"Greetings in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for 26 April 2013, from Cindi, a Daughter of the King of King and Lord of lords."
Today's Blog Title: "The Coming Judgment of Israel"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Micah 1:1-16
Today's Blog Key Verse: Micah 1:3-4 "For behold, the LORD is coming out of 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 split, like wax before the fire, like waters poured down a steep place."
Micah means, "Who is like the Lord?" This question presents a major Biblical theme, the idea that God is incomparable. Micah's ministry centered on the Assyrian threat to Samaria, the capital of Israel that was destroyed in 722 B.C., and Jerusalem, the capital of Judah.
In verse 2, all the earth was to know that God was witnessing against His people. The announcement of judgment is based on the people's breach of the covenant. The faithlessness of the people provoked the "Lord God" to enter into a judicial dispute with them.
"The Lord is coming," is the language of epiphany, the dramatic coming of God to earth, here in a solemn procession of judgment. The expression "high places" is ironic. Jerusalem and Samaria were the "high places," or "evaluated capitals" of Judah and Israel; but "high places" were also sites of idolatrous worship.
"Jacob," in verse 5 is used to refer to the northern kingdom, Israel, whose "transgression" was centered in its capital Samaria. Judah's sins were centered in its capital Jerusalem. In this verse, the intent of the term "high places," is made plain. Jerusalem, which was once "beautiful in elevation," was nothing more than another platform of pagan worship, like the "high places" of the Canaanites.
God's judicial decision was to destroy Samaria so thoroughly that it would be a place fit only for vineyards among the rubble. Idolatry is often described in the Hebrew Bible as spiritual adultery. Israel is pictured as a wife who is unfaithful to her husband.
Micah's immediate response to God's message was an overwhelming sense of dread. Micah's words in verse 8, describe mourning rites in which the outer garments were laid aside in deep humility The mourning person thought no longer about himself but the calamity that had overcome his senses.
The name "Shaphir" in verse 11 means, "Beautiful." Ironically, its inhabitants would be shamed by their nakedness. The name "Zaanan," speaks of "sheep" who "go out on their own." However, this would be longer the case for the citizens of Zaanan, who would no longer go out because of their fear.
"Maroth" in verse means "Bitterness." The name "Jerusalem" suggests "Peace." Thus the inhabitants of the town of "bitterness" would be sickened with dread and the inhabitants of the town of peace would experience God's judgment.
In verse 13, Lachish, the famous guard city to Jerusalem was judged as being among the first places in Judah to adopt the sins of Baal worship. The words "heir" and "the glory of Israel" might lead one to assume that this is a messianic verse, a promise of hope in the midst of despair, yet in verse 16, the context is judgment. The point here may be that the situation would be so bad that the proper heir and glory of the nation, the members of the royal family, would have to flee in terror to remote hiding places.
In verse 16, in a culture in which a man's hair was highly valued, to "cut off" one's "hair" was the ultimate sign of mourning.
Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. ALWAYS remember, that when you have a spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, or financial dilemma in your life, and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD WHISPERS to you, "BUT I CAN."
Click on this link www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for a Scripture Reading from Romans 8:38-39.
Jesus Reigns, and He Is, Has Been, and ALWAYS Will Be, In Complete and Total Control!!!
Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi
Today's Blog Title: "The Coming Judgment of Israel"
Today's Blog Scripture Reading: Micah 1:1-16
Today's Blog Key Verse: Micah 1:3-4 "For behold, the LORD is coming out of 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 split, like wax before the fire, like waters poured down a steep place."
Micah means, "Who is like the Lord?" This question presents a major Biblical theme, the idea that God is incomparable. Micah's ministry centered on the Assyrian threat to Samaria, the capital of Israel that was destroyed in 722 B.C., and Jerusalem, the capital of Judah.
In verse 2, all the earth was to know that God was witnessing against His people. The announcement of judgment is based on the people's breach of the covenant. The faithlessness of the people provoked the "Lord God" to enter into a judicial dispute with them.
"The Lord is coming," is the language of epiphany, the dramatic coming of God to earth, here in a solemn procession of judgment. The expression "high places" is ironic. Jerusalem and Samaria were the "high places," or "evaluated capitals" of Judah and Israel; but "high places" were also sites of idolatrous worship.
"Jacob," in verse 5 is used to refer to the northern kingdom, Israel, whose "transgression" was centered in its capital Samaria. Judah's sins were centered in its capital Jerusalem. In this verse, the intent of the term "high places," is made plain. Jerusalem, which was once "beautiful in elevation," was nothing more than another platform of pagan worship, like the "high places" of the Canaanites.
God's judicial decision was to destroy Samaria so thoroughly that it would be a place fit only for vineyards among the rubble. Idolatry is often described in the Hebrew Bible as spiritual adultery. Israel is pictured as a wife who is unfaithful to her husband.
Micah's immediate response to God's message was an overwhelming sense of dread. Micah's words in verse 8, describe mourning rites in which the outer garments were laid aside in deep humility The mourning person thought no longer about himself but the calamity that had overcome his senses.
The name "Shaphir" in verse 11 means, "Beautiful." Ironically, its inhabitants would be shamed by their nakedness. The name "Zaanan," speaks of "sheep" who "go out on their own." However, this would be longer the case for the citizens of Zaanan, who would no longer go out because of their fear.
"Maroth" in verse means "Bitterness." The name "Jerusalem" suggests "Peace." Thus the inhabitants of the town of "bitterness" would be sickened with dread and the inhabitants of the town of peace would experience God's judgment.
In verse 13, Lachish, the famous guard city to Jerusalem was judged as being among the first places in Judah to adopt the sins of Baal worship. The words "heir" and "the glory of Israel" might lead one to assume that this is a messianic verse, a promise of hope in the midst of despair, yet in verse 16, the context is judgment. The point here may be that the situation would be so bad that the proper heir and glory of the nation, the members of the royal family, would have to flee in terror to remote hiding places.
In verse 16, in a culture in which a man's hair was highly valued, to "cut off" one's "hair" was the ultimate sign of mourning.
Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace and Serve the Lord our God with Gladness. Love God More Today. ALWAYS remember, that when you have a spiritual, emotional, relational, physical, or financial dilemma in your life, and you yell out, "I CAN'T," GOD WHISPERS to you, "BUT I CAN."
Click on this link www.cindi-davis.blogspot.com for a Scripture Reading from Romans 8:38-39.
Jesus Reigns, and He Is, Has Been, and ALWAYS Will Be, In Complete and Total Control!!!
Your Sister in Christ,
Cindi
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