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Take a breath, find your place, and read deeply. Discover the joy of reading God’s word with the Immerse New Living Translation (NLT) Bible.
This daily Bible podcast will take you through the Bible in a year following the Immerse Bible Reading Experience. So grab your family and small group and go through the Bible in a year together with Immerse. Each of the 6 volumes is available online or at your favorite Christian bookstore.
Nancy: Welcome To Immerse: The
Daily Bible Reading Experience.
Day 200 and 48
immersed in Micah.
The name Micah means who is like Yahweh.
So it shouldn't come as a surprise
that Micah's Short Book of Prophetic
Oracles focuses on God's unique
character, especially in the context
of his covenant relationship with his
people, because God is holy and wants
his people to be a light to the world.
Micah warns his compatriots in
Judah that God is about to judge and
punish them for their unfaithfulness.
Like the people of the Northern
Kingdom, the people of Judah were
also exploiting the poor, violating
the protections for the vulnerable
built into the law of Moses.
How can I tolerate your merchants
who use dishonest scales and weights?
God asks, through Micah, the rich among
you have become wealthy through extortion
and violence, and so Micah warns.
Mount Zion will be plowed
like an open field.
Jerusalem will be reduced to ruins, but
Micah's messages do not end with judgment.
The Lord of the covenant is
supremely the God of forgiveness,
compassion, and loyalty to his people.
Micah emphatically affirms that God
will keep his promises to heal and
restore once again in the prophets hope.
Gets the final word.
Micah's collection of oracles is
organized into three groups, not
chronologically, but thematically.
Each group begins with prophecies
of ruin before presenting
hopeful promises of restoration.
An example of the message of judgment
can be found at the beginning
of the third set of Oracles.
Here Micah uses the prophetic technique
of the covenant lawsuit as Hosea did,
in which God brings the people to trial
for breaking their covenant with him.
Listen to the Lord's complaint.
Micah says he has a
case against his people.
God reviews earlier biblical stories to
show that he has consistently protected
the people and provided for them.
In response, Micah wonders
aloud what compensation they
can possibly offer back to God.
The people clearly believe that all they
need to do is offer sacrifices and they
complain about even having to do that.
But what the Lord really requires is
this, to do what is right, to love
mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Disaster ultimately does arrive during
the reign of Hezekiah as the Assyrians
invade Judah after conquering and
destroying the northern kingdom of Israel.
In response to the Assyrian
invasion, Micah declares
about King David's birthplace.
You oh Bethlehem Aha.
Are only a small village
among all the people of Judah.
Yet a ruler of Israel whose
origins are in the distant past
will come from you on my behalf.
The immediate reference is to Hezekiah,
a godly king in the line of David
whose trust in the Lord would turn
back the Assyrian invasion in Judah.
But the author of the Gospel of Matthew
looks back to this passage and sees
a reference to Jesus the Messiah.
Who was also born in
Bethlehem, the city of David.
The prophets often speak to both
the present and the future in
such passages, creating a longing
for God's ultimate redemption and
the restoration of all things.
Micah speaks of a hope that looks
beyond the current generation
and foresees that after Judah is
exiled to Babylon, they will be
brought back in a great deliverance.
Not unlike the Exodus God promises.
I will do mighty miracles for
you like those I did when I
rescued you from slavery in Egypt.
Perhaps the most marvelous oracle
in the whole book is placed right
at its center in the middle of
the second group of Oracles.
Just as the theme changes from ruin
to restoration in the last days, the
mountain of the Lord's house will be
the highest of all Micah Envisions,
and people from all over the world
will stream there to worship.
People from many nations will come and
say, come let us go up to the mountain
of the Lord, to the House of Jacob's God.
There he will teach us his ways
and we will walk in his paths.
Israel's story will
determine the world's story.
The vision of God's salvation spreading
over the whole earth is a bright light
that shines forth from the whole prophetic
collection pointing to the glorious
culmination of the Bible's story.
In Jesus the Messiah,
the prophet Micah,
the Lord, gave this message to Micah
of Moha during the years when Jotham.
Ahaz and Hezekiah were kings of Judah.
The visions he saw concerned both
Samaria and Jerusalem attention.
Let all the people of the world listen.
Let the Earth and everything in it.
Here, the sovereign Lord is
making accusations against you.
The Lord speaks from his holy temple.
Look, the Lord is coming.
He leaves his throne in heaven and
tramples the heights of the earth.
