Sermon on 26 June 2022 by Pastor Justin
Micah 6:6-8 - “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 ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? No, O 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.”
We walk with God in absolute dependence. Being humble is the secret to success. When you are humble, the grace of God will come to you. Grace is an unmerited favour. When the favour is upon your family, according to the word, no diseases and illnesses would grow. When you humble down, you are able to pray. Consider dying to yourself, then you will pray. Only when you pray, you see His face. Those who humble and pray seek His face. You will then turn away from the world. You will live in a manner that glorifies God. True worship is biblical piety.
Micah 3:1-3 - “I said, “Listen, you leaders of Israel! You are supposed to know right from wrong, but 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.”
Micah 3:11 - “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.””
They demonstrate no humility. They don’t know what justice and mercy is.
When we read the twelve minor prophets, we want to look at the behavioural change. The key message is about judgement and instructions of what they need to do. God will give them a hope of salvation. The emphasis is always on sin and punishment, and the mercy of God and restoration afterwards. The whole Bible contains these 4 fundamentals, which are:
(a) The Holiness of God
(b) The sinfulness of man
(c) The righteousness, judgement and mercy of God
(d) The sovereignty of God over the nations
The theme of Micah is divine judgement on the people of Israel. Israel is divided into the northern and southern kingdom. Micah is a unique prophet. He was sent to prophesy to the people of Israel and Judah.
Micah 1:1 - “The Lord gave this message to Micah of Moresheth during the years when Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah. The visions he saw concerned both Samaria and Jerusalem.”
Samaria is the capital city of Israel. Jerusalem is the capital city of Judah. The ministry of Micah focused on these two kingdoms. These people sinned against God and suffered tremendously. The wrath of God was upon them because of their idolatry and injustice. They worshipped all kinds of false Gods. They cheated the poor with violence too. They oppressed others too. The ministry of Micah focused on the conviction of sin, righteousness and judgement. This is the main burden.
John 16:8 - “And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.”
Matthew 2:5-6 - ““In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote: ‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.’””
Micah 5:2 - “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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 book of Micah contained the Messianic prophecy of pardon and forgiveness. The meaning of Micah is ‘Who is like Yahweh? Who is like Jehovah?’
Section 1: Chapters 1-3
Punishment - Judgement on Sin
There are 3 main groups of people - evildoers, lying prophets and wicked rulers.
Micah 2:2 - “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.”
Micah 2:11 - “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!”
False prophets would prophesy to you on wine and drinks. They will teach well about the good things, but not about punishment or sin. Many preachers will only preach what you want to hear.
Micah 3:2-3 - “but 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.”
This shows the judgement.
Luke 8:1-3 - “Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples.”
John 12:6 - “Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.”
John 7:53 - “Then the meeting broke up, and everybody went home.”
John 8:1-2 - “Jesus returned to the Mount of Olives, but early the next morning he was back again at the Temple. A crowd soon gathered, and he sat down and taught them.”
Jesus didn’t use any of the money blessed by the women.
We have to be faithful in the use of God’s money.
Micah 3:6-7 - “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 seers 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.””
Section 2: Chapters 4-5
Promise - Messianic Prophecies
Micah 4:1-7 - “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 plowshares 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 whom I have filled with grief. Those who are weak will survive as a remnant; those who were exiles will become a strong nation. Then I, the Lord, will rule from Jerusalem as their king forever.””
Micah 5:2-5 - “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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, in 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.”
Dual prophecy of the coming of our King. The coming of the Messiah was one of the most remarkable predictions in the book of Micah.
Micah 5:1c-d - “Mobilize! Marshal your troops! The enemy is laying siege to Jerusalem. They will strike Israel’s leader in the face with a rod.”
Mark 15:19 - “And they struck him on the head with a reed stick, spit on him, and dropped to their knees in mock worship.”
Section 3: Chapters 6-7
Pardon - Repentance
Chapter 6 is a setting of a court scene. It is like a legal proceeding. God came and pleaded with His people. He also disputed them.
