and protection and victory with the Lord.
O Lord, protect your people with your shepherd’s staff; lead your flock, your special possession. Though they live alone in a thicket on the heights of Mount Carmel, Let them graze in the fertile pastures of Bashan and Gilead as they did long ago.
(15) “Yes,” says the Lord, “I will do mighty miracles for you, like those I did when I rescued you from slavery in Egypt.”
(16) All the nations of the world will stand amazed at what the Lord will do for you. They will be embarrassed at their feeble power. They will cover their mouths in silent awe, deaf to everything around them.
(17) Like snakes crawling from their holes, they will come out to meet the Lord our God. They will fear him greatly, trembling in terror at his presence.
(18) Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people?
You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love. (19) Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean! (20) You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love as you promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago. ~Micah 7:14-20
Micah is redeemed by God.
Micah is protected by God.
Micah is blessed by God and by miracles from God.
Others (who do not choose to know God) will fear him greatly, but to Micah and to those who choose God, He will delight in showing unfailing love.
~~~
We've met Micah.
Let's exchange places with him.
We are modern-day prophets for God (called to share His Word and ways with others).
We are fed up with folks rebelling against God.
We are lonely in our service to God.
We are angry, but righteously so.
We desire for more people living around us to live for God, instead of themselves.
We want to glorify God with our life.
We realize that it is not just that the people around us are not serving God boldly, but it is also that they have decidedly chosen unGodly ways, methods-of-business, and wicked weights-and-measures. Good has lost, and evil is reigning in our day.
We are sad for God's chosen people because they are choosing themselves and not God.
We are mad that God's people are rebelling against God.
Let's meet Micah.
We are lonely in our service to God.
We are praying (crying out!) to God in our lowness and in our frustration of folks living for themselves instead of living for God.
We are also wise and learned in God's Word and in God's ways.
We will not give up because people disappoint and fall short on us.
We will turn our eyes, heart, and prayers heavenward.
As for me, I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me. (8) Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. ~Micah 7:7-8
We can be honest with God and ourselves about our inadequacies and limits.
We can admit our sins and move (freely!) forward in forgiven partnership and protection and victory with the Lord.
“Yes,” says the Lord, “I will do mighty miracles for you, like those I did when I rescued you from slavery in Egypt.” ~Micah 7:15
We are redeemed by God.
We are protected by God.
We are blessed by God and by miracles from God.
Others (who do not choose to know God) will fear him greatly, but to those who choose God (us!), He will delight in showing unfailing love.
We like Micah because we are like Micah.
Blessings,
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