The promise of the LORD
through Micah the prophet was that Israel was to be restored again to
the chagrin and shame of their enemy who would delight in their
demise. The LORD was to be a light and righteousness unto Israel.
They were promised their walls would be rebuilt, and the decree to
destroy them would be rescinded. This would cause a return of the
people of Israel from “sea to sea” and “mountain to
mountain”, and they would become a nation again. However, in
chapter seven and verse thirteen of his prophesy, Micah reminds the
people that their land would first become desolate because of “the
fruit of their doings”. We read:
Notwithstanding the
land shall be desolate because of them that dwell therein,
for the fruit of their
doings.
The
verse begins, “Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate
because of them that dwell therein,” Micah
returned to his original thought concerning the destruction of
Jerusalem and Samaria as he wrote, “Notwithstanding the
land” which refers to the
“country, territory, district and region where the people of
Jerusalem and Samaria lived” “shall be desolate”
or “devastation and waste with astonishment” “because
of the that dwell therein” or
“sit, remain, abide and live” within the land. Though Micah
promised that Israel was to be restored, there was to be
“devastation” because of the behavior, actions and attitudes of
the people within the land.
The
verse goes on to say, “for the fruit of their doings.” To
emphasize his point, Micah added, “for the fruit” which
refers to the “produce, offspring and progeny” “of their
doings” or “deeds and practices”. Micah knew the people of
Israel were to be restored as a nation again, however, because of the
deeds of the people who dwelt in the land, they were to suffer
extrication and destruction first. The people who were living in the
land were to suffer for their deeds which were contrary to the ways
of the LORD.
There is
an old saying that proves to be true: “You don't know what kind of
tree you have until you see what kind of fruit it is bearing. It
takes a little while to see the fruit upon the tree.” Though we
have tree experts who know what kind of fruit will be born upon a
tree before it blossoms, we nonetheless relate to this idea with the
words of Micah the prophet. The “fruit” of the doings of
the people of Jerusalem and Samaria was the cause for their
devastation, and though restoration was promised, there was to be
punishment and desolation first . Like a field that needs to be
plowed, sometimes the LORD will allow for the destruction of things
before there can be a rebuilding of them. Are their “fields”
in our lives that are bearing bad “fruit”? Do we need the
LORD's plowing in some areas of our lives so that they become
“desolate” enough to be rebuilt? May the LORD Jesus show
us where we will reap “the fruit of our doings” that He
may restore unto us our relationship with Him
Next
time Micah writes about the LORD feeding His people, 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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