Day 194 of My 3rd Bible Study Journey - 13 July 2023 reflections
Day 194, 13 July 2023
1) Micah 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
Micah 1
1 (Isa 1:1; Jer 26:18) The word of the Lord, which came to Micah
the Morashite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah,
kings of Judah, which he saw regarding Samaria and Jerusalem.
2 (Ps 11:4; Isa 1:2) Hear, all you peoples!
Listen, earth and everything in it,
that the Sovereign Lord may be a witness against you,
the Lord from His holy temple.
Judgment Against Samaria and Jerusalem
3 (Am 4:13; Isa 26:21) Look! The Lord is coming out from His place,
so that He might come down and tread upon the high places of the earth.
4 (Na 1:5; Ps 97:5) The mountains will melt beneath Him,
and the valleys split apart
like wax before the fire,
like waters deluged down a slope.
5 (Am 8:14; Jer 2:19) All this because of the transgression of Jacob
and because of the sins of the house of Israel.
What is the transgression of Jacob?
Is it not Samaria?
And what is the high place of Judah?
Is it not Jerusalem?
6 (Eze 13:14; Mic 3:12) Therefore I will make Samaria a heap in the field
for the planting of vineyards.
I will dump her stones into the valley
and expose her foundations.
7 (Dt 23:18; Hos 2:12) All her idols will be shattered,
and her gifts burned with fire,
and I will annihilate her images,
because she gathered them as the wages of a prostitute,
and as the wages of a prostitute they will again be used.
The Lament of Micah
8 (Job 30:29; Isa 20:2-4) Because of this I will lament and wail,
I will go about barefoot and naked;
I will howl like the jackals
and moan like owlets.
9 (Isa 8:7-8; Mic 1:12) For her wound is mortal,
for it has come to Judah;
it has extended to the gate of my people,
to Jerusalem.
10 (2Sa 1:20; Jer 6:26) Do not tell it in Gath,
do not weep at all;
in Beth Ophrah,
roll around in the dust.
11 (Isa 20:4 ) Pass on your way,
inhabitants of Shaphir, naked and ashamed;
the inhabitants of Zaanan
have not come out.
The mourning of Beth Ezel
has taken from you its foothold.
12 (Jer 14:19; Isa 59:9-11) Indeed the inhabitants of Maroth
wait anxiously for good,
because calamity has come down from the Lord
to the gate of Jerusalem.
13 (Jos 10:3; 2Ki 18:17) Harness the chariot to the steeds,
inhabitants of Lachish.
It was the beginning of sin
to the daughter of Zion,
because in you were found
the transgressions of Israel.
14 (Jos 15:44; 2Ki 16:8) Therefore you will give parting gifts
to Moresheth Gath;
the houses of Akzib will be deception
to the kings of Israel.
15 (Jos 15:44; 15:35) I will again bring a conqueror to you,
inhabitants of Mareshah;
the glory of Israel
will come to Adullam.
16 (Isa 22:12; 2Ki 17:6) Make yourself bald and shave your head
for the children of your delight;
make yourself as bald as the eagle,
for they will go from you into exile.
[1] The word of the LORD that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of
Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria
and Jerusalem.
[2] Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let
the Lord GOD be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.
[3] For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come
down,
and tread upon the high places of the earth.
[4] And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be
cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a
steep place.
[5] For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the
house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and
what are the high places of Judah? are they not Jerusalem?
[6] Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the field, and as plantings
of a vineyard: and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and
I will discover the foundations thereof.
[7] And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all
the
hires thereof shall be burned with the fire, and all the idols thereof will
I lay desolate: for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, and they
shall return to the hire of an harlot.
[8] Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will
make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls.
[9] For her wound is incurable; for it is come unto Judah; he is come unto
the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem.
[10] Declare ye it not at Gath, weep ye not at all: in the house of Aphrah
roll thyself in the dust.
[11] Pass ye away, thou inhabitant of Saphir, having thy shame naked: the
inhabitant of Zaanan came not forth in the mourning of Beth-ezel; he shall
receive of you his standing.
[12] For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good: but evil came
down from the LORD unto the gate of Jerusalem.
[13] O thou inhabitant of Lachish, bind the chariot to the swift beast: she
is the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion: for the transgressions
of Israel were found in thee.
[14] Therefore shalt thou give presents to Moresheth-gath: the houses of
Achzib shall be a lie to the kings of Israel.
[15] Yet will I bring an heir unto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah: he shall
come unto Adullam the glory of Israel.
[16] Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy
baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee.
Micah 2
Woe to the Wicked
1 (Ps 36:4; Ge 31:29) Woe to those who conceive wickedness,
to those who devise evil on their beds!
At morning's light they execute it,
because it is in the power of their hand.
2 (Isa 5:8; Am 8:4) They covet fields and seize them,
and houses and take them.
They defraud a man of his house,
and a fellow man of his inheritance.
3 (Isa 2:11-12; Jer 8:3) Therefore, thus says the Lord:
I am devising disaster against this family,
from which you cannot remove your necks;
and you will not walk haughtily,
for it will be a time of calamity.
4 (Hab 2:6; Nu 23:7) In that day they will take up a taunt against you,
and they will wail a wailing lament, and say:
"We are totally ruined!
He diminishes the portion of my people;
how He removes it from me!
To a traitor He reassigns our fields!"
5 (Dt 32:8; Jos 18:4) Therefore you will not have anyone
to apportion the land by lot
in the assembly of the Lord.
Prophets of Deceit
6 (Am 2:12; Isa 30:10) "Do not prophesy," they say.
"One should not prophesy about these things.
Disgrace will not overtake us."
7 (Ps 15:2; 84:11) Should it be said, O house of Jacob,
"Is the Spirit of the Lord impatient?
Are these His deeds?"
Do not My words benefit
him who walks uprightly?
8 (Ps 120:6-7) But lately My people rise up
like an enemy.
You strip off the rich robe
from those who pass by trustingly,
like men returning from war.
9 (Eze 39:21; Hab 2:14) The women of My people you drive out
from their delightful homes;
from their children
you take My adornment forever.
10 (Dt 12:9; Ps 106:38) Get up and go,
for this is not the resting place,
because uncleanness ruins,
and ruin sickens.
11 (Jer 5:31; Isa 30:10-11) If a man, going about vapidly and deceitfully,
lies, "I will preach for you wine and beer,"
he would be just the preacher for this people.
The Restoration of Israel
12 (Mic 4:6-7) I will indeed assemble Jacob-all of you;
I will indeed gather the remnant of Israel.
I will place them together like sheep in a fold,
like a herd in its pasture-thronging with people.
13 (Isa 52:12) He who breaks through has gone up before them;
they will break through and pass the gate and go out by it.
Then their king will pass on before them,
the Lord at their head.
