SCRIPTURE: Micah 1
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
I will bring a conqueror against you who live in Mareshah. The nobles of Israel will flee to Adullam. Shave your head in mourning for the children in whom you delight; make yourself as bald as the vulture, for they will go from you into exile. [Micah 1:15-16]
Micah has been assigned the wonderful task of telling the ‘high and mighty’ in the land that their days are numbered.
A conqueror is coming, and they (the nobles) and their children will flee in shame.
They will be caught, and brought into exile.
Now on the surface of it, this kind of thing was happening all over the world at that time; but here God makes it clear that it’s happening to them for a reason.
All this is because of Jacob’s transgression, because of the sins of the people of Israel. [Micah 1:5]

But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets. [Luke 6:24-26]
God does not want anyone to suffer, to mourn, to go into exile.
His plan is to bless and protect all those who love and honour Him; but when they become corrupt and perverse, greedy and cruel, He cannot bless and protect them.
Jesus speaks of those who are rich, well fed, full of laughter and public admiration.
But this is not a shared experience, this is at the expense of others.
Others go hungry, are poor, ignored, trampled on, full of misery and sorrow – and the ‘high and mighty’ (including the religious ones) do not seem to care.
Well now the day is coming when the tables will be turned.

Jesus speaks of how the ancestors treated the false prophets.
Micah was a true prophet, that is he spoke what God told him to say, not what the people wanted to hear.
It was not a nice message, but it was a true message.
A false prophet says everything will be OK, God will bless everyone, no one will be punished, etc.
But both Micah and Jesus not only announce God’s blessing on those who honour Him, they also announce God’s warning and woe for those who reject Him and His way.
People love to hear what they want to hear, but how about what we need to hear.

Is there a blessing you need to hear from God?
Is there a woe you need to hear from God?
What message from God are you not listening to?
Where do you need to heed a warning, or else things will not go well with you?
God wants to bless you, but He cannot bless a sinful, selfish life.

PRAYER:
Lord, help me to hear the message of woe where I truly need to hear it, so that I may turn back to You and hear Your message of grace!