Micah 5:1-7:20 ~ Revelation 7:1-17 ~ Psalm 135:1-21 ~ Proverbs 30:5-6
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Old Testament - Okay, we get an amazing few verses in Micah today, which are perfect for the Christmas Advent season we are in! Keep in mind that these verses were written 700 years before the birth of Jesus. Micah was the Old Testament prophet who prophesied that the Messiah, Jesus, would be born in Bethlehem. Reading these verses In Micah chapter 5 verses 2 through 5 gives me the chills... "But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village in Judah. Yet a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past. The people of Israel will be abandoned to their enemies until the time when the woman in labor gives birth to her son. Then at last his fellow countrymen will return from exile to their own land. And he will stand to lead his flock with the LORD's strength, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. Then his people will live there undisturbed, for he will be highly honored all around the world. And he will be the source of our peace." Wow... I love it! Please read these verses again. Perfect for the Christmas season!
Okay, since we are talking the birth of Jesus here, hope you don't mind I throw out a few verses from he Gospel of Matthew - where the chief priests tell Herod about the location of the birth of Jesus based on the verses above from Micah. I usually don't like to bombard you with too many / too long of verses here in this blog, but this is too beautiful - the tie in from the Old Testament to the New. From Matthew chapter 2 verses 1 through 6: "After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.” When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'"
In Micah chapter 6 verse 8 I read a commentary that the following verse is the "most memorable statement in the OT defining a proper relationship to God". Here it is: "No, O people, the LORD has already told you what is good, and this is what he requires: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." Not a very big and complicated list, eh? Do what is right. Love mercy. And walk humbly with God. How are you doing on these things?
Micah chapter 7 verse 7 definitely stood out to me in today's readings: "As for me, I look to the LORD for his help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me." I love the confidence and surety of this verse from Micah. Where do you look for your help? Will you wait confidently for God to save you? Do you believe that God will certainly hear you?
New Testament - Revelation chapter 7 verse 3 in today's reading tells us: "Wait! Don't hurt the land or the sea or the trees until we have placed the seal of God on the foreheads of his servants." Commentaries suggest that the seal represents the name of God being stamped on the foreheads of his followers - to protect them from the coming judgments. This imagery is very similar to Ezekiel 9:4 - ""Go throughout the city of Jerusalem and put a mark on the foreheads of those who grieve and lament over all the detestable things that are done in it."
To order prints visit her "Revelation Illustrated" site.
Verse 4 tells us: "And I heard how many were marked with the seal of God. There were 144,000 who were sealed from all the tribes of Israel." Some interpret this to mean 144,000 descendents of the actual Jewish tribes during the time of tribulation. Others interpret this passage to be symbolic of all the faithful believers who live during the time of tribulation.
To order prints visit her "Revelation Illustrated" site.
Verses 5 through 8 are interesting in that Judah is listed first, which is unusual. When the twelve tribes of Israel are listed usually Reuben, his older brother, is listed first. The thought here is that since Jesus and David came from the tribe of Judah, that is why it is listed first. Also, the tribe of Dan is not listed - which may be because Dan had some idolatry issues in Judges 18:30. Instead, Manasseh, one of Joseph's son's is listed - along with Joseph.
Verse 12 is very powerful in that it has 7 attributes of God: "Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever and forever." Will you attribute to God - Blessing? Glory? Wisdom? Thanksgiving? Honor? Power? Strength? Forever....? Has anyone read A.W. Tozer's book "The Attributes of God"? I haven't, but it sounds intriguing.
Psalms - Today in Psalm 135 verse 3 we will read this very simple, yet profound verse – “Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.” The words I want to focus in on here are “the Lord is good.” Do you believe this to be true? Do you really – in your heart – believe that God is good? I think this is important for us to really meditate upon. I’m afraid sometimes we get into our minds that maybe God is not always good. Maybe we start to think that God is out to get us. Or out to trick us. Really isn’t looking out for us. Doesn’t really like us. Doesn’t really love us. These are all of course lies that come into our mind from the Enemy, the Destroyer. God is obviously good. So good. All of the time. And maybe sometimes we really need to remind ourselves of this. Even in the midst of challenges and struggles and addictions and hardships – God is good. God is there with us. God is leading us – and maybe even taking us through a hardship to bring us to the Promised Land on the other side. Our human minds will often not understand God’s ways. But, I think for us to always remember that God is good is so important for our continuing growth in our relationship with God. So, again, do you believe the words of this Psalmist? Do you believe that God is good?
Proverbs - Proverbs 30 verse 5 is a strong teaching today" "Every word of God proves true. He defends all who come to him for protection." Do you believe that every word of God proves true? Does the Bible prove to be true? Do you believe that God will defend you if you come to him for protection? Do you believe that reading and studying and memorizing the word of God can provide spiritual protection for you?