Micah 2
[1] Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when
the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their
hand.
[2] And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take
them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his
heritage.
[3] Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise
an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go
haughtily: for this time is evil.
[4] In that day shall one take up a parable against you, and lament with a
doleful lamentation, and say, We be utterly spoiled: he hath changed the
portion of my people: how hath he removed it from me! turning away he hath
divided our fields.
[5] Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot in the
congregation of the LORD.
[6] Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not
prophesy
to them, that they shall not take shame.
[7] O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the LORD
straitened? are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that
walketh uprightly?
[8] Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye pull off the robe
with the garment from them that pass by securely as men averse from war.
[9] The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses;
from
their children have ye taken away my glory for ever.
[10] Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is
polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction.
[11] If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will
prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the
prophet
of this people.
[12] I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the
remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the
flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of
the multitude of men.
[13] The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have
passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass
before them, and the LORD on the head of them.
Micah 3
Leaders and Prophets Judged
1 (Ps 82:1-5; Isa 1:10) Then I said:
Listen now, heads of Jacob,
and rulers of the house of Israel.
Should you not know justice?
2 (Ps 53:4; Eze 22:27) You who hate good and love evil,
who tear the skin from My people
and the flesh from their bones;
3 (Ps 14:4; Eze 11:3) you who have eaten the flesh of My people,
and have flayed their skin from them,
and broken their bones in pieces;
who have chopped them up like meat in the pot,
and like flesh in the cauldron.
4 (Isa 1:15; Ps 18:41) Then they will cry out to the Lord,
but He will not answer them;
He will hide His face from them at that time,
because they have wrought evil deeds.
5 (Isa 9:15-16; Jer 14:14-15)Thus says the Lord:
Regarding the prophets
who mislead My people-
the ones who have something to eat
proclaim "Peace,"
but if one does not feed them,
then they prepare for war against him.
6 (Isa 8:20-22; 29:10) Therefore you will have night without vision,
and you will have darkness without divination;
the sun will set upon the prophets,
and black upon them will be the day.
7 (Isa 44:25; Zec 13:4) The seers will be shamed
and the diviners disgraced,
and they will all cover their beards,
for there is no answer from God.
8 (Isa 58:1; Jer 1:18; 6:11) But as for me, I am filled with power,
with the Spirit of the Lord,
and with justice and might,
to declare to Jacob his transgression
and to Israel his sin.
9 (Ps 58:1-2; Isa 1:23) Please hear this, heads of the house of Jacob
and rulers of the house of Israel,
who detest justice
and warp all that is straight,
10 who build Zion with bloodguilt
and Jerusalem with wickedness.
11 (Isa 1:23; Jer 6:13) Her leaders judge for a bribe,
her priests teach for a price,
and her prophets practice divination for money.
Yet upon the Lord they lean, saying,
"Is not the Lord in our midst?
Evil will not come upon us."
12 (Jer 26:18; Ps 79:1) Therefore, because of you,
Zion will be plowed like a field,
Jerusalem will be mounds of ruins,
and the mountain of the house will become wooded heights.
Micah 3
[1] And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the
house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment?
[2] Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off
them, and their flesh from off their bones;
[3] Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them;
and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as
flesh within the caldron.
[4] Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will
even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves
ill in their doings.
[5] Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err,
that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into
their mouths, they even prepare war against him.
[6] Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and
it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go
down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.
[7] Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they
shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.
[8] But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment,
and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.
[9] Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of
the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity.
[10] They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.
[11] The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for
hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the
LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.
[12] Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem
shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the
forest.
Micah 4
The Mountain of the Lord
Isa 2:1-4
1 (Ps 22:27; 86:9) Then it will be that in the latter days,
the mountain of the house of the Lord will be established
as head of the mountains,
and will be lifted up above the hills;
and people will stream to it.
2 (Ps 25:8-9; Isa 54:13) And many nations will come and say,
"Come, that we might go up to the mountain of the Lord,
and to the house of the God of Jacob,
that He might teach us His ways,
and that we might walk in His paths."
For from Zion will go forth the law,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
3 (Isa 2:4) Then He will judge between many peoples
and mediate for mighty nations far and wide;
they will beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
and they will no longer train for war.
4 (1Ki 4:25; Isa 1:20) Then each man will sit under his vine
and under his fig tree,
and no one will make them afraid;
for the mouth of the Lord of Hosts has spoken.
5 (Zec 10:12; 2Ki 17:29) For all the peoples may walk,
each in the name of his God,
but we will walk in the name of the Lord
our God forever and ever.
The Promise of Restoration
6 (Zep 3:19; Ps 147:2) In that day, declares the Lord,
I will assemble the lame
and gather the banished
and those whom I have afflicted;
7 (Isa 24:23; Da 7:14) and I will make the lame into a remnant,
and the banished into a mighty nation;
and the Lord will reign over them on Mount Zion
from this time forth and forevermore.
8 (Zec 9:10) As for you, watchtower of the flock,
citadel of the daughter of Zion,
to you it will come, the former dominion will come,
kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem.
9 (Jer 8:19) Now why do you cry loudly?
Have you no king?
Has your counselor perished,
that agony has seized you like the woman in labor?
10 (2Ki 20:18; Isa 48:20) Writhe and bring forth, daughter of Zion,
like the woman in labor,
because now you will go forth from the city
and reside in the field,
and you will come to Babylon.
There you will be rescued;
there the Lord will redeem you
from the hand of your enemies.
11 (Ob 1:12; Isa 5:25-30) But now many nations
are gathered against you, saying,
"May she be defiled,
and may our eyes gaze upon Zion."
12 (Isa 55:8; Lk 3:17) But they do not know
the thoughts of the Lord,
and they do not understand His plan,
that He has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor.
13 (Isa 23:18; Da 2:44) Arise and thresh, daughter of Zion,
for I will make your horn iron;
your hoofs I will make bronze,
and you will shatter many peoples.
I will devote their pillage to the Lord,
their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.
Micah 4
[1] But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the
house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it
shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.
[2] And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the
mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will
teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go
forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
[3] And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar
off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into
pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall
they learn war any more.
[4] But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and
none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken
it.
[5] For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will
walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.
[6] In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth, and I
will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted;
[7] And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off
a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from
henceforth, even for ever.
[8] And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion,
unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to
the daughter of Jerusalem.
[9] Now why dost thou cry out aloud? is there no king in thee? is thy
counseller perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.
[10] Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman
in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt
dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be
delivered; there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.
[11] Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be
defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion.
[12] But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his
counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.
[13] Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron,
and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people:
and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the
Lord of the whole earth.
Micah 5
The Ruler From Bethlehem
1 (La 3:30; Job 16:10) Now gather yourself in troops, O daughter of troops;
he has laid siege against us.
With a rod they will strike
the judge of Israel on the cheek.
