As the LORD continued to
share the judgment He would bring upon the wicked “rich men”
who became wealthy in Judah by taking advantage of people, Micah the
prophet recorded several ways including sowing and not reaping,
pressing olives and not being able to apply the oil, and making sweet
wine and not able to taste it by which these men would be judged. In
chapter six and verse sixteen of his prophesy, Micah reviews why the
people of Jerusalem and Samaria were to experience “desolation,
hissing and reproach” where we read:
For the statutes of
Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of Ahab, and you walk
in their counsels; that I should make you a desolation, and the
inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore you shall bear the reproach
of my people.
The
verse begins, “For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all
the works of the house of Ahab, and you walk in their counsels;”
The LORD gives the reason the
people are to be judged as He says, “For the statutes”
or “laws, ordinances and practices” “of Omri”
who was “the founder of Samaria and of Ahab's wicked house;
and a supporter of Jeroboam's superstitions” “are kept”
which means “guarded, given heed and observed”. He adds, “and
all the works” or “deeds, labors, pursuits, enterprises and
achievements” “of the house of Ahab” which refers to
“the habitation, shelter and abode” of Ahab whose name means
“father's brother” and was the son of Omri and the wicked King of
Israel” “and you walk” or “proceed, move and live”
“in their counsels” which means “devises, plans and
principles”. The northern nation of Israel observed the wicked ways
of Omri and Ahab and were judged by the LORD through the invasion of
the Assyrians, and though Judah witnessed the judgment that fell upon
them and the reasons why it fell, they practiced the ways of Omri and
Ahab as well.
The
verse goes on to say, “that I should make you a
desolation, and the inhabitants thereof an hissing:” Because
the southern kingdom of Judah followed the ways of Omri and Ahab, the
LORD declared, “that I should make”
or “put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign,
designate” “you a desolation” or “waste, horror or as
one appalled”. He added, “and the inhabitants” or “as
those who sit, stay, abide and dwell” “thereof an hissing”
which means “whistling and mocking”. Because the people of Judah
walked in the ways of Omri and Ahab, they would not only be appointed
an appalling and horrific fate, but they would become the object of
ridicule by others because of the judgment which would fall upon
them.
Finally
the verse says, “therefore you shall bear the reproach of my
people.” As a conclusion to this prophetic judgment, Micah
wrote, “therefore you shall bear” which means “carry,
bear up, lift and endure” “the reproach” or “scorn,
taunting, shame and disgrace” “of my people” or
“nation”. Though the LORD tried upon numerous occasions to bring
correction to the people of Judah, they would not hear and obey Him,
and therefore judgment would fall and they would bear the ridicule
from others because of it.
As we
meditate upon the LORD's words through the prophet Micah, let us
imagine ourselves receiving this prophecy. We can almost hear the
lament of the LORD in His words that judgment must fall upon His
people, yet the nation of Judah would not heed His word. There are
many today who hear the word of the LORD and do not obey what they
hear. Though they are warned over and over again, still they go
against His ways and refuse to follow His ordinances. They forsake
the ways of the LORD, and live after their own thoughts and ideas.
Let this be a warning to those who “will not hear the LORD and
obey”, just as certain as judgment fell upon the LORD's own people
and nation, those who disregard the ordinances of the LORD will
receive retribution for their pernicious ways as they live in the
manner of Omri and Ahab. May we hear and obey the LORD before it is
too late to change our ways, in Jesus' name we pray, amen.
Next
time we begin the final chapter of Micah's prophesy where he
declares, “woe is me”, so read ahead, and we shall join
together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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