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Thursday 30 May 2013

Micah 1:8-16 - A Lament

Micah mourns for the sin of the nation, in particular Samaria. At the time Israel was split in two, a southern kingdom (Judah) and the northern kingdom (Israel or Samaria). Samaria's wound was incurable, and her wound was sin. This should be noted when reading Isaiah 53:5, "by His wounds we are healed". There is healing in the cross (Matthew 8:17), but this verse is primarily referring to he wound of sin. Moreover, this "infection" has spread to Judah as well and is at the gate of Jerusalem. Sin is our most serious problem. The reference to Micah going about naked may be hyperbole, or he may have actually done this, for Isaiah did the same (Isaiah 20:2).
There then follows a lament by Micah. Micah saw the disgrace that was going to come upon Israel, the destruction of the nation, and the besmirching of God's name because of Israel's sin.
A conqueror would come. This is a reference to Assyria. It is notable in the Bible that judgement against sin comes primarily against God's people. The message is not "all other nations are terrible but you are wonderful", rather it is that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all can be saved by faith in Christ.

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