This Is the Old Testament is part of a twelve-week thematic overview of the entire Bible. Each day we’ll read a thematic selection from a different book or two of the Bible, along with supplemental passages that show how the theme of that day’s main reading is found throughout Scripture. We’ll also read a brief summary of each book and a reflection on how the book fits into the larger story of Scripture. This week, we’ll continue looking at the Minor Prophets.
The Book of Micah: The book of Micah contains God’s judgment against the nation of Judah. It also includes prophecies about the fall of Samaria, the Babylonian captivity, the eventual return from exile, and the birth of Christ in Bethlehem.
How Micah Fits Into the Story: The book of Micah demonstrates that God is holy and just and that He demands holiness and justice from all people. Micah’s audience had grown content in going through religious motions without genuine devotion, so he preached that true religion comes from a heart tuned to God, resulting in godly living. Those who refuse to repent will face God’s judgment, but the faithful will find His salvation and be led by the true King.
Reflection Questions:
1. Why is it tempting to pursue external displays of obedience over internal heart change? Why do you think Israel continually gave in to this temptation?
2. How does today’s reading shape your understanding of the story of redemption?
Take time to reflect on your responses and share what you are learning with others in the community in the comments.
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46 thoughts on "Micah"
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Reflection Questions:
1. Why is it tempting to pursue external displays of obedience over internal heart change? Because we are selfish creatures at heart. The majority of humankind prioritizes wants over needs.
Why do you think Israel continually gave in to this temptation? Because of greed, pride, and selfishness.
2. How does today’s reading shape your understanding of the story of redemption?
That our Lord will ultimately judge sinners. We should be grateful for His mercy and forgiveness. We should repent.
It’s very tempting to pursue outward religiosity because it feeds our pride. We really want to see others “righteous” and deep deep down we think we need to earn our salvation or to feel like we have some productively contributed to our own saving. The true reality is we utterly step in our deadly trespasses and are not capable of any of the goodness of Christ. As believers of Christ Jesus, our pursuit of what righteousness is to us is not how we earn salvation, salvation is made possible by the Holy Spirit transforming works in our hearts and lives.
Completely agree
It’s tempting to pursue outward religiosity because it indulges our pride. We want others to see how “righteous” we are and, deep down, we want a way to earn our salvation, or to feel that we have in some way productively contributed to our own rescue. The reality is that we are utterly dead in our trespasses and are incapable of any goodness apart from the work of Christ! As believers, our pursuit of righteousness does not earn us our salvation, rather it is a response to that salvation made possible by the Holy Spirt’s transforming work in our hearts and lives. May we live ever aware of the great gift given to us in the gospel and may we strive to live lives of holiness for the glory of God alone!!
Popping in late (for me) to ask that you all keep a new believer from my church in your prayers. Her name is Debbie, and she was in a terrible vehicle accident last night. She is dealing with a broken back, leg, and ribs, as well as the amputation of her arm as a result. Please pray that the Lord would comfort her during this time, and that He would grant her peace and healing in the days, weeks, and months to come. Thank you, sisters!
Kira, that is so awful! Prayers for Debbie as she heals from the fractures and for patience and peace as she adjusts to life with her new normal. May she cling to God in her new faith and not turn away from Him in anger or despair. ❤❤❤
Echoing your prayer Cee-Gee.. oh my, this is a big one..BUT GOD. X
oh my….that is terrible. Have prayed
Praying with Cee Gee and others for Debbie’s faith to become stronger in her suffering. I feel so bad this happened to her, hold her dear Lord.
It is very late to be posting.I just sat down and read for the first time today.
I think it is tempting to pursue external obedience because the human heart loves approval from other humans. We ( humans) want a 700K likes on our Facebook page or our Instagram. Like the Pharisees we crave the praises of men. Many human spend a lifetime seeking approval from others!
It is easier to appear pious and devout than to actually be pious and devout.
Someone already said it today real heart change requires some work on the inside and effort. To the Israelites, it was easier to fool their fellow Israelites. The main objective was not to impress other people but to please God. There are kudos, pats on the back for external religious practices. I think humans forget we can’t fool God but we can other people.