2 (Zec 9:9; Mt 2:6) But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
although you are small among the tribes of Judah,
from you will come forth for Me
one who will be ruler over Israel.
His origins are from of old,
from ancient days.
3 (Isa 10:20-21; Hos 11:8) Therefore He will give them up,
until the time when she who is in labor has given birth,
and the rest of his brothers will return
to the children of Israel.
4 (Mic 7:14; Lk 1:32) He will stand and shepherd
in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God;
then they will live securely, because now He will be great
until the ends of the earth;
5 (Lk 2:14; Zec 9:10) and He will be their peace.
The Remnant of Jacob Delivered
When Assyria enters our land
and treads through our palaces,
then we will raise up against him seven shepherds
and eight commanders of men.
6 (Ge 10:8-11; Isa 14:25) They will shepherd the land of Assyria
with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at her gates;
He will rescue us from Assyria,
when he enters our land
and when he treads within our border.
7 (Mic 5:3; Dt 32:2) Then the remnant of Jacob will be
in the midst of many peoples,
like dew from the Lord,
like showers upon the grass,
which do not wait for a man
and do not linger for the sons of men.
8 (Ps 50:22; Mic 4:13) The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations,
in the midst of many peoples,
like a lion among the beasts of the forest,
like a young lion among flocks of sheep,
which when it passes through, tramples and mauls,
without rescuer.
9 (Isa 26:11; Ps 21:8) Your hand will be lifted up over your adversaries,
and all your enemies will be cut off.
10 (Zec 9:10; Hos 14:3) And in that day, declares the Lord,
I will cut off your horses from among you,
and I will destroy your chariots.
11 (Isa 2:12-17) Then I will cut off the cities of your land,
and I will overthrow your strongholds;
12 then I will cut off sorceries from your hand,
and you will no longer have fortune-tellers.
13 (Eze 6:9) Then I will cut off your idols,
and your sacred stones from among you,
and you will no longer bow down
to the work of your hands;
14 (Ex 34:13) then I will root out your Asherah idols from among you,
and I will annihilate your cities.
15 (Ps 149:7; Mic 5:8) And in anger and wrath I will take vengeance
on the nations that have not listened.
Micah 5
[1] Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege
against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.
[2] But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands
of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in
Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
[3] Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth
hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the
children of Israel.
[4] And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty
of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be
great unto the ends of the earth.
[5] And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our
land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against
him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.
[6] And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of
Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian,
when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders.
[7] And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew
from the LORD, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor
waiteth for the sons of men.
[8] And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of
many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among
the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth
in pieces, and none can deliver.
[9] Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine
enemies shall be cut off.
[10] And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that I will cut
off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots:
[11] And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy
strong holds:
[12] And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have
no more soothsayers:
[13] Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of
the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands.
[14] And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so will I
destroy thy cities.
[15] And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such
as they have not heard.
Micah 6
The Indictment of the Lord
1 (Ps 50:1; Mic 1:2) Listen to what the Lord says:
Arise, plead your case before the mountains,
that the hills may hear your voice.
2 (Isa 1:18; Hos 4:1) Hear, mountains, the indictment of the Lord,
O enduring foundations of the earth-
that the Lord has an indictment against His people,
and against Israel He will dispute.
3 (Jer 2:5; Isa 43:22-23) "My people, what have I done to you,
and how have I wearied you? Answer Me!
4 (Ex 12:51; Dt 7:8) For I have brought you up from the land of Egypt,
and from the house of slaves I have redeemed you;
and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
5 (Nu 25:1; Jos 5:9-10) O My people, remember now
what Balak king of Moab counseled,
and what Balaam son of Beor answered him,
and remember what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,
so that you might know the righteous acts of the Lord."
The Requirement of the Lord
6 "With what should I come before the Lord,
and bow down before God on high?
Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
7 (2Ki 16:3; Ps 50:9) Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?"
8 (Isa 57:15; Hos 6:6) He has told you, O man, 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?
The Punishment of Israel's Guilt
9 (Isa 30:27) The voice of the Lord calls to the city-
and wisdom will fear Your name:
Heed the rod and Him who has appointed it.
10 (Am 3:10; Jer 5:26-27) Are there still in the house of the wicked
treasures of wickedness?
And the short ephah
[A dry measure of about 3/5 bushel, or 22 liters.] which is accursed?
11 (Hos 12:7) Should I acquit the scales of wickedness,
and the sack of dishonest weights?
12 (Isa 1:23; Jer 9:8) Her wealthy men are full of violence,
and her inhabitants speak deception,
and their tongue in their mouth is treachery.
13 Therefore, I have struck you a dreadful blow,
devastating you because of your sins.
14 (Hos 4:10 ) You will eat, but not be satisfied,
with hunger within you.
You will set aside, but not retain;
and what you retain I will give over to the sword.
15 (Zep 1:13; Jer 12:13) You will sow, but not reap;
you will tread olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil;
you will crush grapes, but not drink wine.
16 (Jer 7:24; 51:51) You observe the statutes of Omri,
and every practice of the house of Ahab,
and you walk in their counsels.
Therefore I will give you over to destruction,
and the inhabitants to derision.
You will bear the contempt of My people.
Micah 6
[1] Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the
mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.
[2] Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD's controversy, and ye strong foundations
of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will
plead with Israel.
[3] O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied
thee? testify against me.
[4] For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of
the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
[5] O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what
Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may
know the righteousness of the LORD.
[6] Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high
God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year
old?
[7] Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands
of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit
of my body for the sin of my soul?
[8] He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require
of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
[9] The LORD's voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see
thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.
[10] Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked,
and the scant measure that is abominable?
[11] Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of
deceitful weights?
[12] For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants
thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
[13] Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee
desolate because of thy sins.
[14] Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in
the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and
that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword.
[15] Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives,
but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not
drink wine.
[16] For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of
Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation,
and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the
reproach of my people.
Micah 7
Wait on the Lord
1 (Isa 24:13; Hos 9:10) Woe is me!
Because I am as the gathering of summer fruit,
as the gleaning of grapes;
there is no cluster to eat,
no early fig that my soul desires.
2 (Ps 12:1; Isa 57:1) The godly has perished from the earth,
and no one is upright among men.
All of them lie in wait for bloodshed;
each hunts his brother with a net.
3 (Mic 3:11; Pr 4:16-17) Both hands are upon evil, to do it well.
The prince and the judge request the bribe,
the powerful asserts the craving of his very soul-
they intertwine together.
4 (Isa 22:5; Eze 2:6; 2Sa 23:6-7) The best among them is like a brier,
the most upright among them a bramble;
the day of your watchmen,
of your punishment, has come;
now their confusion is at hand.
5 (Jer 9:4) Do not trust in a companion,
do not rely on a friend;
from her who lies in your embrace,
guard the doors of your mouth.