The mountains melt beneath his feet
and flow into the valleys like wax in
a fire, like water pouring down a hill.
And why is this happening?
Because of the rebellion of Israel.
Yes.
The sins of the whole nation.
Who was to blame for Israel's rebellion?
Samaria.
Its capital city.
Where is the center of idolatry in Judah?
In Jerusalem, its capital.
So I, the Lord will make the
city of Samaria a heap of ruins.
Her streets will be plowed
up for planting vineyards.
I will roll the stones of her
walls into the valley below,
exposing her foundations.
All her carved images will be smashed.
All her sacred treasures will be burned.
These things were bought with the
money earned by her prostitution,
and they will now be carried away
to pay prostitutes elsewhere.
Therefore, I will mourn and lament.
I will walk around barefoot and naked.
I will howl like a jackal and
moan like an owl for my people's
wound is too deep to heal.
It has reached into Judah,
even to the gates of Jerusalem.
Don't tell our enemies in
gath, don't weep at all.
You people in Bethle Afra roll
in the dust to show your despair.
You people in Schaffer go as captives
into exile, naked and ashamed.
The people of Zan Ann dare
not come outside their walls.
The people of Beth Easel mourn
for their house has no support.
The people of Marath
anxiously wait for relief.
But only bitterness awaits them
as the Lord's judgment reaches
even to the gates of Jerusalem.
Harness your chariot horses
and flee you people of Laish.
You were the first city in Judah
to follow Israel and her rebellion,
and you led Jerusalem into sin.
Send farewell gifts to Mohe Gath.
There was no hope of saving it.
The town of Ax IB has
deceived the kings of Israel.
Oh people of Maritia.
I will bring a conqueror to
capture your town and the leaders
of Israel will go to a dollum.
Oh people of Judah.
Shave your heads and sorrow for the
children you love will be snatched away.
Make yourselves as bald as a
vulture for your little ones
will be exiled to distant lands.
What sorrow awaits you?
Who lay awake at night?
Thinking up evil plans, you rise at
dawn and hurry to carry them out simply
because you have the power to do so.
When you want a piece of land,
you find a way to seize it.
When you want someone's house,
you take it by fraud and violence.
You cheat a man of his property
stealing his family's inheritance,
but this is what the Lord says.
I will reward your evil with evil.
You won't be able to pull
your neck out of the noose.
You will no longer walk around proudly
for it will be a terrible time and that
day your enemies will make fun of you by
singing this song of despair about you.
We are finished completely ruined.
God has confiscated our
land taking it from us.
He has given our fields
to those who betrayed us.
Others will set your boundaries
then, and the Lord's people will have
no say in how the land is divided.
Don't say such things that people
respond, don't prophesy like that.
Such disasters will never come our way.
Should you talk that way?
Oh, family of Israel.
Will the Lord's spirit have
patience with such behavior?
If you would do what is right, you
would find my words comforting.
To this very hour, my people
rise against me like an enemy.
You steal the shirts right off the backs
of those who trusted you, making them
as ragged as men returning from battle.
You have evicted women from their pleasant
homes and forever stripped their children.
Of all that God would
give them up, be gone.
This is no longer your land and home.
For you have filled it with
sin and ruined it completely.
Suppose a prophet full of lies
would say to you, I'll preach to
you the joys of wine and alcohol.
That's just the kind of
prophet you would like someday.
Oh, Israel, I will gather you.
I will gather the remnant to our left.
I will bring you together again like sheep
in a pen, like a flock in its pasture.
Yes, your land will again
be filled with noisy crowds.
Your leader will break out and lead you
out of exile, out through the gates of
the enemy cities back to your own land.
Your king will lead you.
The Lord himself will guide you.
I said, listen you leaders of Israel, you
are supposed to know right from wrong.
You are the very ones who
hate good and love evil.
You skin my people alive and
tear the flesh from their bones.
Yes, you eat my people's flesh, strip
off their skin and break their bones.
You chop them up like
meat for the cooking pot.
Then you beg the Lord for
help in times of trouble.
Do you really expect him to answer?
After all the evil you have
done, he won't even look at you.
This is what the Lord says, you false
prophets are leading my people astray.
You promise peace for those who
give you food, but you declare war
on those who refuse to feed you.
Now the night will close around
you, cutting off all your visions.
Darkness will cover you putting
an end to your predictions.
The sun will set for you prophets,
and your day will come to an end.
