Micah 3 “Who Should Government Serve?”

“The leaders pronounce judgment for reward, and the priests instruct for a price, and the prophets divine for money.” (v.11a)

Chapter 3 begins with the prophet's second of three messages, this one extending through chapter 5. This and the other two messages (ch. 1-2 and 6-7) are introduced either by a call to "Hear" or "Listen." This second of Micah's messages was addressed to the rulers, and was concerned with the coming of God's true Ruler. It consisted of a denunciation of those in authority, both princes and priests and prophets, and an exposure of the falseness of their authority.

The heads (princes), exercised their judicial function for reward. They were open to bribery, their decisions could be bought by those able to reward them. The priests taught for hire, and therefore their teaching was accommodated to the desires of those who paid them. The prophets were seeking for money, and therefore they divined (surmised, guessed, conjecture). That was not the true method. The prophet speaks what God gives him to speak. But God's word cannot be bought. Therefore the prophets turn to wizardry.

In each case the inspiration of the exercise of authority (whether that of prince, or priest, or prophet), was the desire of self-enrichment. This is the evil principle in false authority. When government is in the interest of the governing classes, instead of the governed, it is evil. Rule, inspired by the self-interest of the rulers, spells ruin. All human attempts at government, whether autocratic or democratic, should be examined in the light of this principle. 

History is littered with people who compromised their character when a promised pleasure or payoff looked too good to pass up. I pray that you are not being tempted to compromise your Christian character and testimony in some way. Bur if you are, seek out someone you can trust to hold you accountable and cast your burden upon the LORD. The one who knows the very number of the hairs on your head (Matthew 10:30), will not let you fall.  

The Truth: “Cast all your cares upon Him, because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

Micah 2 “Woe to Those Who Devise Evil”

“Woe to those who devise iniquity, and work out evil on their beds! And at morning light they practice it, because the power is in their hand.” (v.1)

Here in chapter 2 we read of the sins of covetousness and pride among the ruling classes. This time period was one of material prosperity, but the true power was in the hands of the rulers. They planned and plotted in the night ways of using their power to oppress others. Then in the day, they carried out their plans of oppression simply because they could. Sound familiar? 

This gives force to the declaration: "Behold against this family do I devise an evil" (v.3). Meaning, because they devise iniquity against their fellow man, so God would devise evil against them. G. Campbell Morgan wrote of God's omnipotence, “There is no escape from God; and that fact is the reason of confidence to us, and the secret of peace, in the days most full of the apparent triumph of evil men.” 

We all have our ugly moments, thoughts, revengeful desires, but there are some sins we could never commit, because we would never possess the power to commit them. But, the real test comes when something is in the power of our hand to commit (some sin). Then when the morning light comes, we will know to whom we remain faithful. 

The Truth: “When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death.” (Matthew 27:6,7)

A Veterans Day Message

Veterans Day began as Armistice Day to commemorate the end of fighting in World War I on November 11, 1918 at 11 a.m., known as the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Armistice Day was made a legal holiday in 1938, primarily to honor World War I veterans. The honor was extended to all veterans by an Act of Congress in 1954. In 1968, Congress approved the Uniform Holiday Bill so that Veterans Day and several other national holidays would be bumped up to a weekend to create a three-day holiday. The decision angered many veterans and the original date of November 11 was restored in 1975.

Veterans Day, a day to honor those who served in all American wars, is often confused with Memorial Day, a day of remembrance to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. This may be due to the fact that, at 11 a.m. on November 11, a combined color guard representing all military services executes "Present Arms" at the tomb of the unknown soldier, the nation's tribute to its war dead.

"We must remember that many who served in our military never lived to be called veterans. We must remember many had their lives changed forever by experiences or the injuries of combat. All veterans are examples of service and citizenship for every American to remember and to follow." -- President George W. Bush, Oct. 30, 2001

Thank you to all who made the decision to serve and have placed themselves in harms way to uphold our freedoms. May God continue to bless our soldiers, veterans and our Nation.