6 (Mt 10:35-36; Eze 22:7) For the son dishonors the father,
the daughter rises up against her mother,
the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law -
the enemies of a man are members of his own household.
7 (Isa 25:9) But as for me, I watch for the Lord;
I await the God of my salvation;
my God will hear me.
The Penitence of Israel
8 (Ps 112:4; Isa 9:2) Do not rejoice over me, my enemy!
Although I have fallen, I will rise;
although I dwell in darkness,
the Lord is my light.
9 (Ps 37:6; 1Sa 24:15) I will endure the rage of the Lord,
because I have sinned against Him,
until the time when He pleads my case
and executes judgment for me.
He will bring me out into the light;
I will look upon His vindication.
10 (Joel 2:17; Zec 10:5) Then my enemy will see,
and shame will cover her
who said to me,
"Where is the Lord your God?"
My eyes will look upon her;
now she will be trampled
like muck in the streets.
11 A day for building your walls,
in that day the boundary will be extended.
12 (Isa 19:23-25; 11:16) In that day they will come to you
from Assyria and the cities of Egypt,
and from Egypt to the River,
from sea to sea,
and from mountain to mountain.
13 (Isa 3:10-11; Jer 25:11) The earth will become desolate because
of its inhabitants,
from the fruit of their deeds.
The Restoration of Israel
14 (Mic 5:4; Ps 28:9) Shepherd your people with your staff,
the flock of your inheritance,
which live alone in a forest,
in the midst of a fertile land;
let them graze in Bashan and Gilead,
as in the days of old.
15 (Isa 11:16) As in the days when you came out of Egypt,
I will display wonders.
16 (Isa 26:11; 52:15) Nations will see and be ashamed,
despite all their might;
they will put their hand on their mouth,
and their ears will be deaf.
17 (Isa 49:23; Ps 18:45) They will lick dust like the serpent,
like crawling creatures of the earth;
they will come shuddering from their lairs.
They will turn in dread to the Lord our God,
and they will be afraid of You.
18 (Isa 43:25; Jer 32:41) Who is a God like You,
bearing iniquity and passing over transgression
for the remnant of His inheritance?
He does not remain angry forever,
because He delights in benevolence.
19 (Isa 38:17; Jer 50:20) He will again have compassion upon us.
He will tread down our iniquities,
and cast all of our sins into the depths of the sea.
20 You will give faithfulness to Jacob and benevolence to Abraham,
which You swore to our fathers from the days of old.
Micah 7
[1] Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the
grapegleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired
the firstripe fruit.
[2] The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright
among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother
with a net.
[3] That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and
the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his
mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.
[4] The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn
hedge: the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation cometh; now shall be
their perplexity.
[5] Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the
doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.
[6] For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her
mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are
the men of his own house.
[7] Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my
salvation: my God will hear me.
[8] Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I
sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.
[9] I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against
him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me
forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.
[10] Then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her
which said unto me, Where is the LORD thy God? mine eyes shall behold her:
now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets.
[11] In the day that thy walls are to be built, in that day shall the decree
be far removed.
[12] In that day also he shall come even to thee from Assyria, and from the
fortified cities, and from the fortress even to the river, and from sea to
sea, and from mountain to mountain.
[13] Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell
therein, for the fruit of their doings.
[14] Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell
solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and
Gilead, as in the days of old.
[15] According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I
shew unto him marvellous things.
[16] The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might: they shall
lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf.
[17] They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their
holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and
shall fear because of thee.
[18] Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by
the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger
for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
[19] He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our
iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
[20] Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which
thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.
2) Our Daily Bread for 13 July 2023 titled
Personal Responsibility
Zephaniah 3:1-8
Woe to Jerusalem
1 (Jer 6:6) Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled,
the oppressing city.
2 (Jer 5:3; Ps 78:22) She obeys no voice,
she receives no correction;
she does not trust in the Lord,
she does not draw near to her God.
3 (Hab 1:8; Jer 5:6) Her princes within her are roaring lions;
her judges are evening wolves
who leave nothing until the morning.
4 (Eze 22:26; Hos 9:7) Her prophets are reckless,
treacherous men;
her priests have profaned the sanctuary
and done violence to the law.
5 (Dt 32:4; Zep 3:15 ) The Lord is righteous in her midst;
He does no unrighteousness.
Every morning He brings His justice to light;
He does not fail,
but the unjust knows no shame.
6 I have cut off nations,
their strongholds are devastated;
I have made their streets desolate,
with no one passing by.
Their cities are destroyed;
there is no man, no inhabitant.
7 (Hos 9:9; Jer 7:7) I said,
"Surely you will fear Me;
and you will receive correction."
So her dwelling will not be cut off,
according to all that I have appointed against her.
But they were more eager
to corrupt all their deeds.
The Conversion of the Nations
8(Joel 3:2; Zep 1:18) Therefore wait for Me, declares the Lord,
until the day when I rise up to seize the plunder;
for My decision is to gather nations,
to assemble kingdoms,
to pour on them My indignation,
all My fierce anger;
for all the earth will be devoured
with the fire of My jealousy.
[1] Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!
[2] She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not
in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.
[3] Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves;
they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.
[4] Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have
polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.
[5] The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every
morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust
knoweth no shame.
[6] I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their
streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that
there is no man, that there is none inhabitant.
[7] I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so
their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they
rose early, and corrupted all their doings.
[8] Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up
to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may
assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my
fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my
jealousy.
My friend's eyes revealed what I was feeling-fear! We two teens had behaved
poorly and were now cowering before the camp director. The man, who knew our
dads well, shared lovingly but pointedly that our fathers would be greatly
disappointed. We wanted to crawl under the table-feeling the weight of
personal responsibility for our offense.
God gave Zephaniah a message for the people of Judah that contained potent
words about personal responsibility for sin (Zephaniah 1:1, 6–7). After
describing the judgments He would bring against Judah's foes (ch. 2),
He turned His eyes on His guilty, squirming people (ch. 3). "What sorrow
awaits rebellious, polluted Jerusalem," God proclaimed (3:1 nlt).
"They [are] still eager to act corruptly" (v. 7).
He'd seen the cold hearts of His people—their spiritual apathy, social
injustice, and ugly greed-and He was bringing loving discipline. And it didn't
matter if the individuals were "leaders," "judges," "prophets"(vv. 3-4 nlt)
-everyone was guilty before Him.
The apostle Paul wrote the following to believers in Jesus who persisted in
sin, "You are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. . . . [God] will
judge everyone according to what they have done" (Romans 2:5-6 nlt). So, in
Jesus' power, let's live in a way that honours our holy, loving Father and
leads to no remorse.
By: Tom Felten
Reflect & Pray
Why should you take personal responsibility for your sin?
How do your wrong choices bring shame to God?
