Micah ~ "Who is like Jehovah?"

After a restful and adventurous few days off for our anniversary, I am excited to get back to the grind and into our series looking at the prophet Micah.

Micah or "Micaiah" a prophet in the days of Jotham and Hezekiah brought his message to the people of Judah at the same time our previous prophets of Amos and Hosea were preaching to the northern kingdom of Israel. 

Micah was a reformer, he foresaw the coming judgment of Israel and was encouraging the Jews to return to the faithful worship of God and sincere obedience to his covenant but he like the prophets in the north was largely ignored. 

In chapters 3-5 which we will delve into this weekend, we see Micah's second message in the book. In these chapters, Micah rebukes not just the leaders of the church but the leaders in the community exploiting the poor. Following that rebuke though Micah offers the people hope in a series of promises. We see a Promised Kingdom (4:1-8); a Promised Deliverance (4:9-10); a Promised Conquest (4:11-13); and a Promised King ( 5:1-5). 

These promises are achieved via a purging of the nation. A purging seems painful but is necessary. Why? Because for us to walk rightly with, we need to have a personal purging, we need to be cleansed of all unrighteousness so that we can be pure before the Lord and ready for his return. The only one who can bring this purge about is the Lord himself. 

Just some food for thought as we prepare for church tomorrow!