Dark Days Ahead

When the barometer began to fall quite quickly one day in southwest Kansas, we kept our eyes to the skies. The morning was clear, but the temperature was quite high already; 80 degrees by 8 a.m. By noontime, the temperature had climbed to over 100 degrees. During the day, we usually would have a strong breeze at least, to cool us down; it was nearly wind-still. Early in the afternoon, we could see some distant clouds off in the southwestern sky.

As the afternoon kept dragging on, the clouds become heavier and higher. Every time I turned the tractor to the west and then to the south, I noticed that the thunderheads seemed to almost visibly roll upward as the clouds kept billowing higher and wider. About 5 p.m., the wind picked up from the southwest and the sky became darker. Mind you, this time of year, the sky usually got dark around 9:30 or later. The wind suddenly shifted to the east, then it switched directions again. I remembered how the barometer had been falling sharply that morning. The conditions were set for a major storm; quite possibly with hail and tornadoes.

The signs were all there; the stage was set; severe weather was almost upon us. Fortunately, that particular day, all we received were 50-60 mph winds; no hail and no tornadoes. And as often happens in southwest Kansas, no rain either.

God had told His chosen people, the Jews, that if they were obedient to His commands, they would be blessed and protected. They were also aware that if they rebelled against God, and even went so far as to serve false gods, then there would be judgment. So it should have come as no surprise that judgment was about to come; first to the Northern Kingdom, then years later, to the Southern Kingdom.

Just like the weather that day in southwest Kansas, the signs were all there; the stage was set. Yet, a large number of the Jewish people refused to believe that God would actually pass judgment on them.

We understand that for the Christian, judgment for sin has already taken place on the cross. We also realize, we live in a fallen world where the culture is not at all friendly to the Lord. In fact, you could say, the world’s culture is opposed to God and is thumbing its collective nose at God. And God will not bless a nation indefinitely that despises Him and actively promotes following and worshiping the creation rather than the creator.

As Christians, we might possibly compare ourselves to the faithful remnant of the Jews. Though several were actually following after God and living by faith in God’s promises, they were still going to have to experience and endure the punishment that was about to land on the nation. This is where I see Christ’s church at this moment in history.

We might be raptured off this planet and escape a lot of the negative experiences. Likewise, we might have to go through some very harrowing times, as have many faithful believers before us. However, I’m hoping that there is still opportunity to reach many, who have been duped by Satan and this world, with the gospel of Jesus Christ, so that they might be saved. So what are we supposed to do, as the price may be about to be paid for a nation’s rebellion against God, even here?

We continue to proclaim Jesus to all who will listen, in hopes that some will come to salvation, giving all the praise to God.

Eminent Darkness On the Northern Kingdom - 1.2-7

Everyone is being called upon to listen carefully. Hear, O people, all of you; Listen, O earth and all it contains. This message is for the Jewish people and everyone else who is not of the seed of Abraham. Everyone on the earth was about to be given a lesson. The message is very specifically that because of Israel’s idolatry, her ultimate rejection of the Lord, the capital city of Samaria, is going to be completely destroyed.

Why would God want the non-Jewish people to pay attention to this message? Could it be that this is to serve as a warning to all people, that those who refuse to turn to the Lord, choosing to elevate themselves and everything but God, will also be judged? It’s entirely possible, for we know that this is truly what will happen at the end.

Isn’t this a bit harsh and heavy-handed? Not at all! Let the Lord GOD be a witness against you, the Lord from His holy temple. Plus, we cannot forget the fact that throughout the Old Testament and also in the New Testament, we are told that if a person will repent, they will be saved.

As you read through verses 3-4, we are given further insight into what is about to take place. In the midst of all the rebellion from Israel, they need to know that God is coming as a conqueror. For those of us who have read the Narnia Chronicles by C.S. Lewis, we can understand the picture of the majestic, all-powerful, not to be messed with King, as He comes to execute judgment. Nothing can stand against God. All of humanity’s self-righteousness and pride will be morphed into ashes when confronted with the Lord’s righteousness and justice.

We have a similar picture of this in our own time. It was stated that Julia Ward Howe was visiting an army battalion that was based around Washington during the civil war. She then wrote the following words that we sing in The Battle Hymn of the Republic.

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord;

He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;

He hath loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible quick sword:

His truth is marching on.…

I have seen him in the watchfires of a hundred circling camps;

They have builded him an altar in the evening dews and damps;

I have read his righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps;

His day is marching on.…

This carries a little bit of the style of Micah’s writing in this section.

In verse 5, we see how God explains that His judgment is because Israel had broken their part of the covenant relationship. Samaria was set up to be the capital of Israel and the center of worship. It was on a fairly high mountain, and was considered to be a perfect location and nearly impossible to overtake. Sadly, instead of being a light set on a hill, it had become much more like a black hole. Morality was horrible. Prostitution was part of the worship of the false gods.

In light of all this, verses 6-7 describe the absolute destruction of Samaria and all of the false idols, and all the wealth. All that was set up against God, the idols and the cult-prostitution, would be totally obliterated. Even though, this involves the whole destruction of the phenomenal setting at Samaria, the focus is not on the wonders of the city, but on that which was specifically designed to replace the One True God.

Friends, as we look all about us, we are appalled at what is going on in our world. Immorality seems to be the norm. In fact, it is praised and encouraged. Meanwhile, righteousness and moral, ethical behavior are shunned. What is the result? There is exponential increases in individuals experiencing depression, crime is nearly out of control while government is making ways to facilitate more crime, career politicians who are concerned more about their personal careers than that of the people they’re serving, etc. Our culture has chosen to worship a perversion of sexuality, humanistic thinking, financial gain for some at any cost, even against the people the leadership is supposed to be protecting. If you dare speak against it in the name of Christ, you have become the hater and the enemy of everyone who doesn’t believe in Christ.