It’s pretty simple, but yet – we get it so wrong
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He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?
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do justly
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love mercy
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walk humbly
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Help us Lord to do the simplest of things well, for You.
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Unless our heart is willing to surrender and make an authentic, true change it will just never make a difference. We can pretend and go through the motions, do the right thing but it will get us no where as we see with the Israelites. It might be a couple things – looking for the easy way out, pride, stubborn hearts and not wanting to surrender to any authority.
I have always loved Micah 6:8. Its direct, straight forward, simple. Not easy but simple. God wants this for us, to walk with Him and to live out what He has for us.
He has told you, Wendy and SRT sisters, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God. ❤️
Amen.♥️
It’s tempting to pursue external displays of obedience over internal heart change because it is easier. Then the heart doesn’t have to change. When we change our hearts, according to his will our whole lives might need to change. Who really wants to do that?
If my heart is changed according to his desire and will, then the external display will change also.❤️
Amen.oh my heart..♥️
Micah reminded me that outward obedience is often easier than true heart surrender. It’s tempting to focus on doing the “right” things while neglecting the condition of our hearts. Israel struggled with this because they lost sight of a genuine relationship with God.
It shows that God has always desired transformed hearts, not empty religion. Through Jesus, He makes that kind of transformation possible.
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Pursuing external displays of obedience gives us self satisfaction of checking off the “right” boxes. As if doing the right things brings God’s favor.
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All God ever wants is our hearts, lovingly loyal to HIM over all else.
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I think Israel continually gave in to this temptation because they did not understand the outward was to be a response of the inward.
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Today’s reading shows me how God longs for us to understand His heart for us and how He wants us to join Him in His kingdom.
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SARAH R – praying the Lord meets Ryan’s need in a way that shows Ryan God’s love for him
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In my opinion, it is easier to pursue external display over a change of heart. To have a heart that is devoted to Christ it requires time, effort and the desire to glorify God and God alone. Many times our tendencies are selfish and hypocritical because we want to please ourselves and not God.
Sorry for the 2 first posts, they were incomplete.
I had the same thought, Minda, about ‘the easy choice’. Thanks for sharing since I could not access this page since 7:30 this morning. I went to He Reads Truth to read. ❤
agree, so true
In my opinion, it is easier to pursue external
1. I believe it’s because there are so many distractions demanding our attention! Even our jobs sometimes (except mine), social media, (ouch) even friends and family as we try to squeeze every inch of life to spend times with them, vacations, outings, etc. Those are great and VERY good and we should. YET, the most important is doing what we SRT sisters are doing here. Sitting at the feet of JESUS, spending time with Him, spending time with one another, even if it’s across the miles or across the pond as our dear sweet Tina always says to us. Here spending time with JESUS is the most important.
2. Keep doing what I’m (we)are doing.
Coming here to this BEAUTIFUL platform of SRT sisters, every day, to grow, learn, and to know that we are sinners saved by grace. To know we are all FORGIVEN.
Happy Thursday sweeties. Stayed up way to late with my girl. Laughing, giggling like little girls, on my bed and way to late for this old lady.
Continuing to pray for our dear sweet Rhonda as they process their loss and WE lift her and family up to our JESUS!
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With you Mari in prayers for dearest Rhonda and her family..♥️
Rhonda, my heart is so heavy for you all, as you mourn the loss of your beautiful niece. Praying for comfort, strength, His peace, which surpasses all understanding. Praying also for her three friends. May they realize the dangerous path they are on. May God draw them to Himself and save them from this horrible addiction. I am aware of the pain, as we walked through it with my brother in law.
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Every relationship requires 2-way commitment. For our relationship with Jesus, we have to commit and submit to Him. He is already fully committed to all who accept His gift of salvation and have faith in Him as evidenced by His death and resurrection.
We need to stay in His Word to be reminded of His love, praise and worship Him daily.
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Why is it tempting to fake it? Goes back to pride, I think. We want others to think one thing while we never let go of who we are to let God do a real change in our hearts and minds.
It’s a look what I’ve done mentality instead of a Look what the Lord is doing.
