Today we turn to Micah. Micah prophesied during the time when the northern Kingdom (Israel) fell, and when the southern Kingdom (Judah) was living in great prosperity. Micah spoke against the abuses of the wealthy against the poor. His writing is divided in three sections and alternates between pronouncements of judgment and the LORD’s restoration (as do most of the prophets). Micah also tells of a future deliverer who will be born in Bethlehem!
Micah 1 starts with pronouncements of judgment against Samaria (capital of the Northern Kingdom) and Jerusalem. The pronouncement is more severe for Samaria, as it will be crushed and brought low. Micah’s words also mention the surrounding nations as being involved in the judgment. In this chapter the judgment only comes to the gates of Jerusalem, but as we will see, Micah’s pronouncements include more against Judah as well.
Micah 2 offers a general judgment against the wealthy who oppress the poor, while Micah 3 condemns the leaders and prophets, primarily of Judah for their oppression of the poor, and their continual sin against the LORD. While the judgment includes Israel, in this chapter we’re told that Judah and Jerusalem will be crushed. Just as the pronouncement had been primarily directed against the northern Kingdom in Micah 1, we find it primarily against the southern Kingdom in chapter 3.
As we return to John 2, we recall Jesus’ first miracle: turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana. Jesus was reluctant to perform this miracle, because His “time” had not yet come, but He responded in obedience to His mother’s request for help in what was a most awkward social situation. While the miracle didn’t heal anyone, or remove a demon from anyone, it still demonstrated the Kingdom power of Jesus. We can say in God’s eternal Kingdom we will experience no lack, so Jesus’ miracle of provision foreshadows that. John records Jesus cleansing the Temple in Jerusalem as His next act of authority. While the cleansing of the Temple is found in the last week of Jesus’ life in the other three gospels, it is not at all unlikely Jesus did this on more than one occasion, because of the great offense against His Father He found it to be. In any case, Jesus demonstrated His authority to act on His Father’s behalf in this situation and in so many more throughout His ministry. As we consider Jesus’ role in our lives, we must always remember He is our first and final authority. What He tells us to do, we must do in the power of His Spirit and what He calls us to avoid, we must avoid.