Heavenly Father, please help me pursue good choices for You.
For further study, read Feeling the Weight of Sin.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 7 Promises of Grace - Day 5 The Way Out
1 Cor 10:13
13 (1Co 1:9; 2Pe 2:9) No temptation has taken
you except what is common to man. God is faithful,
and He will not permit you to be tempted above
what you can endure, but will with the temptation
also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common
to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be
tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation
also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Becky had experienced some hard knocks in the past few weeks; the stress
was beginning to show, and she wasn't sure she should handle anything else.
"Why me?" Becky wept, covering her face. "I just can't stand it any more!
I can't pay my bills; I just lost my job, and now my car broke down
on the highway. How much more of this can I take?"
Some people seem to have more than their share of trouble and temptation.
Within six months, one family faced financial trouble, cancer, quadruple
bypass surgery, and leukemia; their trials brought them face to face with
anger, bitterness, and despair as well. Other people seem to go through
life with relatively minor stresses and few real temptations to sin.
But whether our problems are great or small, they are part of the common
thread that ties humanity together. All of us face temptation; it is ,
Paul says, "Common to man." But Paul assures us that
"God ... will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear."
Often what we can bear is more that what we think we can bear. God will use
the troubled times in our lives for our maturity in him, but he promises
as well that he will not let temptation break us. He will provide "a way out,"
"a way of escape".
Sometimes the "way out" is true escape, being removed from what caused the
trouble. At other times, rather than being removed from it, we must
withstand the stress, face the temptation, enure the pain. Whether we escape
or endure, God is faithful to provide what we need; we can trust him
not to give us more than we can bear.
Application
a) Have I ever faced more stress or temptation than I thought I could bear?
b) Under what circumstances has God provided an "escape" for me?
When have I had to walk "through" my difficulties?
c) How can today's verse encourage me when times are tough?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
2 Chr 26:5
5 (2 Ch 24:2; Da 1:17) And he sought after God in the days of Zechariah,
the one who instructed him in the fear of the Lord. And in the days
that he sought after the Lord, God caused him to succeed.
5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah,
who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long
as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Gift of Salvation
Ps 40:1-3,9-11
PSALMS 40
1 I waited patiently for the Lord,
and He turned to me, and heard my cry.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
out of the miry clay,
and set my feet on a rock,
and established my steps.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) He has put a new song in my mouth,
even praise to our God;
many will see it, and fear,
and will trust in the Lord.
...
9 (Ps 38:6; 18:2) I have proclaimed righteousness
in the great congregation;
I have not held back my lips,
O Lord, You know.
10 (Ps 42:3; Joel 2:17) I have not hidden Your righteousness
within my heart;
I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth
from the great congregation.
11 (Ps 42:5; 43:5) Do not withhold Your compassion from me, O Lord;
may Your lovingkindness and Your truth always guard me.
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even
praise unto our God:
Many shall see it, and fear,
And shall trust in the LORD.
...
9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation:
Lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart;
I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation:
I have not concealed thy lovingkindness,
And thy truth from the great congregation.
11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD:
Let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)
Where do Muslims live?
Canada is a land of immigrants. And Muslims are coming in increasing numbers
to our shores. Where do they live? How can we pray for these areas? Use this as
your more effectively for Muslims in Canada.
Data for those population figures is extrapolated for the 2011 National
Household Survey and population growth projections by Pew Forum. These have
also been adjusted by +40% as reliable sources state that on 60% of Muslims
self-identify on government surveys and forms. These estimates are still on
the conservative end of the spectrum. Percentages represent that of the total
Canadian population, not provincial
BC - 136493 - 7.5%
AB - 195240 - 11%
SK - 17279 - 1%
MB - 21349 - 1.2%
ON - 1001542 - 55%
QC - 418946 - 23%
NB - 4543 - 0.003%
NS - 14629 - 0.1%
PEI - 1127 - 0.0006%
NFLD - 2065 - 0.001%
Yukon - 69 - 0.00004%
NWT - 473 - 0.0003%
NU - 86 - 0.00005%
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 "In the last days it shall be," says God,
"that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below:
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]
Footnotes
Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
And
Thank you for praying through the
5 Days of Prayer for Sikhs.
"My name is Kam. I'm 29 years of age, and I grew up Sikh. As a teenager,
I struggled with depression, brokenness, and addiction to
cannabis. I didn't know how to stop or how to get help.
Then a friend invited me to church. As I spent time with Christians
and heard the message of the Gospel, I experienced the
love of Jesus Christ, and it was like nothing I'd known before.
One night I had a dream where I saw Him - a figure surrounded by
light who I knew was Jesus, the light of the world.
As I began to understand the gospel message, I encountered a reassuring and
confident solution to the problem of sin. I knew that I needed a solution
to my sin problem, and I gave my life to Christ.
Slowly, God began to heal my broken heart and my addiction.
Nine years have passed, and I am a devoted husband and a father
to two beautiful boys. I grow deeper in love with Jesus each day.
I ask you to continue praying with me, and others around the world, for Sikhs.
God is the only one who can draw people to Himself. He works in and through
the prayers of His people. I want Sikhs to know the freedom
and healing that is only available through Jesus Christ."
13 (Ro 14:17; 12:12) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy
and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope,
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
[13] Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that
ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
ROMANS 15:13
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
13th Day of the Month
a) Pray that, with God's help, children and
young people will be able to journey with hope towards the destiny God has
for each of them
b) Pray for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador
I) Pray for the leaders of Newfoundland and Labrador, that God's Spirit
would influence then to act justly, serve with integrity
and honour high moral standards.
( 1 Tim 2:1 - 4
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that you make supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and thanksgivings for everyone,
2 (Ezr 6:10) for kings and for all who are in authority, that we may
lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty,
3(1Ti 1:1; Lk 1:47) for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God
our Savior,
4 (Eze 18:23; 18:32)who desires all men to be saved and to come
to the knowledge of the truth.
)
II) Pray for the churches of the province, that they would be lighthouses
beaming forth the illuminating truth of God's Word.
III) Pray that the Lord would use the Finding the Hope Campaign
and booklet to turn many hearts to Jesus
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and and pray fr your nation to turn away from its evil ways
and turn to the Lord.
Pray to the Lord: "Heavenly Father, please help me pursue good choices for
You."
Pray to the Lord and pray to give Him all your temptations.
Pray to the Lord and pray to seek Him diligently.
Pray to the Lord and pray to know Him as source of Salvation.
Pray for Muslims in Canada to know Jesus as Saviour.
Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
Pray that, with God's help, children and
young people will be able to journey with hope towards the destiny God has
for each of them.
Pray that believers in Cameroon will bear one another's burdens, serving
as witnesses of Christ's love .
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.
