The prophecies of Micah offer hope to anyone who goes through a hopeless situation. It conveys the heart of God. It explains how much God cares and how much he wants us to turn towards Him while we go through times of despair.
To give some background to the context, Micah was a great prophet. Many enemies surrounded his country. The economy was crumbling. The king of the land led the way for immoral living. People followed the king and went astray. The leaders of the land forsaken their creator. There was no God in their life. The wealthy used their power to seize the land of the powerless. The priests lived a self-centered life. They mixed spirituality with self-centered desires. The authorities took bribes to change the law in the favor of the rich. Micah knew the punishment from God was inevitable. There was hopelessness and despair everywhere in the land.
People worked hard and planted their seeds. But when the harvest came, they reaped very little. They ate, but it was not enough. They pressed their olives but got very little oil.
The situation Micah was called to prophesy is very familiar to what we see in the 21st century today? There was corruption in most countries. There is a huge disparity between the rich and the poor. We have jobs. But what we earn is not enough. We have businesses that are not yielding fruits. We have education and college degrees that are not fetching good jobs.
The book of Micah gives new hope to everyone. Dear friend, are you going through a hopeless situation today? God has a special message for you.
Hope to look forward to
God called Micah to prophesy during this situation. As a prophet, Micah was called to proclaim what God wants him to say. He has no right to speak his thoughts and share his personal ideas. The beauty of his prophecy conveys the heart of God.
God’s solution described by Micah during the desperate moment came not through an invention of a scholar but through a baby that will be born many centuries later.
Micah prophesied, “But you, Bethlehem, David’s country, the runt of the litter-From you will come the leader who will shepherd-rule Israel.“
The leader was later on recognized as Jesus, who was born seven hundred years later in the town of Bethlehem. The people during the times (700 BC) of Micah look forward to Jesus, who will give them hope. We in the 21st century look backward to Him who was born 20 centuries earlier. Whether we look forward or backward, the timeless God who works in our life beyond time will give us hope in all situations. The Bible says, “His name (Jesus Christ) will be the hope of all the world.“
God’s expectations in our life
How can we receive this hope? Like a father punishes and corrects his son, God corrects our life. He cares for our souls so much that he wants none of us to go away from his peaceful presence.
Micah nicely summarizes God’s expectations of our life.
What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
God’s expectations in our life are simple. He wants to act justly, show mercy, and live a humble life.
Can we analyze our life and check whether our life aligns with God’s standard? Is our hearts meet God’s expectations? Invite Jesus into your life.
King David wrote, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.“
Let the words of David be our prayer today. Let the Holy Spirit search our hearts, test us, convict us and point out the areas we need to correct in our life.
For though we fall, we will rise again
Let’s come to the conclusion God provided through Micah.
Everyone has hope through Jesus Christ. There are no losers. There are no worthless people. No one needs to give up.
Micah wrote, “But me, I’m not giving up. I’m sticking around to see what God will do. I’m waiting for God to make things right. I’m counting on God to listen to me.“
We are called to persevere patiently. God expects to wait on Him to receive his answers. No need to hurry. God is in absolute control.
These are the last words of encouragement from Micah.
For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. He will take up my case and give me justice for all I have suffered from my enemies.
What an amazing hope we have in our heavenly father. There is hope for everyone. No one is going to be forgotten. No one has to fight their battles alone. You will not remain fallen. You will raise it again. Even though we go through a hopeless situation, we will soon come out of the darkness. The light of the world will shine upon us. The hope of the world is with us. His name is Jesus Christ. He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Let’s go to the presence of Jesus and call out His name. Please place your hand on your heart and call upon the name of Jesus. Pray the below prayer along with us.
Dear Jesus, I come to you with my humble heart. You are my God. The hope for this world is you. You are my hope. Please search my heart and my thoughts. Teach me the offensive ways in my life. Let me turn away from all my past mistakes. Give me spiritual strength. Jesus, thank you for your promise. I will raise even though I fall. No weapon formed against me will succeed. I will patiently wait for you. I will persevere in your presence. Teach me your ways. Let my heart hold on to your hands. You are the light of my life. I put all my trust in you. Give me new hope. Let me leave all my pasts and hold on to a future with you. Be the center of my life. I thank you because you are going to answer this prayer. In Jesus’s mighty name, I pray. Amen.
Dear friend, we hope you have found new hope and a future in Christ. We are praying for you. Jesus loves you. Please continue to hold on to Jesus. He can give you a new life.