Today’s Reading: Micah & Nahum

God had made a covenant with His people but they had ignored their promises, forgetting His faithfulness. They put themselves on the throne where God was meant to reign. They used this covenant as an excuse to sin. They said, “No harm will come to us for the Lord is here among us” (3:11). God used Micah to call his people back to righteousness through a message of rebuke and a call to redemption.

GOD IS NOT OBLIGATED TO REWARD OUR SIN. HE CREATED US FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, NOT REBELLION.

“O my people, what have I done to you?
What have I done to make you tired of me? Answer me!
For I brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from slavery.
I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to help you.
Don’t you remember…” – Micah 6:3-5a

What can we bring to the Lord?
What kind of offerings should we give him?
Should we bow before God with offerings of yearling calves?
Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins?

No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he REQUIRES of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. – Micah 6:6-8

Micah’s message to God’s people included words of hope — words that held a promise for the future. This time of exile would not last forever, and Jerusalem would one day be strong again. And the Lord Himself would be king forever!

As for me, I look to the Lord for help.
I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me…
Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.
I will be patient as the Lord punishes me, for I have sinned against him. – Micah 7:7-9

It is extremely uncomfortable to be called out on an error and have to admit you were wrong. I have no problem apologizing but suffering the consequences of my mistakes or sins is miserable. To be surrounded by the mess I have made is a rough place to be. I am so thankful I serve a God who RESCUES and RESTORES me when I REPENT of my sins in true REMORSE.

I look to you for help, Oh Lord – my God will certainly hear me. When I am surrounded by darkness, the Lord is my light. I can survive the ruins because I am not alone. My God, you are with me on this path to redemption — this journey of grace. Thank you for being a loving God!

Where is another God like you,
who pardons the guilt of the remnant,
overlooking the sins of his special people?
You will not stay angry with your people forever,
because you delight in showing unfailing love.
Once again you will have compassion on us.
You will trample our sins under your feet
and throw them into the depths of the ocean!
You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love
as you promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago. – Micah 7:18-20

The people of Nineveh had repented of their sins after Jonah came to them, but they turned back to wickedness. The prophet Nahum declared God’s judgment on the city — the city that appeared to be beautiful, but was full of evil. Those who were oblivious to its wickedness were also naive to what God was capable of doing. Nahum’s prophecy against Judah’s enemy came at a good time — a time when they needed to hear that God is powerful, He is paying attention, and He will punish His enemies.

The Lord is good, a strong refuge when trouble comes. He is close to those who trust in him. But he will sweep away his enemies in an overwhelming flood. He will pursue his foes into the darkness of night. – Nahum 1:7-8

GOD IS NOT OBLIGATED TO REWARD OUR SIN. HE CREATED US FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, NOT REBELLION.

Scriptures like this convince me that God will someday put an end to the many industries leaving a path of destruction behind them, industries like pornography, sex-trafficking and abortion. They glamourize sin and collect their riches, but God sees that they are surrounded by those they have destroyed. He hears the cries of the men and women who have been deceived and lied to; he sees the wounds of those who have been abused and mistreated.

What sorrow awaits Nineveh, the city of murder and lies!
She is crammed with wealth and is never without victims.
Hear the crack of whips, the rumble of wheels!
Horses’ hooves pound, and charioteers charge past!
There are countless casualties, heaps of bodies – so many bodies that people stumble over them.
All this because Nineveh, the beautiful and faithless city, mistress of deadly charms, enticed the nations with her beauty.
She taught them all her magic, enchanting people everywhere.
“I am your enemy!” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
“And now I will lift your skirts and show all the earth your nakedness and shame.
I will cover you with filth and show the world how vile you really are.
All who see you will shrink back and say, ‘Nineveh lies in ruins. Where are the mourners?’
Does anyone regret your destruction?” – Nahum 3:1-7

Lord, we thank you for being a God of power — a God aware of the hurts, pains and injustices of this world. Lord, forgive our nation for allowing and promoting the death of those who cannot defend themselves. Strengthen us to protect those who are mistreated, and equip us to speak your truth to this lost and dying world. Expose evil empires that veil themselves as if to appear beautiful. May those who work in these industries see that you are the only true God and sincerely repent, finding forgiveness in our merciful God. Lord, break our hearts over what breaks yours and calm our troubled souls. Oh God, we trust in you for you are the God of love and the God of justice. Amen.