1) Micah 1,2,3,4,5,6,7
Micah 1
1 (Isa 1:1; Jer 26:18) The word of the Lord, which came to Micah
the Morashite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah,
kings of Judah, which he saw regarding Samaria and Jerusalem.
2 (Ps 11:4; Isa 1:2) Hear, all you peoples!
Listen, earth and everything in it,
that the Sovereign Lord may be a witness against you,
the Lord from His holy temple.
Judgment Against Samaria and Jerusalem
3 (Am 4:13; Isa 26:21) Look! The Lord is coming out from His place,
so that He might come down and tread upon the high places of the earth.
4 (Na 1:5; Ps 97:5) The mountains will melt beneath Him,
and the valleys split apart
like wax before the fire,
like waters deluged down a slope.
5 (Am 8:14; Jer 2:19) All this because of the transgression of Jacob
and because of the sins of the house of Israel.
What is the transgression of Jacob?
Is it not Samaria?
And what is the high place of Judah?
Is it not Jerusalem?
6 (Eze 13:14; Mic 3:12) Therefore I will make Samaria a heap in the field
for the planting of vineyards.
I will dump her stones into the valley
and expose her foundations.
7 (Dt 23:18; Hos 2:12) All her idols will be shattered,
and her gifts burned with fire,
and I will annihilate her images,
because she gathered them as the wages of a prostitute,
and as the wages of a prostitute they will again be used.
The Lament of Micah
8 (Job 30:29; Isa 20:2-4) Because of this I will lament and wail,
I will go about barefoot and naked;
I will howl like the jackals
and moan like owlets.
9 (Isa 8:7-8; Mic 1:12) For her wound is mortal,
for it has come to Judah;
it has extended to the gate of my people,
to Jerusalem.
10 (2Sa 1:20; Jer 6:26) Do not tell it in Gath,
do not weep at all;
in Beth Ophrah,
roll around in the dust.
11 (Isa 20:4 ) Pass on your way,
inhabitants of Shaphir, naked and ashamed;
the inhabitants of Zaanan
have not come out.
The mourning of Beth Ezel
has taken from you its foothold.
12 (Jer 14:19; Isa 59:9-11) Indeed the inhabitants of Maroth
wait anxiously for good,
because calamity has come down from the Lord
to the gate of Jerusalem.
13 (Jos 10:3; 2Ki 18:17) Harness the chariot to the steeds,
inhabitants of Lachish.
It was the beginning of sin
to the daughter of Zion,
because in you were found
the transgressions of Israel.
14 (Jos 15:44; 2Ki 16:8) Therefore you will give parting gifts
to Moresheth Gath;
the houses of Akzib will be deception
to the kings of Israel.
15 (Jos 15:44; 15:35) I will again bring a conqueror to you,
inhabitants of Mareshah;
the glory of Israel
will come to Adullam.
16 (Isa 22:12; 2Ki 17:6) Make yourself bald and shave your head
for the children of your delight;
make yourself as bald as the eagle,
for they will go from you into exile.
[1] The word of the LORD that came to Micah the Morasthite in the days of
Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria
and Jerusalem.
[2] Hear, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let
the Lord GOD be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.
[3] For, behold, the LORD cometh forth out of his place, and will come
down,
and tread upon the high places of the earth.
[4] And the mountains shall be molten under him, and the valleys shall be
cleft, as wax before the fire, and as the waters that are poured down a
steep place.
[5] For the transgression of Jacob is all this, and for the sins of the
house of Israel. What is the transgression of Jacob? is it not Samaria? and
what are the high places of Judah? are they not Jerusalem?
[6] Therefore I will make Samaria as an heap of the field, and as plantings
of a vineyard: and I will pour down the stones thereof into the valley, and
I will discover the foundations thereof.
[7] And all the graven images thereof shall be beaten to pieces, and all
the
hires thereof shall be burned with the fire, and all the idols thereof will
I lay desolate: for she gathered it of the hire of an harlot, and they
shall return to the hire of an harlot.
[8] Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will
make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls.
[9] For her wound is incurable; for it is come unto Judah; he is come unto
the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem.
[10] Declare ye it not at Gath, weep ye not at all: in the house of Aphrah
roll thyself in the dust.
[11] Pass ye away, thou inhabitant of Saphir, having thy shame naked: the
inhabitant of Zaanan came not forth in the mourning of Beth-ezel; he shall
receive of you his standing.
[12] For the inhabitant of Maroth waited carefully for good: but evil came
down from the LORD unto the gate of Jerusalem.
[13] O thou inhabitant of Lachish, bind the chariot to the swift beast: she
is the beginning of the sin to the daughter of Zion: for the transgressions
of Israel were found in thee.
[14] Therefore shalt thou give presents to Moresheth-gath: the houses of
Achzib shall be a lie to the kings of Israel.
[15] Yet will I bring an heir unto thee, O inhabitant of Mareshah: he shall
come unto Adullam the glory of Israel.
[16] Make thee bald, and poll thee for thy delicate children; enlarge thy
baldness as the eagle; for they are gone into captivity from thee.
Micah 2
Woe to the Wicked
1 (Ps 36:4; Ge 31:29) Woe to those who conceive wickedness,
to those who devise evil on their beds!
At morning's light they execute it,
because it is in the power of their hand.
2 (Isa 5:8; Am 8:4) They covet fields and seize them,
and houses and take them.
They defraud a man of his house,
and a fellow man of his inheritance.
3 (Isa 2:11-12; Jer 8:3) Therefore, thus says the Lord:
I am devising disaster against this family,
from which you cannot remove your necks;
and you will not walk haughtily,
for it will be a time of calamity.
4 (Hab 2:6; Nu 23:7) In that day they will take up a taunt against you,
and they will wail a wailing lament, and say:
"We are totally ruined!
He diminishes the portion of my people;
how He removes it from me!
To a traitor He reassigns our fields!"
5 (Dt 32:8; Jos 18:4) Therefore you will not have anyone
to apportion the land by lot
in the assembly of the Lord.
Prophets of Deceit
6 (Am 2:12; Isa 30:10) "Do not prophesy," they say.
"One should not prophesy about these things.
Disgrace will not overtake us."
7 (Ps 15:2; 84:11) Should it be said, O house of Jacob,
"Is the Spirit of the Lord impatient?
Are these His deeds?"
Do not My words benefit
him who walks uprightly?
8 (Ps 120:6-7) But lately My people rise up
like an enemy.
You strip off the rich robe
from those who pass by trustingly,
like men returning from war.
9 (Eze 39:21; Hab 2:14) The women of My people you drive out
from their delightful homes;
from their children
you take My adornment forever.
10 (Dt 12:9; Ps 106:38) Get up and go,
for this is not the resting place,
because uncleanness ruins,
and ruin sickens.