Micah 1 “Hear O Peoples, Listen O Earth”

“Hear, O peoples, all of you; Listen, O earth and all it contains, And let the Lord God be a witness against you, The Lord from His holy temple. For behold, the Lord is coming forth from His place. He will come down and tread on the high places of the earth. The mountains will melt under Him and the valleys will be split, like wax before the fire, like water poured down a steep place. All this is for the rebellion of Jacob and for the sins of the house of Israel.” (vv.2-5a)

Micah was a prophet to the people of God, a contemporary of Isaiah and Hosea. His messages were concerned with Samaria and Jerusalem, the capitals respectively of the Northern and Southern kingdoms of Israel. In his messages he denounced the false, and announced the true. 

Here in our text Micah saw vivid images of the LORD descending from heaven to earth, and coming with judgment; "The LORD is coming out of His place." He goes on to say that, the mountains and valleys could not stand before Him. All this was for the transgression of Jacob and for the sins of the house of Israel: Meaning, this dramatic, powerful descent of the LORD was only because of the sins of His people.

When Micah saw the judgment coming upon his brethern, it made him wail and howl like the jackals and a mourn like the ostriches (v.8). For “her wounds are incurable” (v.9). It is easy for us to imagine that the people of Judah and Israel thought this was unfair. They looked around at the pagan nations surrounding them and saw that they were even more corrupt than themselves. 

Nevertheless, the principle of 1 Peter 4:17a stands, “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God.” And “if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17b)

Therefore the warning is to us all, Hear O People, Listen O earth, God’s judgment is real, you do not want to find yourself incurably lost when it comes. Our only incurable wounds are the ones we refuse to bring to God. With Him, all things are possible (Luke 18:27), but when we refuse to bring our sin to Him, then our wounds are incurable.

The Truth: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

2 Thessalonians 3 “The LORD is Faithful”

“But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.” (vv.3-5)

Here in chapter 3 Paul is telling the people of Thessalonica, whether men have faith or not, the Lord is faithful. This was the basis of Paul’s confidence in God’s ability to establish and guard them/us from the evil one. God promised to keep Satan on a leash. He will not allow any temptation to become too great for us (1 Corinthians 10:13), and will not allow Satan to do whatever he wants with us (Luke 22:31-32).

Paul goes on to say, "we have confidence in the Lord concerning you." That they ( the Thessalonians) would follow through and be obedient to God’s Word, "that you do and will do the things we command you." This shows that God’s work of establishing and guarding them/us is done, in part, through His appeal to our will in obeying His Word. He (God) doesn’t just pour spiritual maturity and stability into us. He works it in us, through our cooperation with His will.

Therefore, this short scripture should encourage us as well that; 1) the LORD is faithful, 2) He will not allow us to be moved from Him, and 3) He will not allow us to be tempted beyond our strength, but will enable us to both bear it and make a way for our escape.

Yes He is faithful, even when we are faithless.

The Truth “Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.” (Deuteronomy 7:9)

 

2 Thessalonians 2 “Stand Firm”

“Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.” (vv.1-4)

Here in chapter 2 Paul addressed questions raised by his first letter, where he instructed the Thessalonians about the catching away of the church (The Rapture) to be with Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18). Paul clearly wrote of the return of Jesus, but the wording in verses 1-2 implies a difference between the coming and our gathering.

Many Christians believe that the second coming of Jesus will be in two phases. First, He will come for believers, both living and dead, in the “rapture” (as described clearly in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18), and the second phase He comes with His church, to judge a rebellious world (Revelation 19:11-21). This is completely consistent with other passages of Scripture that indicate that there must be two aspects of Jesus’ second coming, and the aspects must be separated by some appreciable period of time.

Apparently, a misunderstanding of Paul’s teaching (or an incorrect application of it) had caused the Thessalonians to be shaken in mind and troubled. Here Paul used a strong wording, speaking of both a sudden jolt (shaken in mind) and a continuing state of upset (troubled). Their fears centered on the idea that the day of Christ had already come. The Thessalonians were not afraid that the day of Christ was coming, but that they were in it.

Paul then goes on to assure them, “that day will not come unless the falling away comes first.” The ancient Greek wording for falling away indicates a rebellion or a departure. Bible scholars debate if it refers to an apostasy among those who once followed God, or a general worldwide rebellion. In fact, Paul may have both in mind, because there is evidence of each in the end times (1 Timothy 4:1-3, 2 Timothy 3:1-5 and 4:3-4). Nevertheless, Paul’s point is clear: “You are worried that we are in the Great Tribulation and that you missed the rapture. But you can know that we are not in the Great Tribulation, because we have not yet seen the falling away that comes first.” 

