August 15, 2023 - Micah 1-4

Micah had some bad news to deliver to the people. God would judge them because of their sins. Their response? “’Do not preach’-- thus they preach—“one should not preach of such things; disgrace will not overtake us” (2:6). In other words, “We don’t want to hear any bad news!” The people buried their heads in the sand and just kept on as they had been. It is good to have discernment and to be able to read and understand the times. The people had neither discernment or understanding. They were fooling themselves.

An evil generation, one that would not listen to God’s prophet. Has the Lord reached the end with this people? Are the promises coming to an end? Of course not; in fact, not only Israel but the nations will be a part of what God is doing: “In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s house will be established at the top of the mountains and will be raised above the hills. Peoples will stream to it, and many nations will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us about His ways so we may walk in His paths’” (4:1,2). This will happen, not because of the people’s efforts, but God will do this.

Thy kingdom come! On bended knee

the passing ages pray;

and faithful souls have yearned to see

on earth that kingdom’s day.

And lo, already on the hills

the flags of dawn appear;

gird up your loins, ye prophet souls,

proclaim the day is near:

When knowledge, hand in hand with peace,

shall walk the earth abroad:

the day of perfect righteousness,

the promised day of God. -- Frederick L. Hosmer (1891)