As Micah concluded the third
chapter of his prophesy concerning Samaria and Jerusalem, he wrote of
the wickedness of the rulers and prophets within both places. These
evil men not only took bribes to persuade their judgments and
teachings, but also believed themselves to be leaning “upon the
LORD” as they said, “Is not the
LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.” In the twelfth and
final verse of chapter three, Micah shared the results of these
wicked men's ways where we read:
Therefore shall Zion
for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall
become heaps,
and the mountain of the
house as the high places of the forest.
The
verse begins, “Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as
a field,” Micah employed the word “therefore” which
is a conclusion word which means “as a result of or
consequentially” “shall Zion” which means “parched
place” and is another name for Jerusalem “for your sake”
or “because of or on account of you” “be plowed” which
means “cut in, engraved, silenced, deaf and made quiet” “as
a field” or “like a land which is occupied by wild beasts”.
The judgment which was to fall upon “Zion” or Jerusalem
because of these evil leaders would be as though someone plowed the
entire city over and left it abandoned like a field in the wild.
The
verse continues, “and Jerusalem shall become heaps,” In
addition to “Zion” being plowed, “Jerusalem”
which means “teachings of peace” “shall become heaps”
or “ruins or heaps of ruins”. We can use our imaginations and
visualize the heaps of buildings which would be the result of them
being overcome by a conquering enemy.
Finally
the verse says, “and the mountain of the house as the high
places of the forest.” Not only would “Zion” be as a
plowed field and Jerusalem become “heaps” of ruins, Micah
said, “and the mountain” which means “hill or
mountainous tract of hills” “of the house” or “dwelling
place or habitation” “as the high places” which were
“ridges, bamahs, heights or places of worship” “of the
forest” or “woods and thickets”. This “mountain of the
house” refers to the place upon which the temple of the LORD
rested, and although it appeared to be impenetrable an unconquerable,
it would become overrun like an overgrown forest full of shrubs and
brushwood.
As
we think about this prophesy of Micah's, it might be helpful to know
that the Jewish “TALMAD and MAIMONIDES record that at the
destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans under Titus, Terentius Rufus,
who was left in command of the army, with a ploughshare tore up the
foundations of the temple.” Just as Micah said, Jerusalem was
overtaken and destroyed. We should keep in mind that this prophesy
came as a warning to these evil leaders and prophets, but they would
not heed it. They continued in their wicked practices and believed
the LORD was on their side all the while. As we ponder this idea, let
us be certain to align ourselves with the word of God as we make our
decisions in life. We should remember these leaders thought
themselves to be in alignment with the LORD, but they were not, and
lest we be like them, let us humble ourselves before the LORD Jesus
and be sure of not only our salvation, but also our position with
Him.
Next
time we begin a new chapter where Micah began to write of the last
days,
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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