October 12, Micah 2
Woe to those who devise wickedness and work evil on their beds! When the morning dawns, they perform it, because it is in the power of their hand. - Micah 2:1
Some passages in Micah sound a lot like others in Amos or Isaiah. That is to be expected, since they all prophesied to the same generations of Israelites. So we are not surprised to find the same indictments of covetousness, oppression and idolatry in that trio of books.
These people did not commit sin in moments of weakness. They were not overpowered by the bad influence of an evil peer. No, these sinners were deliberate transgressors. They plotted and planned and schemed while they were in the bed. They were awake, devising ways to cheat and mistreat people around them. And when morning came, they had their plan to steal and oppress ready to go. They had the strength and the opportunity to do wrong, and they did it because they could.
The apostate Israelites were not the only ones who were devising. Through Micah's words, God told them that he was doing some devising of his own. But God was not devising a way to sin. The Lord was devising disaster from which the sinful rebels could not save themselves. When that time came, the people would weep and complain about the consequences they had brought upon themselves. They accused God of unjustly taking their portion away, and giving their fields to people who did not deserve them. But in truth, they had lost their place of privilege and favor from the Lord because of their own misdeeds when they did exactly to others what they accused God of doing to them.
With all those prophets issuing all those warnings and calls to repentance, wouldn't you think they might have heeded some of those warnings? Instead they told the prophets, “Do not preach about such things." They denied that they were headed for disaster and disgrace. The punishment God devised for the apostate people was inescapable and unavoidable. He would humble the arrogant rebels. Although they tried to muzzle God's faithful prophets, God said that a liar who came preaching empty words praising wine and strong drink would be just the preacher these people wanted to hear. But when God's prophet delivered the true word of God to them, they bolstered themselves with a false sense of security and went on with their cruelty and violence.
But God had not forgotten that there was a righteous remnant among the disobedient and faithless majority in Israel. He renewed the promises and reassured them that Messiah would regather, rescue and redeem his people. God would preserve and protect the remnant and keep the Messianic hope and promises intact. He knew the plans he had for the righteous as well as the wicked. God would bless and save his righteous ones from the disaster the wicked had brought upon themselves.
Yes, the warnings of judgment are solemn and frightening. But the promises of the same mighty God to save and reward his faithful ones should be reassuring and motivating to those who love and serve him. Our all-wise God knows us so well! He knows we sometimes need the restraint of a warning, and at other times need the reassurance of a promise. God’s unswerving faithfulness to his words should kindle our zeal to be faithful to him.
Copyright © 2024 by Michael B. McElroy. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Today in God's Word—October 2024
East Tallassee Church of Christ
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