Saturday, April 20, 2013

Bible Scripture Reading

"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 20 April 2013, from Cindi, a Daughter of the King of kings, and Lord of lords."

Today's Blog Title: "Introduction into the Book of Micah"

Today, we will begin with an Introduction to the 5th Book of the Minor prophets, the Book of Micah.  Old Testament Prophets are often thought of as providing not much more than "doom and gloom" predictions, but the Book of Micah presents an impassioned and artistic interplay between oracles of impending judgment and promises of future blessing on Israel and Judah, for the peoples of both nations had broken covenant with God.  Through His messenger Micah, God confronted His people, but He also promised to bring future blessing through the One who would be coming.  This One would be the true Shepherd of God's flock. 

Much of Micah's prophecy is very severe in tone, though it does contain much beauty similar to that of Isaiah.  In many ways the Book of Micah is a "sister-book" to Isaiah.  It has been called "Isaiah in shorthand."  The theme of the prophecy is sin, judgment, and restoration.  This can be seen by the fact that the book consists of three discourses, each of which sets forth: the sins of the people (2) God's Judgment and (3) God's ultimate restoration of His sinning people.

The author of this prophecy is identified as "Micah the Morasthite."  He was a native of Moresheth-gath in Judah where he prophesied against his own city which did not help in his popularity with the local population.  Micah's name means, "Who is like Yahweh?"   In Chapter 7, verse 8, he apparently plays upon the meaning of his name as he asks the question, "Who is a God unto Thee, that pardons iniquity, and passes by the transgression?"

The purpose of the Book of Micah, and his prophecy, is to face the people with their sins and to speak the word of God's judgment that must fall because of their persistent sinning.  Micah completes the purpose of his book by ending each discourse with a word about restoration.  Micah pictures the restoration in two phases: (1) immediately, after the Babylonian captivity and (2) ultimately, at the Millennium.

The key Themes in the Book of Micah are:

Social Sins (Micah 2:2; 3:1-3, 9-12; 6:8): God cannot tolerate corruption in society or in individuals.

The Promised Ruler (Micah 5:1-5): A king to be born in Bethlehem will rule Israel's future kingdom.

God's Moral Requirements (Micah 6:8): Perhaps the Old Testament's simplest, clearest statement of God's expectations of a believer.

Israel's Ultimate Restoration (Micah 7:8-20): A fresh vision of the coming day when God will personally Shepherd His people and exalt them.

The theological Outline of Micah is:

JUDGMENT: Chapters 1-2
PURIFICATION: Chapters 3-5
VICTORY: Chapters 6-7

The Prophet Micah is remembered more for his stunning prediction of the birth of Jesus, and his warm and positive description of a live lived in fellowship with God.  So sit back and get ready for an interesting study into the Book of Micah.

Click on this link at www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for a Bible Verse Writing from Philippians 4:6-7.


Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. ALWAYS remember, that when you have a spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, or financial dilemma in your live, and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD WHISPERS to you, "BUT I CAN."

Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi

 

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