According to Micah the
prophet, the wicked “rich men” within Samaria and
Jerusalem became wealthy because they took advantage of others by
using unjust weights and balances. In their minds they thought
themselves free from any retribution for their actions, but they were
mistaken because the LORD was watching. In retaliation for their
ways, the LORD promised they would be “sick”, “desolate”,
“not satisfied”, empty, and unable to save anything they
attempted to preserve. In chapter six and verse fifteen of Micah's
prophesy, the LORD continued His judgment toward these wicked men as
He included reaping, “oil”, and “sweet wine” in
His vengeance towards them where we read:
You shall sow, but you
shall not reap; you shall tread the olives,
but you shall not
anoint yourselves with oil; and sweet wine, but shall not drink wine.
The
verse begins, “You shall sow, but you shall not reap;”
The LORD begins this verse with,
“You shall sow” or
“scatter seed” like a farmer in his field, “but you
shall not reap” which
literally means “to be short, be impatient, be vexed, or be
grieved” and refers to “harvesting”. Though these “rich men”
venture by sowing seed in their fields, the LORD promises they will
not reap a harvest.
The
verse continues, “you shall tread the olives, but you shall not
anoint yourselves with oil; and sweet wine, but shall not drink
wine.” The LORD continued with two more judgments which would
fall upon these evil “rich men”. The first was, “you
shall tread” or “beat, rub, pound and press” “the
olives” which refers to “the olive trees” and “olives”
which came from them, “but you shall not anoint” or “use
and apply” to “yourselves with oil” which comes from the
“olives”. In other words, though these men harvest, press and
obtain the oil that comes from the olives, they will not be able to
apply it to themselves. The second judgment was, “and sweet
wine” or “freshly pressed and new wine”, “but shall
not drink wine” or be able to drink from the wine they make.
Though they would go through the process of making their wine, they
would not be able to drink from their harvest.
As
we think through these words of the LORD as recorded by Micah, we may
find ourselves not desiring to be in the place of these rich men. In
the book of Hebrews in chapter four and verse thirteen we read:
Neither is
there any creature that is not manifest in his sight:
In
other words, nothing goes unnoticed by the LORD. These wicked “rich
men” thought
themselves safe and secure in their pernicious ways and that no one
saw or knew their deceitful actions. However, the LORD knew, and if
we use our imaginations we can picture their frustrations as they
sowed seed, pressed olives and crushed grapes but were not able to
partake of any of their labors. When we are oppressed by others, as
these “rich men” burdened people in their day, we must remember,
the LORD is watching, and those who pummel and take advantage of us
with their words, deeds and actions will not go unnoticed by the
LORD, and woe be to those upon whom He brings judgment.
Next
time the LORD tells why these “rich men” shall suffer for their
wickedness,
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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