Micah 5: 2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler of Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.”
Dear God,
It is so good to be in the peace that surrounds me in the early morning light, with green leaves gently dancing in the breeze, with the birds softly chirping, all in the life You have given to us all. Peace on this earth has only ever come from You.
I have read in Micah and Revelation 12, and once again have realized that Satan wages war actively on this earth, all the time, with no regard for the inhabitants, all because he wants to usurp Your divine authority, and lead all he can into evil and rebellion against You. It is only because You have not left us defenceless against Satan, that we have any hope of not being overcome by him, and instead can be faithful and saved in Your strength. And then in the last days, we can look forward to being counted as Your own true children, who have not joined Satan’s rebellion against our Creator.
In the historical account of Israel and then Judah, is revealed how they had gradually slipped into deep apostasy against You by fraternizing with the surrounding nations, which You had asked them not to do. There is a lesson there for us as well, for the ways of Satan’s world, if embraced by us, will gradually lead us into apostasy also. Micah one of the faithful prophets in Judah has written some gems for us all, even though his words were addressed to the people of his time.
The coming of the Son of God, Jesus Christ is again affirmed in Chapter 5, which was designed to give them hope and a reason to turn from their apostasy. Thank You for these messages, sent through Micah, for You knew we would also need them in the end times, Micah 5: 4, 5”And He shall stand and feed His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God; and they shall abide, for now He shall be great to the ends of the earth; and this One shall be peace…….” When these promises did not cause the people to change their ways, You God, inspired Micah to remind them of all the protection and provision of good things, that had been done for these people by their God in the past, and the how they could please You; and it was not by sacrificial offerings (or for us, self-serving works). Micah 6: 8 “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with Your God?
Now was and is the time for repentance and I will not neglect to do so under Your guidance. Micah 7: 7 “Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; My God will hear me.” I appreciate the faith and positive belief that all could be made right, as expressed by Micah in this text and in V9 “I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned against Him, until He pleads my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me forth to the light; I will see His righteousness.”
To You, Jesus I give my praise.
Amen