MICAH

The following comments are from Navigator's and Quiet Time Diary journals. One verse will be entered, then the comment, then the date.

1:3    Look! The Lord is coming from his dwelling place; he comes down and treads the high places of the earth. 

    This prophecy had to be about Jesus. He came down from heaven to be with us for a short time. He literally tread on high places - Jerusalem is a city on top of a ridge. (DRM 6/10/89)

2:11    If a liar and deceiver comes and says, 'I will prophesy for you plenty of wine and beer,' he would be just the prophet for this people!

    Again we hear about false prophets and people who speak only about "good things" and "happy times" like wine and beer would be. Thank God that He saved me! (DRM 6/10/89)

3:8    But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin. 

    This is a great reply to me comments above! (Micah 2:11) When we accept Christ as our personal savior we are filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. But we must continue. . . (DRM 6/10/89)

4:1    And it will come about in the last days
         That the mountain of the house of the LORD
         Will be established as the chief of the mountains
         It will be raised about the hills,
         And the peoples will stream to it.

    It's inevitable, the day will come. The peace agreement will be signed and the Jews will be able to build their temple in Jerusalem on the holy mountain.
    When the temple is completed, everyone will want to see it for it will be so well known. It's popularity will cause it to be "raised up" more than the level of the land.
    As Christians, we should be looking forward to this construction - as we know that it will be a great sign that Jesus will be back VERY soon to reign there (v. 7). (DRM 8/20/17)

4:3    He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. 

    This verse is on the side of the United Nations in New York. But is this verse for this world, or the next? I believe now that it is for the next. The NEW earth will not see war. (DRM 6/10/89)

4:4    Each of them will sit under his vine
         And under his fig tree,
         With no one to make them afraid,
         For the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.

    Jonah sat under a vine, (plant) and watched Nineveh (Jonah 4:6) and here Micah prophesizes that each of us will be given shade in the future by the Lord. The fig tree always represents Israel. We will not be afraid because Jesus will be our Leader.
    This is one more reason to look forward to Heaven and the New Jerusalem. (DRM 8/26/10)

4:5    Though all the peoples walk 
        Each in the name of his god,
        As for us, we will walk 
        In the name of the LORD our God forever and ever. 

    Micah knew [God told him] that in the last days there would be many religions and gods that people would follow. Everyone seems to be following "something" even if not in church. But true believers are followers [walk] of the Lord Jesus and will follow Him forever. (DRM 8/26/04)

5:2    But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.

    This Old Testament prophet certainly had all the facts! As Christmas approaches, it now becomes more clear to me how Christ's birth was really prophesized in olden times and these prophesies give even more reason to believe that Jesus was the ruler that they knew was coming. (DRM 12/19/86)

5:4    And He will arise and shepherd His flock
         In the strength of the LORD,
         In the majesty of the name of the LORD His God.
         And they will remain,
         Because at that time He will be great
         To the ends of the earth.

    At this time of the year Micah 5:2 is quoted as it prophesizes that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem.
    This verse also clearly refers to Jesus - but He did not do these things when He was on earth 2,000 years ago. This refers to His second coming, the event we, as Christians, are looking for today.
    In that day, He will shepherd His flock, He will direct people to God, and He will be great to the ends of the earth.
    Like a child at Christmas, the anticipation is in us as His followers . . . Someday soon. . .  (DRM 12/3/17)

6:3, 4    "My people, what have I done to you,
             And how have I wearied you? Answer Me.
            ⁴Indeed, I brought you up from the land of Egypt
             And ransomed you from the house of slavery,
             And I sent before you Moses, Aaron and Miriam."

    God could ask us the same question today. . . not only to the Israelites, but all people on earth.
    Why won't they worship Him? Look at His past performance. The exodus is only one example. The creation of the universe is bigger than anything and still people don't worship Him.
    Since people ignore Him, why should He allow them into His Heaven? It all makes sense to me. People who don't worship Him today have to worship Him tomorrow or their eternal future will be without Him forever. (DRM 1/3/14)

6:6    With what shall I come to the LORD
         And bow myself, before the God on high?
         Shall I come to Him with burnt offerings,
         With yearling calves?

    Verses six and seven ask what God wants of His people and verse eight gives the response.
    The question is somewhat related to honor and worship. Is bowing enough? Does He want calves or other animals to be sacrificed for my sins? What is enough to satisfy - show my devotion to Him? (DRM 8/27/10)

6:7    Does the LORD take delight in thousands of rams,
         In ten thousand rivers of oil?
         Shall I present my firstborn for my rebellious acts,
         The fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

    In the sacrificial system, every time someone knew they sinned, they had to bring an animal or other type of offering to the temple.
    While I don't know when Micah wrote this, he openly questioned the system by this time and wanted to know if this was truly God's desire.
    Soon after Jesus left earth (resurrected), the sacrificial system ended with the destruction of the temple in A.D. 70.
    Jesus took away the need for this system by His dying for our sins. (DRM 3/9/12)

    Let Micah 6 be a reminder that grace is free and that faithful living is our grateful response. — Randy Kilgore, Our Daily Bread, 3/9/12

6:8    He has told you, O man, what is good; 
        And what does the LORD require of you, 
        But to do justice, to love kindness, 
        And to walk humbly with your God? 

    Some Israelites of Micah's day were like the believers of today . . . we want to know how best to serve the Lord. This verse is a simplified answer. Since we don't give animal sacrifices (verse 7), He wants us to love our neighbors as ourselves and to be humble and honor Him. (DRM 8/27/04)

7:2    The godly have been swept from the land; not one upright man remains. All men lie in wait to shed blood; each hunts his brother with a net.

    This verse makes me think of the "rapture" of the church. The godly will be gone and the antichrist will rule. Men will be hiding, while others are hunting them out. (DRM 6/10/89)

7:7    But as for me, I will watch expectantly for the LORD;
        I will wait for the God of my salvation.
        My God will hear me.

    Micah and I totally agree on this verse - and it's so clear! The enemy is the darkness [verse 8] but the Lord is the Light. As I wait for the Lord's arrival in some form, my job is to tell others of His love for them. As I pray, I know God hears me - and I try to listen to His direction. (DRM 8/28/04)

7:8    Do not rejoice over me,
         O my enemy.
         Though I fall I will rise;
         Though I dwell in darkness,
             the LORD is a light for me.

    This verse is encouraging to me today. No matter what my enemies may do to me, I still have my Rock to lean on. He knows all that has happened and will bring me through the storm.
    The enemy may celebrate/rejoice over their temporary success but I/we know Who will win in the end.
    Looking further ahead, even at life's end, as Christians we know that the best days of all are coming - eternity with the Lord Jesus. (DRM 5/28/14)

7:17    [the Nations] They will lick the dust like a serpent,
            Like reptiles of the earth.
            They will come trembling out of their fortresses;
            To the LORD our God they will come in dread
            And they will be afraid before You.