Also, the man of sin must be revealed: Before the Great Tribulation can be identified with certainty, a particular person – known as the man of sin, – must be revealed. Paul’s point is clear: “You are worried that we are in the Great Tribulation and that you missed the rapture. But you can know that we are not in the Great Tribulation, because we have not yet seen the man of sin … revealed.”

The man of sin, when he exalts himself, will demand to be worshiped as God (see Revelation 13:1-6). He will set himself up as God in the temple at Jerusalem (Revelation 13:14-15 and Matthew 24:15, 21, 29-31). This is the ultimate blasphemy that results in certain judgment, the abomination of desolation spoken of by both Daniel and Jesus.

Clearly, the man of sin is Satan’s imitation of the true Messiah. Yet in the end, the man of sin can only show himself that he is God. The coming of Jesus and the judgment of God will make it clear that the man of sin is not God at all. 

Paul concludes this chapter with an exhortation to the Thessalonians to “stand fast” and “hold” to what they were taught “by word or our epistle” and not to be deceived. 

Good advise for us as well in these trying times to “stand firm” on God’s Word not man’s. For it is only God’s Word that can enable us to stand fast under the weight of our present tribulation, and the weight of our coming glory.

The Truth: "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” (Matthew 24:35)

2 Thessalonians 1 “Love, Thriving in the Midst of Tribulation”

“We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and in the afflictions that you are enduring. Which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer.” (vv.3-6)

Here in our text we see that Paul was giving thanks to this young church for their growing faith, and for their increasing love for one another (v.3). Paul also recognized their steadfastness in the afflictions they were enduring (v.4), as it set the righteousness of God on display (v.5). This faith and love, thriving in the midst of persecutions and tribulations, made Paul boast of the Thessalonians to other churches.

God’s righteous judgment was at work among the Thessalonians (v.5), beginning at the house of God (1 Peter 4:17), and purifying them as followers of Jesus. The good result – showing them worthy of the kingdom of God – was manifest evidence that God was good in allowing them to suffer the persecutions and tribulations (v.4).

We usually think that God is absent when we suffer, and that our suffering calls God’s righteous judgment into question. Paul took the exact opposite position and insisted that the Thessalonians’ suffering was evidence of the righteous judgment of God. The fires of persecution and tribulation were like the purifying fires of a refiner, burning away the dross from the gold, bringing forth a pure, precious metal.

The same holds true for us. Trials, tribulations are a part of life. Jesus said, “In this world you will have tribulation.” The trials of life are not meant to weaken us, but to strengthen us, refine us, and purify us. Therefore, when they come, know that the testing is evidence that you are worthy of the kingdom of God. 

The Truth: "God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)

Jonah 4 “Blessings And Trials”

“So the Lord God appointed a plant and it grew up over Jonah to be a shade over his head to deliver him from his discomfort. And Jonah was extremely happy about the plant. But God appointed a worm when dawn came the next day and it attacked the plant and it withered.” (vv.6-7)

The story of the rebellious prophet Jonah shows us how God desires to use both blessings and trials to challenge us and change us for the better. Five times in the book of Jonah it says that the Lord prepared circumstances for him—both good and bad.

In Jonah 1:4 we read that the Lord sent a storm. It says He “sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty tempest on the sea.” After the mariners discovered that Jonah was the reason for this storm, they threw him overboard (Jonah 1:15). Then God “prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah” to save him from drowning (Jonah 1:17).

Here in our text we read that “the Lord God prepared a plant” to shade Jonah (v.6). Then we see that God prepared a worm to kill the vine as well as a scorching wind and sun to beat down upon him (vv.7-9). These circumstances were used to reveal Jonah’s rebellious attitude. Only after that revelation could God directly confront Jonah’s heart problem.

As we face different situations, we should remember that God is sovereign over both the blessings and the troubles that come our way. He desires to use everything to build our character (James 1:1-5). He uses both good and bad to transform us and guide us on our journey. He truly uses “all things for our good.”

Although it is hard sometimes not to be a Jonah and complain about the circumstances in our lives that seem negative - may I encourage you to be a Job, and open your eyes to His sovereign will over your life and thank Him for both the "blessings and trials" as He molds and shapes you into the person He desires you to become.      

The Truth: "The LORD gives, and the LORD hath takes away; blessed be the name of the LORD. (Job 1:21)