Micah 6:1-5 - “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, O mountains, listen to the Lord’s complaint! He has a case against his people. He will bring charges against Israel. “O 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, Aaron, and Miriam to help you. Don’t you remember, my people, how King Balak of Moab tried to have you cursed and how Balaam son of Beor 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.””
God is calling the whole creation to be His witness.
John 3:36 - “And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.””
Everyone knows John 3:16 but they don’t know John 3:36.
God is telling us that we need to obey. What should your response be to God? You will see the forgiveness and faithfulness of God in the book of Micah.
Micah 6:8 - “No, O 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.”
Micah 7:7 - “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.”
Micah 7:18 - “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.”
Whatever situation you are in, fix your eyes on Jesus. Faith is obeying. Obeying is believing. When you obey, you have patience and will wait upon the Lord. You will have peace in every situation. God’s incomparable forgiveness. He removes sin and throws it away. He is a mercury, pardoning faithful, forgiving God that promises salvation. God is on your side against evil. Turn towards Him and He will run towards you. When you see the key message in Micah, you will see the picture of the gospel.
Micah 7:19 - “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!”
Micah 7:7 - “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.”
Amen.
12本小先知书，第7部分，弥迦书 6:6-8
主题: 主要的是什么？
谢牧师福音证道 2022年6月26日
关于12本小先知书
1) 中心思想是行为的改变;
2) 关键的信息有: 审判，指示和救恩的盼望;
3) 重点提到了: 罪，惩罚和复兴;
4) 建立在4个基础: 神的圣洁，人类的罪恶，上帝的公义、审判和怜悯以及上帝对万国万邦的主权。
弥迦书 6:6-8
6 我朝见耶和华，在至高神面前跪拜，当献上什么呢？岂可献一岁的牛犊为燔祭吗?
7 耶和华岂喜悦千千的公羊，或是万万的油河吗？我岂可为自己的罪过献我的长子吗？为心中的罪恶献我身所生的吗？
8 世人哪，耶和华已指示你何为善。他向你所要的是什么呢？ 只要你行公义，好怜悯，存谦卑的心，与你的神同行。
