God's Mercy 09.25.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today we are studying the book of Micah, please read Chapters 1-7 in your Bible or you can Click Here to read them online. You can also cut & paste the following link to your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Micah%201-7&version=9

Today we will read and learn about the impending judgement upon Israel and Judah; their furure deliverance; the birth of Chirst foretold; and God's judgement and mercy for His people. Today's message focuses on the importance of realizing that God has mercy for all His children and we are blessed to be saved by knowing His sone, Jesus Christ.

The book of Micah is the 33rd book of the Old Testament and contains 7 chapters, the book was written by Micah to the people of Judah and Israel. The purpose of the book was a call for them to repent and avoid the judgement they were facing. What we are to learn from the book is that God judges all who torment His people and has mercy on all who repent.

God, through Micah spoke to the nations of Judah and Israel about the judgement place upon them for their sins, the destruction of their nations, and their restoration. "The word of the LORD that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem." (Micah 1:1). Micah was not a well known prophet, in fact not many knew who he was at all, however one of the most beautiful descriptions of the millennium in all the Bible was revealed by this man.

700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ Micah foretold of the exact location of His birth. "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth." (5:2-4).

There was one major statement made here by Micah, "Whose goings forth have been from old, from everlasting." This statement proclaimes the deity (God) and eternal existance of Jesus. Had Jesus been born from an earthly father He would have had a sinful nature like the rest of us, therefore He could not have suffered for the sins of all mankind and become our Savior.

The word Bethlehem in Hebrew means House of Bread, what an amazing concept since Jesus, who is the Bread of Life was born there. "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst." (John 6:35). Jesus, while be tempted by the devil said, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4). This means that we need more than just physical food for the body, God's Word feeds the soul. The word Ephratah means fruitness or abundance, when we feed on God's Word we become fruitful and satisfied.

As descendants of Adam, unfortunately we have all inherited his sinful nature, but the best thing that we have going for us is that while we were born into sin, we are saved by the one who knew no sin. "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (II Corinthians 5:20-21).

In today's reading Jesus Christ is revealed through the Ruler in Israel who was to be born in Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2). Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem as the Son of the Highest, "(Luke 1:32-33).

Today's Prayer:
Dear Lord,
I will never fully understand the depth of Your sacrifical death where You saved all of us from our sinful nature. You gave all so that I could be forgiven and see You face to face one day. Thank You, Lord for all that You did, there is absolutely nothing that I could do to repay You except to praise You and teach others about You. In fact, Your mercy tells me that all I have to do is call on You and nothing else is needed. What a remarkable God that You are to all of us, You deserve all the glory and praise. In Jesus' name.....Amen.

Have a great and wonderful day!
God bless you,
Christina

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