https://esv.literalword.com/?q=micah+7%3B+psalm+139%3B+proverbs+2
Observations from today’s readings and today’s S-WOD, Saturday, 2 December 2023:
Micah 7:1, 3, 5, 7 — Woe is me…! Their hands are on what is evil, to do it well; the prince and the judge ask for a bribe, and the great man utters the evil desire of his soul; thus they weave it together. Put no trust in a neighbor; have no confidence in a friend. But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me.
Micah laments over the conditions of a society that says, “Where is the Lord your God?” (Micah 7:10) The rich and powerful collude together to take advantage of the weak for their own personal gain, and neighbor cannot trust neighbor. Micah is overcome by woe as he considers God’s judgment on His people – “I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him.” (Micah 7:9) The psalmist once asked, “if the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3) Micah’s response is to remain steadfast, obedient, and to trust in the Lord who “does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.” (Micah 7:18) “In the Lord I take refuge; how can you say to my soul, ‘Flee like a bird to your mountain.’” (Psalm 11:1) “The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.” (Proverbs 15:29)
Micah 7:2 — The godly has perished from the earth, and there is no one upright among mankind.
God’s people are salt and light. Salt preserves and light prevents stumbling in the darkness. When there are not godly people around, the communities fall apart.
Micah 7:4 — The best of them is like a brier, the most upright of them a thorn hedge.
The best of the ungodly are unfruitful and hurtful, despite their claims of goodness.
Micah 7:5 — Put no trust in a neighbor; have no confidence in a friend.
The ungodly cannot be trusted no matter how close they are to you. Selfishness will eventually prevail where God isn’t honored as Lord.
Micah 7:9 — I will bear the indignation of the LORD because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon his vindication.
Though overcome with woe, Micah maintains hope in God’s forgiveness and restoration. Only Jesus can give you mercy and grace from a position of complete righteousness and justice.
Micah 7:18-20 — Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham, as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.
We are passed over in judgment because we are marked with the blood of Jesus.
God’s love, compassion, and forgiveness are models for us to follow. How are you doing?
Psalm 139:1-4 – O Lord, you have searched me and known me…! You discern my thoughts from afar. You… are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
God knows the real you, seeing beyond your actions to the motives behind your actions. Seek to honestly see about yourself what God sees, and strive to grow in genuine love and selflessness. Strive for purity and holiness.
Psalm 139:13, 16 – For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb…. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
How do you think God feels about the unborn child? “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.” (Psalm 127:3) Some debate when life begins, whether an unborn child counts as a life. Again, what does the Bible say?
– Exodus 21:22-25 — When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
– Proverbs 6:16-17 — There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
On Veterans Day, the U.S. pays tribute to our over 18.2 million veterans who have served our Nation in uniform. On Memorial Day, we honor the 1.5 million Americans who have died during times of war since the American Revolution. However, there have been over 63 million abortions in the U.S. since 1973. For perspective that is more than the total population of California (39.2M), New York (19.8M), Connecticut (3.6M) combined. What will you do about it?
– Isaiah 1:17 — Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.
– Proverbs 24:11-12 — Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?
– Psalm 82:4-5 – “Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
Psalm 139:17 – How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
Seek to make your thoughts God’s thoughts, to have the mind of Christ.
Psalm 139:21, 22 – Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies.
Not all hate is bad.
Psalm 139: 23, 24 – Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
The Holy Spirit can reveal to you what you refuse to see in yourself, and the Holy Spirit can reveal to you what you need to change in your life. However, if you refuse to listen or change, your ability to hear the Holy Spirit will diminish, your heart will harden, and you will be destroyed by your disobedience. Pray that God will reveal to you where your heart is not right and that He will guide you to greater holiness, purity, and love.
Proverbs 2:4, 5: …if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
Your relationship with God and your spiritual development takes hard work and lifelong, total commitment. Not everyone has a heart for the effort. To truly know God, your relationship with Him must be your life’s ambition. “Cross” Fit S-WOD (Spiritual Workout of the Day) – 2 December 2023: Pray God will give you His heart concerning the unborn.
Defenders Bible Reading Plan 