The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Micah 1:1,
"The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah—the vision he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem."
As I read the opening words of the book of Micah, I note this is a book of prophecy from a man the Lord used as a prophet. I am reminded of Peter's observation about the prophets such as Micah, and their inspired writings, "Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:20-21.
Micah was just such a man. He was a prophet and his message did not originate within himself. He was hand-picked by God who had a message for the northern kingdom of Israel, the southern kingdom of Israel, all mankind of the day and all mankind for all ages.
Therefore, when Micah speaks of the judgment to come, it is not simply a weather forecast of an insightful person, but an announcement by God of things to come. As Micah recounts the transgressions that have triggered the Lord's coming judgment, it is not a theological deduction of Micah, but an indictment of God himself against his creation. Israel and Judah have sinned and the Lord has taken note and now he will respond.
The entire consequence of rebellion bringing the Lord's judgment speaks to the "interactive" nature of God with his creation. I causes me to think of something the Lord had to say through his prophet Jeremiah, "If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it." Jeremiah 18:7-10.
"The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah—the vision he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem."
As I read the opening words of the book of Micah, I note this is a book of prophecy from a man the Lord used as a prophet. I am reminded of Peter's observation about the prophets such as Micah, and their inspired writings, "Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." 2 Peter 1:20-21.
Micah was just such a man. He was a prophet and his message did not originate within himself. He was hand-picked by God who had a message for the northern kingdom of Israel, the southern kingdom of Israel, all mankind of the day and all mankind for all ages.
Therefore, when Micah speaks of the judgment to come, it is not simply a weather forecast of an insightful person, but an announcement by God of things to come. As Micah recounts the transgressions that have triggered the Lord's coming judgment, it is not a theological deduction of Micah, but an indictment of God himself against his creation. Israel and Judah have sinned and the Lord has taken note and now he will respond.
The entire consequence of rebellion bringing the Lord's judgment speaks to the "interactive" nature of God with his creation. I causes me to think of something the Lord had to say through his prophet Jeremiah, "If at any time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down and destroyed, and if that nation I warned repents of its evil, then I will relent and not inflict on it the disaster I had planned. And if at another time I announce that a nation or kingdom is to be built up and planted, and if it does evil in my sight and does not obey me, then I will reconsider the good I had intended to do for it." Jeremiah 18:7-10.
Some folks feel uncomfortable with the idea that man's actions can, and will, have an impact on the things our Creator says and does relative to man. The notion that the Lord will respond in one way or another, in real time, to the things we think, do and say gets lost in their confusion over the sovereignty of God. May I suggest that we all leave our theology at the door when we enter into the pages of Scripture in favor of just accepting what they have to say. Good advice for myself and anyone.
If we do not understand this involvement of the Lord in the affairs of mankind, responding this way and that way to the things mankind does, we will never understand the message of Micah, as well as much of the Scriptures. What this book represents is God's interruption of his creation to effect his ultimate purposes in creating it in the first place: to populate his kingdom, his family.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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