Warnings - Micah 1 (Week 1, Post 2)

This little book of prophetic message was written by the man, Micah.  His name means "who is like Jehovah" and with his very name gives testimony to the exalted position and person of Jehovah God.  We don't know anything about the man other than he came from the town of Moresheth and was a contemporary of Isaiah.  How those two men must have encouraged each other as both gave sober messages to the countries of Judah and Israel. 

Those of us living on the Gulf coast of Texas are very familiar with hurricane warnings.  And we are grateful for them.  Those of you in West Texas and Oklahoma know well tornado warnings.  I also have read about the peoples in London and St Petersburg during World War 2 - the sirens that gave warning of coming bombers and the rush for the shelters.  Those warning systems were and are a wonderful thing - something for which to be very grateful.  The warnings we will be reading in this book are also a source for gratitude!  Through them we better know and understand the God of the universe.  I pray that you will approach your reading with that in mind. 

Stop now and read Micah 1.

The message begins with the exhortation to "hear".  Who should hear?  Certainly Samaria (capital of Israel).  Certainly Jerusalem (capital of Judah).  But don't overlook verse 2 - "Hear, O peoples, all of you".  That includes you and me.  Will we hear?  Will we listen?  That remains to be seen!

The poetry indicates a scene similar to a courtroom scene.  It seems that God is coming down to bring His case against His people.  He is going to explain why judgment must come.  And He begins with the sin of idolatry.  High places are the places in the ancient world where altars and poles were set up to worship and sacrifice to idols.  Micah tells the people that God observes the way they have turned Jerusalem, even Jerusalem, into a "high place".  Judgment is coming.

It is so easy to relegate idolatry to the ancient world - to Bible times and Bible people.  But it is such a relevant and contemporary issue!  I have to deal with it ... so do you.  Warren Wiersbe says, "What we serve and sacrifice for is the thing that we worship."  Try to honestly answer these questions:

          1.  What do I 'serve'? 
          2.  What am I willing to sacrifice for?  Have I ever 'sacrificed' for anything? 
          3.  What do I place the highest value on in my own life? 

Remember ... warnings are designed to save and protect!  And the warning siren from Micah is that Jehovah God will not tolerate idolatry forever.  There will come a time of judgment.  Micah's voice cries out to us through the centuries pleading for our hearts, too, to return to the God of the universe.  Jerusalem's "wound" had become incurable (verse 9).  Oh, that we will "hear" while our wounds of idolatry can be healed! 

John Oxenham (1861 - 1941) penned this prayer ...

Better in bitterest agony to lie,

Before Thy throne,

Than through much increase to be lifed up on high,

And stand alone.

Yet best - the need that broke me at Thy feet,

In voiceless prayer,

And cast my chastened heart, a sacrifice complete,

Upon Thy care.

Go to God right now ... identify and confess the idolatry that grips your heart as I do my own ... and cast your chastened heart into the hands of our gracious God!

Lord ... show me ...