11 (Jer 5:31; Isa 30:10-11) If a man, going about vapidly and deceitfully,
lies, "I will preach for you wine and beer,"
he would be just the preacher for this people.
The Restoration of Israel
12 (Mic 4:6-7) I will indeed assemble Jacob-all of you;
I will indeed gather the remnant of Israel.
I will place them together like sheep in a fold,
like a herd in its pasture-thronging with people.
13 (Isa 52:12) He who breaks through has gone up before them;
they will break through and pass the gate and go out by it.
Then their king will pass on before them,
the Lord at their head.
Micah 2
[1] Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when
the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their
hand.
[2] And they covet fields, and take them by violence; and houses, and take
them away: so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his
heritage.
[3] Therefore thus saith the LORD; Behold, against this family do I devise
an evil, from which ye shall not remove your necks; neither shall ye go
haughtily: for this time is evil.
[4] In that day shall one take up a parable against you, and lament with a
doleful lamentation, and say, We be utterly spoiled: he hath changed the
portion of my people: how hath he removed it from me! turning away he hath
divided our fields.
[5] Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast a cord by lot in the
congregation of the LORD.
[6] Prophesy ye not, say they to them that prophesy: they shall not
prophesy
to them, that they shall not take shame.
[7] O thou that art named the house of Jacob, is the spirit of the LORD
straitened? are these his doings? do not my words do good to him that
walketh uprightly?
[8] Even of late my people is risen up as an enemy: ye pull off the robe
with the garment from them that pass by securely as men averse from war.
[9] The women of my people have ye cast out from their pleasant houses;
from
their children have ye taken away my glory for ever.
[10] Arise ye, and depart; for this is not your rest: because it is
polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction.
[11] If a man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie, saying, I will
prophesy unto thee of wine and of strong drink; he shall even be the
prophet
of this people.
[12] I will surely assemble, O Jacob, all of thee; I will surely gather the
remnant of Israel; I will put them together as the sheep of Bozrah, as the
flock in the midst of their fold: they shall make great noise by reason of
the multitude of men.
[13] The breaker is come up before them: they have broken up, and have
passed through the gate, and are gone out by it: and their king shall pass
before them, and the LORD on the head of them.
Micah 3
Leaders and Prophets Judged
1 (Ps 82:1-5; Isa 1:10) Then I said:
Listen now, heads of Jacob,
and rulers of the house of Israel.
Should you not know justice?
2 (Ps 53:4; Eze 22:27) You who hate good and love evil,
who tear the skin from My people
and the flesh from their bones;
3 (Ps 14:4; Eze 11:3) you who have eaten the flesh of My people,
and have flayed their skin from them,
and broken their bones in pieces;
who have chopped them up like meat in the pot,
and like flesh in the cauldron.
4 (Isa 1:15; Ps 18:41) Then they will cry out to the Lord,
but He will not answer them;
He will hide His face from them at that time,
because they have wrought evil deeds.
5 (Isa 9:15-16; Jer 14:14-15)Thus says the Lord:
Regarding the prophets
who mislead My people-
the ones who have something to eat
proclaim "Peace,"
but if one does not feed them,
then they prepare for war against him.
6 (Isa 8:20-22; 29:10) Therefore you will have night without vision,
and you will have darkness without divination;
the sun will set upon the prophets,
and black upon them will be the day.
7 (Isa 44:25; Zec 13:4) The seers will be shamed
and the diviners disgraced,
and they will all cover their beards,
for there is no answer from God.
8 (Isa 58:1; Jer 1:18; 6:11) But as for me, I am filled with power,
with the Spirit of the Lord,
and with justice and might,
to declare to Jacob his transgression
and to Israel his sin.
9 (Ps 58:1-2; Isa 1:23) Please hear this, heads of the house of Jacob
and rulers of the house of Israel,
who detest justice
and warp all that is straight,
10 who build Zion with bloodguilt
and Jerusalem with wickedness.
11 (Isa 1:23; Jer 6:13) Her leaders judge for a bribe,
her priests teach for a price,
and her prophets practice divination for money.
Yet upon the Lord they lean, saying,
"Is not the Lord in our midst?
Evil will not come upon us."
12 (Jer 26:18; Ps 79:1) Therefore, because of you,
Zion will be plowed like a field,
Jerusalem will be mounds of ruins,
and the mountain of the house will become wooded heights.
Micah 3
[1] And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the
house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment?
[2] Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off
them, and their flesh from off their bones;
[3] Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them;
and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as
flesh within the caldron.
[4] Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will
even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves
ill in their doings.
[5] Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err,
that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into
their mouths, they even prepare war against him.
[6] Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and
it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go
down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.
[7] Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they
shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.
[8] But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment,
and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin.
[9] Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of
the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity.
[10] They build up Zion with blood, and Jerusalem with iniquity.
[11] The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for
hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the
LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.
[12] Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem
shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the
forest.
Micah 4
The Mountain of the Lord
Isa 2:1-4
1 (Ps 22:27; 86:9) Then it will be that in the latter days,
the mountain of the house of the Lord will be established
as head of the mountains,
and will be lifted up above the hills;
and people will stream to it.
2 (Ps 25:8-9; Isa 54:13) And many nations will come and say,
"Come, that we might go up to the mountain of the Lord,
and to the house of the God of Jacob,
that He might teach us His ways,
and that we might walk in His paths."
For from Zion will go forth the law,
and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
3 (Isa 2:4) Then He will judge between many peoples
and mediate for mighty nations far and wide;
they will beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not take up sword against nation,
and they will no longer train for war.
4 (1Ki 4:25; Isa 1:20) Then each man will sit under his vine
and under his fig tree,
and no one will make them afraid;
for the mouth of the Lord of Hosts has spoken.
5 (Zec 10:12; 2Ki 17:29) For all the peoples may walk,
each in the name of his God,
but we will walk in the name of the Lord
our God forever and ever.
The Promise of Restoration
6 (Zep 3:19; Ps 147:2) In that day, declares the Lord,
I will assemble the lame
and gather the banished
and those whom I have afflicted;
7 (Isa 24:23; Da 7:14) and I will make the lame into a remnant,
and the banished into a mighty nation;
and the Lord will reign over them on Mount Zion
from this time forth and forevermore.
8 (Zec 9:10) As for you, watchtower of the flock,
citadel of the daughter of Zion,
to you it will come, the former dominion will come,
kingship for the daughter of Jerusalem.
9 (Jer 8:19) Now why do you cry loudly?
Have you no king?
Has your counselor perished,
that agony has seized you like the woman in labor?
10 (2Ki 20:18; Isa 48:20) Writhe and bring forth, daughter of Zion,
like the woman in labor,
because now you will go forth from the city
and reside in the field,
and you will come to Babylon.
There you will be rescued;
there the Lord will redeem you
from the hand of your enemies.