Then you, Sears will be put to shame
and you fortune tellers will be
disgraced and you will cover your faces
because there is no answer from God.
But as for me, I am filled with
power with the spirit of the Lord.
I am filled with justice and strength to
boldly declare Israel sin and rebellion.
Listen to me, you leaders of Israel, you
hate justice and twist all that is right.
You are building Jerusalem on a
foundation of murder and corruption.
You rulers make decisions based on bribes.
You priests teach God's
laws only for a price.
You prophets won't prophesy
unless you are paid.
Yet all of you claim
to depend on the Lord.
No harm can come to us.
You say, for the Lord is here among us.
Because of you, Mount Zion will
be plowed like an open field.
Jerusalem will be reduced to ruins.
A thicket will grow on the heights
where the temple now stands.
In the last days, the mountain of the
Lord's house will be the highest of
all, the most important place on earth.
It will be raised above the other
hills, and people from all over the
world will stream there to worship.
People from many nations will come and
say, come let us go up to the mountain
of the Lord, to the House of Jacob's God.
There he will teach us his ways and
we will walk in His paths for the
Lord's teaching will go out from Zion.
His word will go out from Jerusalem.
The Lord will mediate between
peoples and will settle disputes
between strong nations far away.
They will hammer their swords
into plow shares and their
spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will no longer fight against
nation nor train for war anymore.
Everyone will live in peace
and prosperity, enjoying their
own grapevines and fig trees.
For there will be nothing to fear.
The Lord of heaven's armies
has made this promise.
Though the nations around us follow their
idols, we will follow the Lord our God
forever and ever in that coming day says
the Lord, I will gather together those who
are lame, those who have been exiles, and
those who might have filled with grief.
Those who are weak will
survive as a remnant.
Those who are exiles will
become a strong nation.
Then I, the Lord will rule from
Jerusalem as their king forever.
As for you, Jerusalem, the citadel
of God's people, your royal might and
power will come back to you again.
The kingship will be restored
to my precious Jerusalem.
But why are you now screaming in terror?
Have you no king to lead?
You have your wise people all died.
Pain has gripped you like a woman in
childbirth, writhe, and groan like a
woman in labor, you people of Jerusalem.
For now, you must leave this
city to live in the open country.
You will soon be sent in exile
to distant Babylon, but the
Lord will rescue you there.
He will redeem you from
the grip of your enemies.
Now, many nations have
gathered against you.
Let her be derated.
They say, let us see the
destruction of Jerusalem.
But they do not know the Lord's
thoughts or understand his plan.
These nations don't know that he
is gathering them together to be
beaten and trampled like sheaves
of grain on a threshing floor.
Rise up and crush the nation's
O Jerusalem, says the Lord.
For I will give you iron horns
and bronze hooves so you can
trample many nations to pieces.
You will present their stolen
riches to the Lord, their wealth
to the Lord of all the earth.
Mobilize marshal your troops.
The enemy is laying siege to Jerusalem.
They will strike Israel's
leader in the face with a rod.
But you o Bethlehem Riha.
Are only a small village
among all the people of Judah.
Yet a ruler of Israel whose
origins are in the distant past
will come from you on my behalf.
The people of Israel will be
abandoned to their enemies until
the woman in labor gives birth.
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.
The majesty of the name
of the Lord his God.
Then his people will live there
undisturbed for He will be highly
honored around the world and
he will be the source of peace.
When the Assyrians invade our land and
break through our defenses, we will
appoint seven rulers to watch over us.
Eight princes to lead us.
They will rule Assyria withdrawn, swords.
And enter the gates of the land of Nimrod,
he will rescue us from the Assyrians.
When they pour over the borders to invade
our land, then the remnant left in Israel
will take their place among the nations.
They will be like dew, sent by
the Lord, or like rain falling on
the grass, which no one can hold
back and no one can restrain.
The remnant left in Israel will
take their place among the nations.
They will be like a lion among the
animals of the forest, like a strong
young lion among flocks of sheep and
goats, pouncing and tearing as they go
with no rescuer in sight, the people of
Israel will stand up to their foes and
all their enemies will be wiped out in
that day, says the Lord, I will slaughter
your horses and destroy your chariots.
I will tear down your walls
and demolish your defenses.
I will put an end to all witchcraft and
there will be no more fortune tellers.
I will destroy all your idols and
sacred pillars so you will never again
worship the work of your own hands.