YouTube - Today's readings in Micah remind me of the song "O Come Emmanuel." Here is a great version of this song with some beautiful artwork from numerous cultures all over the world:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBfPnUZh-Bc
Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture this week: "He has shown all you people what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8 (TNIV)
Comments from you: What verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings? Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!
God bless,
Mike
I would like to share with you my personal thoughts on Revelation 7. Please keep in mind that there are many different interpretations of this chapter, none will be proven right or wrong until after the prophecy is fulfilled and by then all that will really matter is that the prophecy was fulfilled. I’m not a prophet and I don’t prophesy. I am but a simple person who loves the Lord and this is the way the Lord has explained this chapter to me personally so that I am comfortable and at peace with His word.
Revelation 7 talks about two groups that will have a special place in Heaven because they accepted Christ as their Savior during the Tribulation period, the most horrible time in the history of our world.
GROUP ONE – The 144,000 Jewish descendents that recognized, accepted and evangelized Jesus Christ as THE one and only true Messiah that was prophesized in the OT scriptures written hundreds of years prior to the birth of Christ. Scattered throughout the OT are prophecies that relate to everything that will take place from the birth of Christ, through the years of the church (our present time), through the period of the seven years of Tribulation, through the Second Coming of Christ and the Millennium when Christ will rule here on this earth for 1000 years, to the final destruction and creation of a brand new and eternal heaven and earth. The 144,000 were God’s OT “experts” who knew and could prove through application of the OT scriptures how Christ fulfilled the total and exact prophecy of the Messiah and would continue to fulfill the prophecy forever and forever. They were sealed because they were God’s authorities and teachers on the OT scriptures of prophecy and could answer any questions relative to those scriptures presented by people living during the Tribulation period. When someone accepts Christ as his or her Savior, it is achieved both emotionally and logically. People who accepted Christ during the Tribulation period had to be totally and solidly grounded in their faith both emotionally and logically because they would face persecution for their faith that was greater than any ever known to mankind. They would be grounded emotionally through the words of Christ and words about Christ presented in the NT books of Matthew through Revelation, and these 144,000 Jewish decendents would provide them with the information that was needed to logically accept Christ and all that was happening here on earth during that time. God will provide a special place in Heaven for these sealed chosen ones.
GROUP TWO – The multitude too numerous to number are those who accepted and came to Christ during the Tribulation. They were just common folks of that day whose faith was uncommon. It is hard for me to even imagine what a Christian would have to endure living under the reign of the antichrist. They would live on an earth disheveled by horrible natural disasters, they would face extreme torture and death because they deny the antichrist and stand firm in their belief in Christ, they would be restricted from buying or selling anything, and they would be stripped of all the earthly comforts that we take for granted. Multitudes will take and make their stand for God during the most horrendous of all times and Christ will provide them with a special place in Heaven for all they had to endure.
Proverbs 30:5-6 (NIV) "Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.” I think these words are so important today in distinguishing between a true Christian church and a sect just based on some of the principles of Christ. A true Christian church needs nothing more than the Bible on which to base it’s teachings and a Christian needs none other than the Bible on which to base their faith. Some sects will take the Bible and change it by omitting phrases as “only begotten son.” To just glance at the scripture as they present it, it appears to be true to Scripture given to us by God, but it is not. We have to carefully examine the scripture to make sure that it is flawless and presented by the church as God intended it. Other sects will add to verses within the Bible or they will provide an additional book that they say was given after the completion of the Bible that should be accepted as a continuance of the Bible. I truly feel that one way we fail our young people today is by not stressing to them that the Bible is flawless, it is complete within itself, it should not be changed or added to, and there are no other books required by or sanctioned by God as an addendum to the Bible. We as parents, grandparents, youth leaders, mentors and just believers in the one true God need to constantly stress this to the youth God places under our direction. Of course, this also places the responsibility on us to continually study the scripture so that we can distinguish between the pure and holy teachings and the false teachings.
God Bless!
Pat
Posted by: Pat | December 15, 2009 at 08:35 PM
An inspiring selection of thoughts today, especially from Micah. Thanks for taking the time to post so many quality images related to Christmas season. By doing this you are putting the Christ back in Christ..mas..
here's a link to former president Jimmy Carter quoting Micah 6:8 at his inauguration in 1977.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pHMv7grxYE
i think jimmy carter embody the qualities of Micah 6:8 through his humanitarian efforts after his presidency.
Posted by: Luch | December 16, 2009 at 05:43 AM
Micah 7 is so redemptive.
7 But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD,
I wait for God my Savior;
my God will hear me.
and
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.
Micah saw the coming Savior (5:2), and understood the need of the Israelites for forgiveness of their sins. I am encouraged by the prophecy which predicted the coming and the purpose of Christ years in advance. God has a plan. It will happen. It can not be thwarted. Thankfully these statements remain true today.
Posted by: Gary | December 16, 2009 at 06:00 AM