Read Micah 1:2–9
Questions from the Scripture text: Whom do Micah 1:2a–b command to do what? Who is going to do what against them (verse 2c)? From where (verse 2d)? Who is coming from where (Micah 1:3a)? To where (verse 3b)? To do what (verse 3c)? With what effect (Micah 1:4)? On account of what (Micah 1:5a–b)? Who are their transgressions and idolatries (verse 5c–f)? What will the Lord do to Samaria (Micah 1:6)? And to their religion (Micah 1:7)? How will Micah respond (Micah 1:8)? Why—what has happened (Micah 1:9a–b) to whom (verse 9c–d)?
What is it like to meet God? Micah 1:2–9 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that meeting God, apart from Christ, is dreadful and grievous prospect.
Micah 1:2-7 find us in a courtroom in which YHWH is Witness (Micah 1:2), Prosecution (Micah 1:3-4), Judge (Micah 1:5), and Executioner (Micah 1:6-7). When all the peoples are summoned to hear God’s testimony (Micah 1:2), and God Himself comes down both to witness and judge (Micah 1:3) things take a terrifying turn. When the creature comes into contact with the Creator, the creature is overwhelmed and undone (Micah 1:4); the mountains melt and run down into a puddle! God is not safe, and man must not take Him so lightly as to consider meeting Him in any other way than in union with Christ.
What brings the Lord down in this way? His focus is especially upon the sins of His people (Micah 1:5). The church tends to think of the judgment of God as something that will fall upon everyone else, but judgment begins at the household of God (cf. 1 Peter 4:17) as a warning to all (cf. 1 Peter 4:18).
Israel and Judah have rebelled against God to the extent that their capital cities are not only centers of their nations but centers of sin. “What” in Micah 1:5 is literally “who.” The problem is not merely that they have committed many sins, but that transgression and idolatry have even become their national identity.
Therefore, the judgment on the northern kingdom also centers upon the capital city of Samaria (Micah 1:6). This literally took place at the hands of the Assyrians at first, and as completed by the Babylonians. They had committed spiritual harlotry with false gods, but the city and all its religion will be destroyed. All that they have will end up in the pockets of immoral invaders who spend it on actual harlots (Micah 1:7).
Micah’s mourning over this is more intense than most in our culture have ever experienced or observed (Micah 1:8). The judgment is not only against the capital of the north, but against Jerusalem as well (Micah 1:9). And this prophet weeps over her judgment, even as the Great Prophet would weep one day (cf. Matthew 23:37–39; Luke 19:41–44).
How seriously do you take the coming visitation of God in judgment? How urgently do you feel the necessity of meeting Him only in union with Christ and clothed in His righteousness? How intensely do you grieve over the sins of the churches?
Sample prayer: Lord, forgive us for how lightly we have taken You, how lightly we have taken our sin against You, and how lightly we have taken Your judgment against our sin. Forgive us for neglecting how the sins of Your church are more provoking than the sins of the world. Forgive us for failing to grieve over the sins of the churches, as Micah did, and as Christ did after him. Blot out our sin by the sacrifice of Christ, and count us righteous in Him, we ask in His Name, AMEN!
Suggested Songs: ARP51A “God, Be Merciful to Me” or TPH79A “God, the Nations Have Invaded”
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