(2) When respect for God and His law declines, anarchy results.

Transcription

1 Explore the Bible Lesson Preview May 31, 2009 "Commitment: A Path to Effectiveness" Background: Micah 7:1-20 Lesson: Micah 7:1-7, Motivation: Micah concludes his prophecy with a message of judgment and hope. As we struggle with injustice, we should do so in the knowledge that God will triumph over his adversaries. I. The Right Choice (1-7) A. Downfall of Morality "The faithful man has perished from the earth, and there is no one upright among men. They all lie in wait for blood; every man hunts his brother with a net." (2) When respect for God and His law declines, anarchy results. Everyone does what is right in his/her opinion (Judges 17:6). In our own nation today, there is an increasing hesitancy to call anything morally wrong. One result has been an increase in bloodshed. B. Downfall of Justice "That they may successfully do evil with both hands - the Prince asks for gifts, the Judge seeks a bribe, and the great man utters his evil desire; so they scheme together." (3) The breakdown of morality continues with injustice to the highest bidder. A failure in individual morality quickly can become national tragedy ending in judgment. (4) 1 / 7

2 C. Downfall of Relationships "Do not trust in a friend; do not put your confidence in a companion; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your bosom." (5) Lack of trust in relationships is like a deadly virus in an organism. The society of Micah's day had deteriorated so thoroughly that no one trusted anyone. D. Downfall of the Family "For a son dishonors father, daughter rises against her mother, daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man's enemies are the men of his own household." (6) Believer's Study Bible, p. 1260; 7:6 "The tragic culmination of dishonest commercialism, false prophecy, and judicial bribery is the demise of the basic unit of all society - the family. When family ties no longer guarantee love, concern, and devotion, then a social order has been so distorted by sin that it cannot survive. One's mate cannot be trusted (v. 5), and one's most vicious enemies become the members of his own house." E. Even When All Else Fails, God is Trustworthy "Therefore I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me." (7) Even when friends, family and the government let you down, God will never fail. II. The Coming Vindication (8-13) A. Confidence "Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me." (8) In one's darkest hour, God can bring light and vision. B. Confession "I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned 2 / 7

3 against Him, until He pleads my case and executes justice for me. He will bring me forth to the light; I will see His righteousness." (9) Confession of sin and acceptance of God's justice is fundamental to eventual restoration. (1 John 1:8-10) C. Conversion "Then she who is my enemy will see, and shame will cover her who said to me, where is the Lord your God?' My eyes will see her; now she will be trampled down like mud in the streets." (10) The enemies who gloated over Judah's demise would eventually understand God's justice and even experience it themselves. D. Called "In the day when your walls are to be built, in that day the decree shall go far and wide. In that day they shall come to you from Assyria and the fortified cities, from the fortress to the River, from sea to sea, and mountain to mountain." (11-12) Ultimately God would restore Israel to the point that nations would once again see her. Verse 13 seems to suggest that the table would be turned. In the latter days, that Jerusalem would be an oasis in a devastated world. Believer's Study Bible, p. 1261: 7:12 "It is not certain whether Micah says that the day is coming or that the exiles will be coming. The boundaries are defined for the kingdom. It may be better to translate part of this verse as: from Assyria to the cities of Egypt, and from Egypt to the River [Euphrates].'" 3 / 7

4 III. The Answered Prayer (14-20) A. Restoration "Shepherd Your people with Your staff, the flock of Your heritage, who dwell solitarily in a woodland, in the midst of Carmel; let them feed in Bashan and Gilead, as in days of old." (14) Believer's Study Bible, p. 1261: 7:1 4 "Bashan and Gilead were taken from Israel in 734 B.C. (cf. 2 Kin. 15:29). Micah continues to pray for the restoration of the land to the people the Lord promised would have it, the area in question is northern Transjordan." B. Revival "As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt, I will show them wonder." (15) God's power will be demonstrated by signs and wonders. But while Pharaoh hardened his heart, in the latter days people would respond to God. C. Rebuke "The nations shall see and be ashamed of all their mighty. They shall put their hand over their mouth; their ears shall be deaf. They shall lick the dust like a serpent; they shall crawl from their holes like snakes of the earth. They shall be afraid of the Lord our God, and shall fear because of You." (16-17) A portion of God's final plan is to bring judgment upon His enemies. D. Redemption "Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea." 4 / 7

5 (18-19) Believer's Study Bible, p. 1261: 7:19 "There are other passages showing the completeness and finality with which God deals with the sins of His people (Ps. 103:12; Is. 38:17; 44:22; Heb. 8:12). This total restoration of the sinner who trusts in the Savior, even for those who lived centuries before Christ, is based upon the fact that he bore our sins in His own body on the tree'" (cf. Is. 53:5, 6; 1 Pet. 2:24). E. Rejoicing "You will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abraham, which you have sworn to our fathers from days of old." (20) Micah concludes his prophecy with cause for rejoicing. Although judgment was in their near future, truth and mercy would win out according to promises "You have sworn to our Fathers from days of old." We, too, should cling to God's promises. Application: 1. Failure to acknowledge God as Lord results in moral decline. 2. The process of restoration begins with confession of sin. 3. God plans a glorious future for His people. Leader Pack Item 19: Poster: Lesson Outline; Item 20: Handout: Commitment Biblical Illustrator: no article 5 / 7

6 Notes: **You may access David's Lesson Preview in MP3 format at: y.org/ ; Dates: 5/24 - Memorial Day Weekend, normal schedule; 5/26 - Pre-K Graduation & Lunch; 5/ 27 - FBA 5 th Grade Graduation; 5/28 - FBA 8 th Grade Graduation; 6/4-8/6 - Metro Bible Study, WC; 6/5-6 - SBTC College/Single Ad Leaders Conf.; 6/ Vacation Bible School; 6/ Middle School & High School Camp; 6/17 - Midsummer's Night Thing; 6/ Children's Camp; 7/5 - July 4 th weekend - Normal Schedule; 7/7 - Kindercamp; 7/ Houston Project; 7/ High 5 Music Camp ; 7/ First Place 4 Health Leadership Summit; 7/29 - Another Midsummer Night's Thing; 7/30 - Kindercamp; 8/23-6 / 7

7 SBS Promotion and Start New Church Schedule. 7 / 7