After sharing with the
people of Israel what is “good” and “required”
of them - “to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly
with your God” - Micah the prophet began to give examples of
how their behavior was directly contrasted to the way they should be.
In chapter six and verse nine of his prophesy, Micah tells how “the
LORD's voice cries unto the city” concerning their ways where
we read:
The LORD'S voice cries
unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see your name:
hear the rod, and who
has appointed it.
The
verse begins, “The LORD's voice cries unto the city” If
we can employ our imaginations, we may picture as “The
LORD's” which refers to
“Yehovah or Jehovah” “voice”
or “sound or noise” “cries”
which means “to call, call out, recite, read, cry out,
proclaim or utter with a loud sound” “unto the city” or
“the place of waking or a guarded place” which refers to
Jerusalem and Samaria. As one who proclaims a message or gives
warning to a city, the LORD alarms His people.
The
verse continues, “and the man of wisdom
shall see your name:” Micah
goes on to add, “and the man of wisdom”
which is the Hebrew word “tuwshiyah”
and refers to a
man with “sound knowledge, success, sound or efficient
wisdom and abiding success” “shall see” or “look at,
inspect, perceive and consider” “your name” which refers
to their “reputation, fame and glory”. In other words, when the
“voice” of the LORD cries unto the city, the wise man will
take note of the one to whom He is speaking.
Finally
the verse says, “hear the rod, and who has appointed it.”
Micah added what the LORD was
saying and what the wise man heard, “hear”
or “listen to and obey” “the rod”
or “staff or shaft” “and who has appointed it”
which refers to that which is “fixed, assembled, set, betrothed,
designated, assigned, placed before as an assembly by appointment”.
The idea is the LORD is giving a warning before His judgment is
poured out upon these cities, and the wise man will hear and
understand that He has set forth punishment through His “rod”
for those who have been disobedient to Him.
While we take the time to
think about Micah's words, perhaps we should note that the LORD
provided warnings in advance of the judgment that is to come to
these cities. He has not appointed “the rod” without first
providing ample space for them to turn from their pernicious ways.
Much is the same for us. When we go astray, the LORD will use warning
after warning to keep us from knowing His rod. In the book of Hebrews
in chapter twelve and verses six and seven it declares and asks,
For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom
he receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with
sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not?
If
we have given our hearts and lives to Jesus Christ, we are the
children of God, and if we have need of “the rod”
the LORD will certainly apply it. However, the “wise”
person will heed His warnings before it is too late. May we learn to
be as those who are “wise”
enough to “hear”
“the LORD's voice” and
know when His “rod”
of correction is near.
Next
time Micah writes about “treasures
of 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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