Hope: A Path to Fulfillment - Micah 4:1 - 6:16

The relevancy of God’s word to the present day and time in which we live is one of the elements that strengthens my faith, and increases my assurance that God was, is and will ever be in control of this old world. Last Sunday’s lesson reminding us that CORRUPTION IS A PATH TO NOWHERE is an excellent example. This truth has been reaffirmed over and over down through the ages, and should be obvious to all by now. However, I know of no other civilization as well blessed as America, which has openly come out through all Medias of communication rejecting God. And I am hearing of more CORRUPTION in high places than ever before in our history. My heart is so broken that maybe it was God’s will that I not teach last Sunday.
The first bit of information today reaffirms my great HOPE. Juanita [wife] was unconscious when she fell, May 3. On May 4, three metal plates and many stitches were required in the operation on her face, and she remained in intensive care for three days. A pacemaker was installed on May 7. She was transferred to rehabilitation on the 12th. As of the afternoon of the 16th, as I write, she is able to walk from bed to bath on her own, and is eating satisfactorily {All food is blended}.
During these trying days, the hope that I have; my utter dependence on God and his response is no less than my path-way to peace, joy, thanksgiving, and surely fulfillment. We thank all who have prayed for her recovery.
If you have no hope in God, the Bible says that you are of all men most miserable. I speak to you who have hope and ask—what would you do without hope. Would life really be worth living? Think seriously about this matter. Hope in Jesus Christ sustains us. It holds us up, keeps us going, supports us, proves and approves us and above all provides us with the spiritual nourishment we need.
We know that God has a purpose and a plan of action for each individual. Some of us may falter along the way but we can know with absolute assurance that if we are still here as Christians our purpose is not yet accomplished. And if you are a sinner and still here it is to give you more time and opportunities to accept Jesus as your personal Savior; but know assuredly that he will not forever strive for your acceptance. Time is of essence.
Faith and hope have definitions that are similar and are not only based on the Lord but they are given to us by him. They are indestructible; and no one can take them from you; so the only way to loose them is to refuse to believe and use them. Think on this and reflect on the Lord’s words of hope revealed to Micah and how His words provide you with strength as you face difficult situations.
Micah was a contemporary of Hosea of the northern Kingdom and also one of the greatest of all prophets, Isaiah, from the Southern Kingdom. They all prophesied during the last half of the eighth century BC. Their messages were similar even though they may have had different backgrounds. It is felt by many that Isaiah belonged to the royal family or at least the princely families of Jerusalem—and that Micah may have belonged to the poorer classes living in the country. We know that Isaiah belonged to some of the noblest of families; there is no biblical account regarding the family of Micah; not even his father’s name, which is unusual among Jews. As a city dweller, Isaiah moved among the city politicians and statesmen and was the counselor of the king. Micah moved among the poorer classes, country people, peasantry who lived in the country of Judea. He has been called the prophet of the poor.
Micah’s entire message could be summed up in one sentence. All nations that live selfish and luxurious lives, even though they offer costly sacrifices, are vampires in the sight of God, sucking the life-blood out of the poor. Through Micah, God called his people into court to hear their indictment against them. Their sins center in the capital cities of Samaria and Jerusalem the capitol cities of the Northern and Southern Kingdoms. Time has not changed anything—our sins center today in the capitol city of the country, Washington DC.
The warning from this prophet was no different than the one from all the other great prophets that we have heard speak against sin and disobedience. Micah made sure that the people in rural areas got the same messages as those who lived in the cities with great control and influence.
The messaged was loud and clear that the Israelite nations were doomed and their cities and temples would fall, including Jerusalem and the temple located there. Evil nations would conquer the people and they would be exiled, made slaves, and loose all wealth and status.
Only a remnant would be saved and allowed to return. Then the prophet referred to the one that would be born as King of the Jews and they were told that their only hope was in this new king that would come to rule over them. The were warned that God does not let his people continue sinning without warning them of the consequences of their sins, giving them the opportunity to change their lifestyle and rendering punishment for sin.
God has always used individuals he calls out in important historical moments to guide his people, to call them back to him, ant to warn them of his punishment for their sin. There has never been a day in the history of the world when there were as many men of God preaching about the end of time and the coming doom as there are today. Not only are there more great preachers, but they have the radio and television to multiply their efforts to millions in one night.
I have a deep feeling of concern for people of foreign countries that have never had access to the word of God as we in America have had. However, I doubt that God’s wrath will be as heavy against them as it will be against the American disobedient public that has ever reason to know how to do right and are failing to do it. They know when they are wrong but choose to be wrong rather than right and submissive to God.
Those that have rejected God and his great Salvation have no hope past the last day of life here on earth. Those in Micah’s day had no hope without the promise of the King that was yet to come and rule over them as their Messiah. And the Christian hope today lies entirely in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the salvation these events have assured for us.