Micah 6 & 7

Why so much gloom and doom?

• Imagine being part of the audience when this message from God, through Micah, was being received.

• What would you think? How would you react?

Open discussion

• Chapter 6 starts off by again letting Israel know what lies ahead for them because of their sin against God.

• But , as so often God does, He reminds them of the past blessings and protection He provided.

1. Deliverance from slavery in Egypt.

2. He lists 3 very godly leaders that HE gave them. Those leaders exemplify God's love and power.

3. He reminds them of evil King Balak and his plan to destroy Israel using the sorcerer Balaam. (They were fully aware of the account of Balaams donkey).

4. The reminder of their journey from Shittam (the wilderness)to Gilgal (the promised land) and how God's hand of protection was displayed miraculously.

Micah 6:1-3

[1] Listen to what the LORD says: “Stand up, plead my case before the mountains; let the hills hear what you have to say. [2] “Hear, you mountains, the Lord's accusation; listen, you everlasting foundations of the earth. For the Lord has a case against his people; he is lodging a charge against Israel.

• This beginning is an actual reference to a trial in court.

• The main witnesses are the MOUNTAINS and the HILLS and the FOUNDATIONS OF THE EARTH!!!

Psalm 19:1-4

1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. [2] Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. [3] They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. [4] Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

Isaiah 55:12

[12] You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands

Romans 1:20

[20]For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen by what was made: so that people are without excuse!

• Israel understands that all things are created by God.

• So, He uses creation as a witness against them.

• Where can you go to escape creation?

• Creation sees everything we do.

• What a great witness to use.

• This is an easy case for the prosecuting attorney to prove guilt.

Micah 6: 6 - 8

• An important question here is presented to Israel.

• What kind of sacrifices have they made that will please God and fix the situation they have gotten themselves into?

• Even though these sacrifices were part of the LAW, the underlying sin is not being covered by them.

• God's answer:

Micah 6:8

[8] He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly a with your God.

Comment: All the rules in the world won't / can't help us to meet the most important desire of God.

1. Act justly. (Treat people with repect and love)!

2. Love mercy. (Be forgiving)!

3. Walk humbly with God. ( Get rid of PRIDE )!

• Micah 6 verses 9 through 16 are the result of sin.

• God's way of dealing with it.

Now on to Micah chapter 7.

Micah 7:1 -6

• This is God's way of putting the undeniable TRUTH right out in front.

• Remember the "witnesses"?

• Can't get away with ANYTHING!

Verse 7 is God's way of consoling Israel and giving them HOPE!

Micah 7:7

[7] But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.

Micah 7:8 -13

• God describes the actual outcome of His case against Israel.

• Israel will, once again, become a world power.

• Then the world will see and understand what God's intentions are.

• This is an excellent portrayal of God's LOVE, FORGIVENESS AND SALVATION.

•

Micah 7:14-20 NIV

[14] Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your inheritance, which lives by itself in a forest, in fertile pasturelands. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead as in days long ago. [15] “As in the days when you came out of Egypt, I will show them my wonders. ” [16] Nations will see and be ashamed, deprived of all their power. They will put their hands over their mouths and their ears will become deaf. [17] They will lick dust like a snake, like creatures that crawl on the ground. They will come trembling out of their dens; they will turn in fear to the Lord our God and will be afraid of you. [18] Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. [19] You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. [20] You will be faithful to Jacob, and show love to Abraham, as you pledged on oath to our ancestors in days long ago.

• Let's finish with God's plan for salvation.

• Our hope!!

[18] Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.

• PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!!!