6 “Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of rubble, a place for planting vineyards.
I will pour her stones into the valley and lay bare her foundations.
7 All her idols will be broken to pieces; all her temple gifts will be burned with fire;
I will destroy all her images. Since she gathered her gifts from the wages of prostitutes,
as the wages of prostitutes they will again be used.”
8 Because of this I will weep and wail; I will go about barefoot and naked.
I will howl like a jackal and moan like an owl.
9 For Samaria’s plague is incurable; it has spread to Judah.
It has reached the very gate of my people, even to Jerusalem itself.
10 Tell it not in Gath; weep not at all. In Beth Ophrah roll in the dust.
11 Pass by naked and in shame, you who live in Shaphir.
Those who live in Zaanan will not come out. Beth Ezel is in mourning; it no longer protects you.
12 Those who live in Maroth writhe in pain, waiting for relief, because disaster has come from the LORD, even to the gate of Jerusalem.
13 You who live in Lachish, harness fast horses to the chariot. You are where the sin of Daughter Zion began, for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.
14 Therefore you will give parting gifts to Moresheth Gath. The town of Akzib will prove deceptive
to the kings of Israel. I will bring a conqueror against you who live in Mareshah.
The nobles of Israel will flee to Adullam. 16 Shave your head in mourning for the children in whom you delight; make yourself as bald as the vulture, for they will go from you into exile.
(King Louis' defeat. Though France was the enemy of England, the defeat of the French king meant danger for their own English government)
Thoughts: The people of God are sick. They had an incurable, terminal disease. The ones who are supposed to have the true faith had lost heart and faith. Micah probably walked through the streets of Jerusalem weeping, wailing, barefoot, and with only a loincloth on. Samaria was not the only town affected by this prophecy of destruction (fulfilled by the Assyrians 722 BC). The towns between the Mediterranean and the mountains were also destroyed, and could not rejoice in Samaria's destruction. It would be almost like one denomination today rejoicing that another denomination is having problems. As people in the south were dependent on a strong Samaria- so one Christian denomination is dependent on the health of another. When one denomination or church goes astray, all should weep and wail as did the prophet Micah. When one person falls away, that too effects us all.
Prayer: Lord, continue to pour your healing hand on your church in our land. Do not let us waste away.
John Calvin Abridged: Micah's purpose was to speak to the people of Judah, but he speaks passingly of the destruction of Israel. They are judged because of their corrupt worship. We should learn from this that God desires pure and unsuperstitious worship, according to his rules- not ours. Samaria's idols and wealth would be destroyed. The Lord sets a curse on riches gained ina base way.
I will pour her stones into the valley and lay bare her foundations.
7 All her idols will be broken to pieces; all her temple gifts will be burned with fire;
I will destroy all her images. Since she gathered her gifts from the wages of prostitutes,
as the wages of prostitutes they will again be used.”
8 Because of this I will weep and wail; I will go about barefoot and naked.
I will howl like a jackal and moan like an owl.
9 For Samaria’s plague is incurable; it has spread to Judah.
It has reached the very gate of my people, even to Jerusalem itself.
10 Tell it not in Gath; weep not at all. In Beth Ophrah roll in the dust.
11 Pass by naked and in shame, you who live in Shaphir.
Those who live in Zaanan will not come out. Beth Ezel is in mourning; it no longer protects you.
12 Those who live in Maroth writhe in pain, waiting for relief, because disaster has come from the LORD, even to the gate of Jerusalem.
13 You who live in Lachish, harness fast horses to the chariot. You are where the sin of Daughter Zion began, for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.
14 Therefore you will give parting gifts to Moresheth Gath. The town of Akzib will prove deceptive
to the kings of Israel. I will bring a conqueror against you who live in Mareshah.
The nobles of Israel will flee to Adullam. 16 Shave your head in mourning for the children in whom you delight; make yourself as bald as the vulture, for they will go from you into exile.
(King Louis' defeat. Though France was the enemy of England, the defeat of the French king meant danger for their own English government)Thoughts: The people of God are sick. They had an incurable, terminal disease. The ones who are supposed to have the true faith had lost heart and faith. Micah probably walked through the streets of Jerusalem weeping, wailing, barefoot, and with only a loincloth on. Samaria was not the only town affected by this prophecy of destruction (fulfilled by the Assyrians 722 BC). The towns between the Mediterranean and the mountains were also destroyed, and could not rejoice in Samaria's destruction. It would be almost like one denomination today rejoicing that another denomination is having problems. As people in the south were dependent on a strong Samaria- so one Christian denomination is dependent on the health of another. When one denomination or church goes astray, all should weep and wail as did the prophet Micah. When one person falls away, that too effects us all.
Prayer: Lord, continue to pour your healing hand on your church in our land. Do not let us waste away.
John Calvin Abridged: Micah's purpose was to speak to the people of Judah, but he speaks passingly of the destruction of Israel. They are judged because of their corrupt worship. We should learn from this that God desires pure and unsuperstitious worship, according to his rules- not ours. Samaria's idols and wealth would be destroyed. The Lord sets a curse on riches gained ina base way.
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