Since Micah the prophet
pronounced judgment upon the people within Samaria and Jerusalem for
their apostasy against the LORD, the people desired for him to be
silent. They did not want to be in “shame” for their
pernicious deeds, and when Micah spoke, they would feel conviction
for their ways. In chapter two and verse seven of his prophecy, Micah
appeals to the people through three questions as to whether his words
do them good. We read:
The verse begins, “O you that are named the
house of Jacob, is the spirit of the LORD straitened?” As Micah
began his questions he appeals to his audience, “O you that are
named” or “boldly and boastfully called or proclaimed as”
“the house of Jacob” which refers to “the dwelling place
or habitation of heel-catcher or supplanter”. Micah's question to
them was, “is the spirit” which is the Hebrew word
“ruwach” and means “wind, breath, mind or spirit” “of
the LORD straitened?” or “impatient, vexed or grieved”. In
other words, because these who belonged to the linage of Jacob
desired for the prophets to be silenced, did they really believe they
could silence the word of the Lord? They should have known this could
not be done.
The
verse goes on to say, “are these his doings?” The
next question asked by Micah was, “are these” which refers
to “the evil activities the people were involved in at that time”
“his doings?” or since they were of the “house of
Jacob” they should know the Lord would not be involved in such
activities as they were doing.
Finally
the verse says, “do not my words do good to him that
walks uprightly?” Micah's
third question appealed to their previous knowledge of the ways of
God when he asked, “do not my words”
which means “speech, utterances or speakings” “do
good” or “be pleasing, well,
glad and joyful” “to him that walks uprightly”
or “goes, moves and proceeds in a straight, correct and
right way”. The prophecies given by the Lord through his prophets
in the past benefitted those who walked “uprightly”, and
because the people within the “house of Jacob” knew the
Lord blessed those who followed his ways, they should not desire
Micah to be silent.
As we meditate upon Micah's
three questions, we may be reminded of what Jesus said in the gospel
of John in chapter three and verses nineteen thru twenty-one:
And this is the
condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved
darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every
one that does evil hates the light, neither cometh to the light, lest
his deeds should be reproved. But he that does truth cometh to the
light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in
God.
Even
though the people of Micah's day were descendants of Jacob and knew
better, they still desired for the prophets to be silent. Their
desire would not silence God, and their activities were only to be
blamed upon themselves. The Lord's words did them good in the past,
and they would do them good now if they would only heed them. So it
is today. The Lord God Almighty appeals to the world to turn from
their wicked ways, receive His Son Jesus as their Savior and Lord,
and allow His words to have a “good” affect in their
lives, and yet, many in the world would have Him be silent. May the
Lord Jesus help us to not only desire His words, but also enjoy the
“good” in them He desires to extend.
Next
time Micah tells how the people have risen as an enemy,
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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