I will abolish your idol shrines
with their asherah poles and
destroy your pagan cities.
I will pour out my vengeance on all
the nations that refuse to obey me.
Listen to what the Lord is saying.
Stand up and state your case against me.
Let the mountains and hills be
called to witness your complaints.
And now, oh mountains.
Listen to the Lord's complaint.
He has a case against his people.
He will bring charges against Israel.
Oh 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 errand
and Miriam to help you.
Don't you remember my people, how King
beak of Moab tried to have you cursed, and
how Baum son of bor blessed you instead?
And remember your journey from
Acacia Grove to Gilgal when I,
the Lord did everything I could to
teach you about my faithfulness.
What can we bring to the Lord?
Should we bring him burnt offerings?
Should we bow before God most high
with offerings of yearling calves?
Should we offer him thousands of
rams and 10,000 rivers of olive oil?
Should we sacrifice our firstborn
children to pay for our sins?
No.
Oh 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.
Fear.
The Lord if you are wise.
His voice calls to everyone in Jerusalem.
The armies of destruction are coming.
The Lord is sending them, what shall I
say about the homes of the wicked filled
with treasures gained by cheating?
What about the disgusting
practice of measuring out
grain with dishonest measures?
How can I tolerate your merchants
who use dishonest scales and weights?
The rich among you have become wealthy
through extortion and violence.
Your citizens are so used to
lying that their tongues can
no longer tell the truth.
Therefore, I will wound you.
I will bring you to
ruin for all your sins.
You will eat but never have enough.
Your hunger, pings and emptiness will
remain and though you try to save
your money, it will come to nothing.
In the end, you will save a little, but
I will give it to those who conquer you.
You will plant crops but not harvest them.
You will press your olives but not
get enough oil to anoint yourselves.
You will trample the grapes but
get no juice to make your wine.
You keep only the laws of evil King Omri.
You follow only the example
of Wicked King Ahab.
Therefore, I will make an example of
you bringing you to complete ruin.
You will be treated with contempt,
mocked by all who see you.
How miserable I am.
I feel like the fruit picker after the
harvest, who can find nothing to eat,
not a cluster of grapes or a single early
fig can be found to satisfy my hunger.
The godly people have all disappeared.
Not one honest person
is left on the earth.
They are all murderers, setting
traps, even for their own brothers.
Both their hands are equally
skilled at doing evil officials
and judges alike demand bribes.
The people with influence get
what they want, and together
they scheme to twist justice.
Even the best of them is like a briar.
The most honest is as dangerous
as a hedge of thorns, but your
judgment day is coming swiftly.
Now, your time of punishment is here.
A time of confusion.
Don't trust anyone.
Not your best friend or even your wife.
For the son despises his father.
The daughter defies her mother.
The daughter-in-law
defies her mother-in-law.
Your enemies are right
in your own household.
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.
Do not gloat over me my enemies.
For though I fall, I will rise again.
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.
But after that, he will take up my
case and give me justice for all
I have suffered from my enemies.
The Lord will bring me into the light
and I will see his righteousness.
Then my enemies will see
that the Lord is on my side.
They will be ashamed that they taunted
me saying, so where is the Lord?
That God of yours?
With my own eyes, I
will see their downfall.
They will be trampled like mud in
the streets In that day is real.
Your cities will be rebuilt and
your borders will be extended.
People from many lands
will come and honor you.
From Assyria all the way
to the towns of Egypt.
From Egypt all the way to
the Euphrates River, and from
distance, seas, and mountains.
But the land will become empty
and desolate because of the
wickedness of those who live there.
Oh Lord.
Protect your people with
your shepherd staff.
Lead your flock, your special possession,
though they live alone in a thicket
and the heights of Mount Carmel.
Let them graze in the fertile pastures
of and Gilead as they did long ago.
Yes, says the Lord.
I will do mighty miracles for
you like those I did when I
rescued you from slavery in Egypt.
All the nations of the world will stand
amazed at what the Lord will do for you.
They will be embarrassed
at their feeble power.
They will cover their
mouths in silent awe.
Deaf to everything around them.
Like snakes crawling from
their holes, they will come
out to meet the Lord our God.
They will fear him greatly
trembling in terror at his presence.
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'll show us your faithfulness and
unfailing love as you promised to our
ancestors, Abraham and Jacob Long ago.
This concludes today's
immerse reading experience.
Thank you for joining us.