SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
Micah 1:2-8
Psalm 45

"Thy throne, O God,
is for ever and ever…"

MESSAGE OF DOOM TO SAMARIA

Though Micah belonged to the Southern Kingdom of Judah, he had a message from the Lord to Samaria, capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. He was so indignant at what was going on in Samaria that he called to earth and heaven to witness against them. He called upon the Lord God Himself who would pour out His wrath on a hypocritical nation. God would send, said the prophet, such terrible punishment that would leave the land utterly desolate. The description of the coming destruction is that of an earthquake, of a volcano and avalanche (Mic 1:4).

Why such a holocaust? Israel was judged for her sin of apostasy from her monotheistic faith. Instead of worshipping Jehovah, the living and true God, Samaria had become a den for all kinds of graven images and idols. The importation of Baalism into Samaria since Ahab’s reign had persisted like a cancerous growth to Micah’s day. Neither could Judah escape this indictment. So Jerusalem got a side-jab from the prophet at this point as well.

Idolatry was spiritual harlotry (Mic 1:7). Judgment on these idols was sure to come in the impending Assyrian invasion. These idols, unable to save their worshippers, much less themselves, would be taken by the Assyrian king Sargon. He said, "Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?" (Isa 10:11). The destruction of Samaria was further described as a heap of ruins (Mic 1:6), though Jerusalem was spared until 150 years later. In the light of the impending Assyrian invasion, the prophet saw himself "stripped and naked" (Mic 1:8), but would his warning be seriously taken by his hearers?

"... but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish" (Luke 13:5).

THOUGHT: (Read Isaiah 55:7.)
PRAYER: Lord, be merciful to me, a sinner.

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