As Micah the prophet
considered the people around whom he lived, he determined that no one
could be trusted. Everyone, including friends, guides and even wives
could not be relied upon. In chapter seven and verse six of his
prophesy, Micah includes sons, fathers, daughters, mothers and
daughter in laws in his list of miscreants as he declared, “a
man's enemies are the men of his own house”. We read:
For
the son dishonors the father, the daughter rises up against her
mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's
enemies are the men of his own house.
The
verse begins, “For the son dishonors the father, the
daughter rises up against her mother, the daughter in law against her
mother in law;” Micah
continued his list of those who could not be trusted by giving
examples such as, “For the son”
which refers to a male child who is either a direct descendant or
grandson “dishonors”
which literally means “to drop down, stoop or fade” and refers to
“senseless and foolish” behavior towards “the father”
or “head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan”.
Micah adds, “the daughter” which refers to a female child
who is either a direct descendant or granddaughter “rises up”
or “stands and raises herself up” “against her mother”
which was “the intimate relationship of the matriarch of the
family”. Micah also wrote, “the daughter in law” who was
the “bride of a son” “against her mother in law” who
was the “husband's mother”. Basically Micah declared every
relationship within the house to be untrustworthy, and it appears
that no one was in harmony with another.
The verse goes on to say, “a man's enemies are
the men of his own house.” As though he desired to add a final
summation to his observations, Micah declared, “a man's enemies”
which were usually “adversaries and foes” both national and
personal “are the men” or “mortals, persons and
individuals” “of his own house” or “dwelling place and
home”. During this time a person did not have to look outside of
the boundaries of his own living place to find enemies. They were in
their own houses.
As we
meditate upon these words of Micah, we can almost sense the anguish
he has over the relationships he observed. With unbelief in these
conditions Micah's passion was for something different than this
among the people of God. We know sometimes relationships within our
own families can be strained – sons against fathers, daughters
against mothers, in law difficulties and other family issues can last
for years and years. In addition, relationships within churches can
become strained as well. Christians who position themselves against
other Christians are not only common but very likely whenever a group
of people meet with one another over a period of time. As with Micah,
contention brings mistrust, and mistrust births division, and as the
scripture says, “these things ought not to be”. Perhaps a verse
from the book of Proverbs in chapter thirteen and verse ten will help
us if there are strained relationships and enemies within our own
houses. It reads:
Only by pride comes
contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
May we
learn to be “well advised” by laying aside any “pride”
that causes “enemies” to arise.
Next
time Micah concludes he will “look to the Lord” instead of
people, 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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