As Micah the prophet
continued his words concerning the judgment that was to fall upon
Samaria and Jerusalem, he began to name cities surrounding them which
were also affected by the judgment of God. Gath, Aphrah, Saphir,
Zaanan and Bethezel were some of these places, and in chapter one and
verse thirteen of his prophesy, Micah added “Lachish” to
his list where we read:
O you inhabitant of
Lachish, bind the chariot to the swift beast: she is the
beginning
of the sin to the
daughter of Zion: for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.
The
verse begins, “O you inhabitant of Lachish, bind the
chariot to the swift beast:” Micah
began this verse with the words, “O you inhabitant”
or “those who dwell, sit or abide” “of Lachish”
which means “invincible” and was “a city lying south of
Jerusalem on the borders of Simeon and which belonged to the Amorites
until conquered by Joshua and allotted to Judah”. These people were
instructed by Micah to “bind” or “attach” “the
chariot to the swift beast” which was a “horse or steed”.
In other words, those within “Lachish” were to be prepared
to quickly attempt to escape or flee the judgment that was to come
against them, and we discover why in the next part of this passage.
The
verse goes on to say, “she is the beginning of
the sin to the daughter of Zion:” This city which was just to
the south of Jerusalem according to Micah, “she is the
beginning” or “first or chief” “of the sin” or
“condition of sin and guilt” “to the daughter of Zion”
which is a reference to and another name for “Jerusalem”.
“Lachish” was where the idol worship began, and it spread
to the “daughter of Zion” or to “Jerusalem”, and this
is why the people in “Lachish” should prepare their
chariots with fast horses to flee.
Finally
the verse says, “for the transgressions of Israel were
found in you.” In addition to
the “sin” of
“Lachish” that
began in their city, Micah wrote, “for the
transgressions” or “guilt,
punishment or offering of rebellion”
“of Israel” or
“God prevails” and was “the name of the descendants and
the nation of the descendants of Jacob” “were found in you”
which means “detected, discovered and present in them”. The
Northern tribes of “Israel” had already fallen to the
Assyrians in previous years for the sin of idolatry, and now that
same transgression was found in “Lachish” which eventually
spread to “Jerusalem” which was situate for pending
judgment.
While we think upon this
verse, we may discover the influence which “Lachish” had
upon “Jerusalem”. That which was rebellious and sinful
within “Israel” spread to “Lachish” which in
turn infected “Jerusalem”. Let us imagine ourselves being
the citizens within “Lachish” when Micah wrote these
words. Would we understand that it was our influence which affected
“Jerusalem”? Would we do as Micah said and prepare our
“chariots” with the “fast horses” so that we might
flee the pending judgment? One thing is for certain, we do not want
to be in the position of “the beginning of the sin” for
anyone, and if we happen to be, let us come before the altar of God
Almighty and ask forgiveness of Jesus Christ because He ultimately
was the agent through whom “Lachish's” judgment would
come, we do not want to be in rebellion against Him.
Next
time Micah writes about Moreshethgath and the houses of Achzib, 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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