A series on the
book of Micah
Week 1 – The judgment of God
(Click on the link below to read the verses.)
Micah 1:1-16
[In the book “Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll
and Mr. Hyde”, Robert Louis Stevenson explores the struggle between good and
evil in human nature. Likewise, Micah contrasts God's
hatred of sin but love for sinners. In this series, we will look at both sides
of God’s character and what that means for us today.]
Big cities tend to be the center of influence. Commerce, culture, technology, government, education, entertainment and fashion often originate in big cities and then spread across the country.
Samaria was the capital city of the northern kingdom
of Israel. Unfortunately, it had become the center of pagan worship, blending
Canaanite religious practices with Israelite traditions. Samaria’s idolatry was
graphically described as prostitution. It was a metaphor that illustrated Samaria’s
unfaithfulness.
Following a vision from the Lord, Micah condemned
this rebellious behavior and declared the judgment of God on Samaria.
6 “So I,
the Lord, will make the city of Samaria a heap of ruins.
Her streets will be plowed up for planting vineyards.
I will roll the stones of her walls into the valley below,
exposing her foundations.
7a All her carved images will be smashed.
All her sacred treasures will be burned. NLT
Ominously, the Lord promised to come, and it wasn’t
a social call!
3 Look!
The Lord is coming from his dwelling place;
he comes down and treads on the heights of the
earth.
4 The mountains melt beneath him and the valleys
split apart,
like wax before the fire, like water rushing down a slope. NIV
But the depths of depravity in Samaria weren’t restricted
by the city limits. Like the cities of America, Samaria was the center of
influence. As a result, Samaria’s rebellious behavior spread throughout the northern
kingdom into the southern kingdom and its capital of Jerusalem.
5 And why is this
happening?
Because of the rebellion of Israel—
yes, the sins of the whole nation.
Who is to blame for Israel’s rebellion?
Samaria, its capital city!
Where is the center of idolatry in Judah?
In Jerusalem, its capital! NLT
What can we learn from this? Sin is not static; it’s
dynamic. It’s like an addiction that grows progressively worse. It moves from
city to city, person to person and even within an individual. Like a cancer, it
lives to bring death.
Micah’s message is a warning for us today. Peter also
gave us some good advice regarding how to live and navigate in a sinful world.
Be alert and of
sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking
for someone to devour. NIV 1 Peter 5
Like Samaria, we as individuals are a center of
influence. We influence those people around us at home, work, school, the
grocery store, church – everywhere we go. So, will we be a center of influence like
Samaria, or like the light of the world that Jesus spoke of?
16 In the same way,
let your light shine before others, that they may see your good
deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. NIV Matthew
5
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