弥迦书 6:6-8 主要叙述了关于上帝对于献祭敬拜的标准。 真正的敬拜是合乎圣经的虔诚，因此我们要以谦卑的心与神同行，完全的依靠以及顺服。 人们常常问成功的秘诀是什么 - 其实就是单单一个词 "谦卑"。谦卑不是叫人自卑自贱，妄自菲薄，乃是叫人不要看自己过于所当看的，要有自知。当我们足够的谦卑，上帝的恩典就会降在我们身上，我们就能够祷告，能够触摸到上帝的大能。
弥伽书 1:1 1 当犹大王约坦、亚哈斯、希西家在位的时候，摩利沙人弥迦得耶和华的默示，论撒马利亚和耶路撒冷。
约翰福音 16:8 8 他既来了，就要叫世人为罪、为义、为审判，自己责备自己。
弥伽书里提到了以色列家族和犹大家族所犯下的犯罪 - 偶像崇拜及其不公，追求假的神和欺骗穷人为了谋财。约翰福音16:8 则提到了耶稣基督的到来会对罪恶，正义和审判的定罪。 因而，弥伽书最重要的预言，就是关于主耶稣基督的到来，关于弥赛亚的赦免和宽恕。而弥伽名字的意思也刚好是“谁能像耶和华”。
若仔细阅读弥伽书，就可以把这本书分为3大节:
1) 第1节 - 第1-3章- 惩罚 (报应) - 对罪的审判
弥伽书 2:2, 11 2 他们贪图田地就占据，贪图房屋便夺取；他们欺压人，霸占房屋和产业。 11 若有人心存虚假，用谎言说：我要向你们预言得清酒和浓酒。那人就必作这民的先知。
弥伽书 3:6-7 6 你们必遭遇黑夜，以致不见异象；又必遭遇幽暗，以致不能占卜。日头必向你们沉落，白昼变为黑暗。 7 先见必抱愧，占卜的必蒙羞，都必捂着嘴唇，因为神不应允他们。
约翰福音 8:1-2 1 于是各人都回家去了；耶稣却往橄榄山去 2 清早又回到殿里。众百姓都到他那里去，他就坐下，教训他们。
弥伽书2:2, 11 跟 3:6-7 提到了审判恶人、说谎的先知和邪恶的统治者。假先知是不会跟人提起罪恶、惩罚，而是会倾向告诉人们他们想听的 (例如：财富，健康)。
恰恰相反的，约翰福音 8:1-2 让我们看到了耶稣的谦卑。耶稣讲完道之后，没有住在酒店，反而睡在了橄榄山的树下。因此，这也向我们显明了要忠于使用上帝的金钱。
2) 第2节 - 第4-5章 - 应许 (修复) - 弥赛亚预言
弥伽书 5:1-2 1 成群的民哪，现在你要聚集成队；因为仇敌围攻我们，要用杖击打以色列审判者的脸。 2 伯利恒的以法他啊，你在犹大诸城中为小，将来必有一位从你那里出来，在以色列中为我作掌权的；他的根源从亘古，从太初就有。
弥伽书 5:1-2 讲述了王国的君王的到来，并在第一节 (5:1c & 1d) 里出现了双重预言。弥赛亚的降临，是弥迦事工最显着的预言之一。
3) 第3节 - 第6-7章 - 赦免 (悔改)
弥迦书 6:1-5 1 以色列人哪，当听耶和华的话！要起来向山岭争辩，使冈陵听你的话。 2 山岭和地永久的根基啊，要听耶和华争辩的话！因为耶和华要与他的百姓争辩，与以色列争论。 3 我的百姓啊，我向你做了什么呢？我在什么事上使你厌烦？你可以对我证明。
4 我曾将你从埃及地领出来，从作奴仆之家救赎你；我也差遣摩西、亚伦，和米利暗在你前面行。 5 我的百姓啊，你们当追念摩押王巴勒所设的谋和比珥的儿子巴兰回答他的话，并你们从什亭到吉甲所遇见的事，好使你们知道耶和华公义的作为。
弥迦书 6:8 8 世人哪，耶和华已指示你何为善。他向你所要的是什么呢？ 只要你行公义，好怜悯，存谦卑的心，与你的神同行。
弥迦书 6:1-5 提到了神的恳求与神的争辩。祂要百姓见证那些奇事，想借此来让他们思想应当有的回应。而弥迦书 6:8 已经给了我们应当如何回应上帝的答案 - 行公义，好怜悯，存谦卑的心与你的神同行。 约翰福音 3:16
16 神爱世人，甚至将他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他的，不至灭亡，反得永生。
约翰福音 3:36 36 信子的人有永生；不信子的人得不着永生，神的震怒常在他身上。
约翰福音 3:16 是每个基督徒都记得的, 但往往我们却没有遵守诫命，也忽略了约翰福音 3:36 的信息。
弥伽书 7:7, 18-20 7 至于我，我要仰望耶和华，要等候那救我的神；我的神必应允我。
18 神啊，有何神像你，赦免罪孽，饶恕你产业之余民的罪过，不永远怀怒，喜爱施恩。
19 他必转回怜悯我们，把我们的罪孽踏在脚下。你必将他们一切的罪投于深海。
20 你必按古时向我们列祖起誓的话，以信实待雅各，向亚伯拉罕施慈爱。
最后，透过弥伽书 7:7, 18-20，我们认识到了上帝无比的宽恕。祂是一位仁慈的上帝。赦罪之神。一位信实的上帝。一位宽恕的上帝。应许救恩的神。
因此，我们应当单单仰望神，相信，顺服，耐心地等候神。没有神我们什么都不是。让我们都能有一颗真诚纯洁的心，并且要在每天的生活中能够彰显出来。要时刻铭记，上帝是站在你这边抵挡邪恶的。转向祂，祂必转向你。
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