No, this is not a political commentary. This is the hard reality that we are currently experiencing. This is a true picture of what is happening in our nation and around the world. It is also the sad picture of what the nation of Israel was doing which was going to result in divine judgment. Psalm 33.12a states: Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. What does that say about any nation that refuses to follow biblical principles and recognize that God is the Lord? We know the answer.

Expected Darkness On the Southern Kingdom - 1.8-15

Remember, I previously had stated that the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom were all part of God’s chosen people, the Jewish nation. They were simply divided due to sin much earlier; and were ruled by different kings.

Here we see, in verses 8-9, Micah’s sorrow. He’s still called upon to pronounce judgment on Israel and Judah, but he identifies with the sorrow that they will have to go through such terrible times, becoming a humiliated people. It’s going to impact even the glorious Jerusalem.

Let me clue you in to a spoiler alert. A little later in Micah, we’ll see that God is keeping a small group of faithful ones, the remnant, to rebuild the Jewish nation. Why? Because God is a covenant-keeping God. God is full of mercy and faithfulness. However, that is not at the expense of his righteousness and justice.

As we look at verses 10-15, we see a word of warning to those who were outside of the Jewish nations. They were told to avoid gloating or being happy about what was taking place to God’s people. You see, the Gentile nations were supposed to learn about God by the example of the Jewish people.

Then there is a list of several different cities that are mentioned. Theologian, Bruce Waltke, describes them and why they were judged. See how this compares to our culture today.

God had graciously offered the people of Beth-le-aphrah (“Dust Town”) along with the rest of the covenant nation opportunity to align themselves with the Seed of the woman, who, though bruised for a season, will finally crush Satan and cause him to eat dust (Gen 3:15). Regrettably, unlike Moses (cf. Heb 11:24–26) and like most, they chose the riches of the present world instead of suffering with Christ and ended up forever eating the dust of death.

Jesus warned people like those at Shaphir (“Beauty Town”), who celebrate their beauty in this world, that they should not lay up for themselves treasures on earth, but rather that they should lay up for themselves imperishable treasures in heaven (Matt 6:19–21). He also cautioned that one should rid oneself of the most valuable assets in this world if they threaten one’s eternal salvation in the next (Matt 18:9).

People like those of Zaanan (“Going Forth Town”), who, instead of going forth boldly on behalf of the Kingdom of God, establish flimsy walls of their own security, in the time of judgment will cower vainly behind their imaginary walls (cf. Prov 18:11).

Human supports not founded on the Rock Christ Jesus, like those at Beth-ezel (“Take-Away Town”), will also prove worthless when the kingdoms of this world are finally defeated at Christ’s return (cf. 2 Thess 1:5–10).

People like those at Maroth (“Bitter Town”), who look to the powerful rulers of this world for sweet relief from the tyrannies of this life and for peace and prosperity, will experience a bitter end (cf. 1 Thess 5:1–11) because God alone stands beyond the dim unknown, keeping watch to reward the righteous and to punish the guilty (v 12B).

People like those at Lachish (v 13), who trust the latest technology instead of God, will fall into all kinds of sins that spring from man’s autonomous, rebellious spirit. Their technology will prove worthless in the time of God’s judgment against sin. The fall of the most technologically advanced city guaranteed the fall of the rest of the nation as well (cf. v 14A). Unless the leaven of idolatry in any form is purged immediately, it quickly sours the entire community.

Rulers like those at Jerusalem, who fleeced their flocks, will themselves one day be fleeced by others under the providential rule of God. Be not deceived: whatever a person sows, he reaps.

People like them think they will accrue wealth from their Mareshah (“Bride Town”), but instead they will lose their “bride” to the enemy and add a dowry with her.

These same rulers falsely place their confidence in Achzib (“Deception Town”; v 14B).

Rulers like those at Mareshah (“Possession Town”; v 15A), who look to possessions gotten by conquest, will themselves be conquered

Those who suggest they cannot believe in a God who is not loving and gracious, do not truly understand the depth of the meaning of those words in relation to God. If there were no righteousness and justice, if there were no possibility of judgment for evil, then there would never be an understanding of God’s love, mercy, and grace.

We must also remember that whenever God has to discipline His own church, whether it be specific individuals, or a local body, the watching world is left in confusion and bewilderment. Our light will have become cloudy and dim. We will have left a bad taste in the mouth of those looking on from outside of us. It is far better to repent and return to our first love, so that our witness for Christ has a positive impact.

End Summary - 1.16

Verse 16 is really the conclusion to this prophecy. It ultimately boiled down to the fact that those who were the spiritual leaders had failed. They could have led the people rightly for the glory of God, establishing the Jewish nation. Instead, many were actually leaders in promoting evil.

They were told to mourn and make themselves bald as a vulture (which several translations use the term eagle). The reason is that they were to be held responsible for the land given them by God, as it was going to be barren and those who lived there were going to other nations as exiles.

Here, in our nation, and in many churches, there has been a change of direction in worship. Instead of worshiping the One True God and living our lives for Jesus Christ, many have worshipped this world, its way of thinking, personal satisfaction and gratification. We see that in how many, who are part of the churches, have accepted the culture over submitting to the authority of God and His Word.

Yet, all is not lost. Revival and renewal are still able to happen by the power of the Lord. It requires humility and submission to the Lord.

Even within our nation and around the world, we know that God is able to do great things. And He has chosen to use us, who are chosen in Jesus Christ, to proclaim that message of hope, forgiveness, and eternal life.

So, what do you and I, who are committed believers in Jesus Christ, do?

We continue to proclaim Jesus to all who will listen, in hopes that some will come to salvation, giving all the praise to God.