We are no different from the children of Israel in not wanting to let go of the world- things that look better, more interesting, more exciting, more fulfilling than a relationship with God. Let’s keep our eyes on Jesus, sisters. Anything drawing our attention away from God is drawing us to evil.
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Praying for requests ❤️
Amen! You hit on something that has been weighing on me the past few weeks- re: a new acquaintance who ‘has the world by the tail’ and my asking God to show me how to witness. Thanks for mentioning that today! ❤
Oooo…so many good thoughts to ponder. Thank you ❤️
You summarized this so well! I was having a hard time putting my thoughts into words but you did it so beautifully. Thank you!
In words i understood, thank you Searching..♥️
I love this often spoken verse, so much..
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No, the Lord has told us what is good. What he requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God.
Micah 6:8 GNT.
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Yet today, my mind was drawn to the verse before…
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Will the Lord be pleased if I bring him thousands of sheep or endless streams of olive oil? Shall I offer him my first-born child to pay for my sins?
Micah 6:7
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The sin against God is huge.. HUGE, to the point of payback is not a matter of a few sheep, olive oil or calves..
The cost of their sins, so as to feel as though there is even a dent in the cost, is the thinking “..Will I have to pay with my firstborn..” Will the sacrificing of my firstborn be enough?
Can you imagine coming to that point of thinking for your wrongdoings, your sins, your ungrateful attitude to one that has been there for you in all your mistakes, all your distress, all your wanderings, all your backchatting, disrespect, dishonour..
My heart hurts.. Seriously. OMG.
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when I think my sins against God, the repayments could be the cost of my first born child.. And then some, that gives me the hibby-gibbies!
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BUT GOD..
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He flipped that thinking of long ago, and gave His Son, for our mistakes, our transgressions, our blinkered way of thinking, our self, self self attitude, our sins..
He paid our debts..
He paid our debts..
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HE PAID OUR DEBTS!
In a million years 1) I will not understand this great love He has for me. 2)Thankful, beyond thankful, beyond measure, for His stepping in when I would never have been able to pay my debt.. Ever, not even with my first born child..
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Psalm 51:4 comes to mind..
I have sinned against you_only against you,
and done what you consider evil.
So you are right in judging me;
You are right and justified in condemning me…
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BUT GOD..
You don’t, Father God, instead, you give me Jesus. You give me Jesus!
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YOU GIVE ME JESUS..
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The tears roll..
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Jesus came to call the sinners, and I am so glad, because no amount of doing in my own strength could be enough..BUT GOD..
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And now, Tina, what does the LORD your GOD ask of you, except to fear Him, by walking in His ways, to love Him and to worship the LORD your GOD with all your heart and all your soul…(paraphrased from Deuteronomy 10:12)
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Can you do that Tina????Would
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AMEN.
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I have probably gone off script, but these are my thoughts today..
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Happy today my dears..
Much love, hugs and prayers..❤
Beautiful ❤️
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oh Tina ..that so resonates and is powerful for me today..and what i might to speak at the service next Friday…I don’t know if I am able. you can say all that knowing that u did indeed lose your child (for a little while).
i probably am not saying all this right..but thank you for your words today and all of your comments and prayer for us. we are not uniques, the grief and struggles find us all…no hiding. But her husband has already said, just a bit ago, he wants to find God in all this. Hallelujah. keep praying this grabs people’s hearts for the lost to be found. And in all of OUR prodigals, that something turns them back to the God chasing them down. I love y’all’s families as much as y’all are loving on mine (heart).
Oh, Rhonda, that’s powerful encouragement! Continued prayers and love. God will give you just the right words when you speak. Praying hearts are tilled to receive His Truth. ❤❤❤
Oh Rhonda, I am so so very sorry for your families loss.. I am praying peace peace and more peace over you all, Savannah was loved here on earth, BUT GOD, He loves her more than we will ever know, He has called her home not to cause pain here, but to free her from what had a hold on her. She is free from it all, and she is safe and whole now.. Will continue to pray for your sister, yourself as you walk alongside and the whole family whose heart is broken at this very sad time..
Sending you much love, Rhonda..❤️
You can share your thoughts anytime- off script or not! ❤
Great shares!
And, they are good thoughts. Thank you Tina❤️