Day 195 – Micah

Talking Points

• As we have been reading the long history of God’s people living in rebellion and neglecting His Word, we are now hearing the prophets who were speaking in those days. The chronological reading plan allows us to hear the prophets’ words in context, a good thing.
• Micah (whose name means “Who is like Yahweh?”) prophesies God’s dealings with Israel and Judah. He tells of a coming judgment, a coming kingdom, and a coming Messiah — ultimately fulfilled in the person of Jesus!
• God’s judgment is going to be terrible. He calls out those who have oppressed others, leaders who didn’t follow God, prophets who led people astray for popularity, and priests who profited from their positions.
• Once again, God’s righteous judgment is perfectly tempered with His great grace. He gives great hope proclaiming a kingdom of peace — one not ruined by sin, but filled with residents who walk in the name of God, forever and ever. He announces that He will send salvation; He will send a Savior. In the midst of turmoil and the heartbreak of sin, God bears the good news, “This One will be our peace” (5:5).
• What does God require of us? He calls us to “walk humbly” with Him (6:8). The Hebrew word for “walk” means to go along with or to accompany. How amazing that God wants us to go along with Him! And, how tremendous that, through Jesus, He provides the way to do so!

Thoughts

False prophets — as I read through Scripture, I see God speak about and speak to false prophets a lot. As I was reading Micah, it really started to dawn on me how dangerous false prophets actually were. If you were a villager, a shepherd, or a father, you were in constant danger of being led astray by someone claiming to speak for God who really wasn’t. If you were a priest, a scribe, or a king, you, too lived with the daily possibility that someone would placate you in your sins, tell you all was well when it wasn’t, or lead you to be comfortable in your rebellion. And, here’s the sad part — whether a common man or royalty, we like false prophets. We like to be told all is well. We like to be told that God is pleased with us. We like to duck responsibility, avoid conviction, and continue on in our rebellion.

The real prophets knew it — speaking the truth of God’s judgment against sin cost them greatly. The false prophets knew it — they profited off of prideful hearts. And, God knew it. He sent the true ones. He warned against the false ones. He carried out His judgments.

Nothing has changed today.

Slowing down and thinking about false prophets — a term I have glossed over, not truly understanding the seriousness of it in that day, and thinking it wasn’t really a problem in our day — I find myself heartbroken. How devastating that false prophets, motivated by selfish, greedy hearts and enabled by prideful, rebellious people, have ever existed.

God wants us to walk with Him. It blesses us, blesses others, and blesses His name. God gives us His Word, that we can walk with Him. God sends prophets, real ones who sacrifice much to speak the truth. May we be in God’s Word enough to discern the truth from the lies. May we be grateful for the true prophets God has sent. May we recognize and worship the very Word of God, made flesh — the great Prophet, Jesus!