11 (Ob 1:12; Isa 5:25-30) But now many nations
are gathered against you, saying,
"May she be defiled,
and may our eyes gaze upon Zion."
12 (Isa 55:8; Lk 3:17) But they do not know
the thoughts of the Lord,
and they do not understand His plan,
that He has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor.
13 (Isa 23:18; Da 2:44) Arise and thresh, daughter of Zion,
for I will make your horn iron;
your hoofs I will make bronze,
and you will shatter many peoples.
I will devote their pillage to the Lord,
their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.
Micah 4
[1] But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the
house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it
shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.
[2] And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the
mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will
teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go
forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
[3] And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar
off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into
pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall
they learn war any more.
[4] But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and
none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken
it.
[5] For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will
walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.
[6] In that day, saith the LORD, will I assemble her that halteth, and I
will gather her that is driven out, and her that I have afflicted;
[7] And I will make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off
a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from
henceforth, even for ever.
[8] And thou, O tower of the flock, the strong hold of the daughter of Zion,
unto thee shall it come, even the first dominion; the kingdom shall come to
the daughter of Jerusalem.
[9] Now why dost thou cry out aloud? is there no king in thee? is thy
counseller perished? for pangs have taken thee as a woman in travail.
[10] Be in pain, and labour to bring forth, O daughter of Zion, like a woman
in travail: for now shalt thou go forth out of the city, and thou shalt
dwell in the field, and thou shalt go even to Babylon; there shalt thou be
delivered; there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.
[11] Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be
defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion.
[12] But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his
counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.
[13] Arise and thresh, O daughter of Zion: for I will make thine horn iron,
and I will make thy hoofs brass: and thou shalt beat in pieces many people:
and I will consecrate their gain unto the LORD, and their substance unto the
Lord of the whole earth.
Micah 5
The Ruler From Bethlehem
1 (La 3:30; Job 16:10) Now gather yourself in troops, O daughter of troops;
he has laid siege against us.
With a rod they will strike
the judge of Israel on the cheek.
2 (Zec 9:9; Mt 2:6) But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
although you are small among the tribes of Judah,
from you will come forth for Me
one who will be ruler over Israel.
His origins are from of old,
from ancient days.
3 (Isa 10:20-21; Hos 11:8) Therefore He will give them up,
until the time when she who is in labor has given birth,
and the rest of his brothers will return
to the children of Israel.
4 (Mic 7:14; Lk 1:32) He will stand and shepherd
in the strength of the Lord,
in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God;
then they will live securely, because now He will be great
until the ends of the earth;
5 (Lk 2:14; Zec 9:10) and He will be their peace.
The Remnant of Jacob Delivered
When Assyria enters our land
and treads through our palaces,
then we will raise up against him seven shepherds
and eight commanders of men.
6 (Ge 10:8-11; Isa 14:25) They will shepherd the land of Assyria
with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at her gates;
He will rescue us from Assyria,
when he enters our land
and when he treads within our border.
7 (Mic 5:3; Dt 32:2) Then the remnant of Jacob will be
in the midst of many peoples,
like dew from the Lord,
like showers upon the grass,
which do not wait for a man
and do not linger for the sons of men.
8 (Ps 50:22; Mic 4:13) The remnant of Jacob will be among the nations,
in the midst of many peoples,
like a lion among the beasts of the forest,
like a young lion among flocks of sheep,
which when it passes through, tramples and mauls,
without rescuer.
9 (Isa 26:11; Ps 21:8) Your hand will be lifted up over your adversaries,
and all your enemies will be cut off.
10 (Zec 9:10; Hos 14:3) And in that day, declares the Lord,
I will cut off your horses from among you,
and I will destroy your chariots.
11 (Isa 2:12-17) Then I will cut off the cities of your land,
and I will overthrow your strongholds;
12 then I will cut off sorceries from your hand,
and you will no longer have fortune-tellers.
13 (Eze 6:9) Then I will cut off your idols,
and your sacred stones from among you,
and you will no longer bow down
to the work of your hands;
14 (Ex 34:13) then I will root out your Asherah idols from among you,
and I will annihilate your cities.
15 (Ps 149:7; Mic 5:8) And in anger and wrath I will take vengeance
on the nations that have not listened.
Micah 5
[1] Now gather thyself in troops, O daughter of troops: he hath laid siege
against us: they shall smite the judge of Israel with a rod upon the cheek.
[2] But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands
of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in
Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
[3] Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth
hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the
children of Israel.
[4] And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty
of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be
great unto the ends of the earth.
[5] And this man shall be the peace, when the Assyrian shall come into our
land: and when he shall tread in our palaces, then shall we raise against
him seven shepherds, and eight principal men.
[6] And they shall waste the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of
Nimrod in the entrances thereof: thus shall he deliver us from the Assyrian,
when he cometh into our land, and when he treadeth within our borders.
[7] And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people as a dew
from the LORD, as the showers upon the grass, that tarrieth not for man, nor
waiteth for the sons of men.
[8] And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the Gentiles in the midst of
many people as a lion among the beasts of the forest, as a young lion among
the flocks of sheep: who, if he go through, both treadeth down, and teareth
in pieces, and none can deliver.
[9] Thine hand shall be lifted up upon thine adversaries, and all thine
enemies shall be cut off.
[10] And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD, that I will cut
off thy horses out of the midst of thee, and I will destroy thy chariots:
[11] And I will cut off the cities of thy land, and throw down all thy
strong holds:
[12] And I will cut off witchcrafts out of thine hand; and thou shalt have
no more soothsayers:
[13] Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of
the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands.
[14] And I will pluck up thy groves out of the midst of thee: so will I
destroy thy cities.
[15] And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such
as they have not heard.
Micah 6
The Indictment of the Lord
1 (Ps 50:1; Mic 1:2) Listen to what the Lord says:
Arise, plead your case before the mountains,
that the hills may hear your voice.
2 (Isa 1:18; Hos 4:1) Hear, mountains, the indictment of the Lord,
O enduring foundations of the earth-
that the Lord has an indictment against His people,
and against Israel He will dispute.
3 (Jer 2:5; Isa 43:22-23) "My people, what have I done to you,
and how have I wearied you? Answer Me!
4 (Ex 12:51; Dt 7:8) For I have brought you up from the land of Egypt,
and from the house of slaves I have redeemed you;
and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
5 (Nu 25:1; Jos 5:9-10) O My people, remember now
what Balak king of Moab counseled,
and what Balaam son of Beor answered him,
and remember what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,
so that you might know the righteous acts of the Lord."
The Requirement of the Lord
6 "With what should I come before the Lord,
and bow down before God on high?
Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
7 (2Ki 16:3; Ps 50:9) Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?"
8 (Isa 57:15; Hos 6:6) He has told you, O man, 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?
The Punishment of Israel's Guilt
9 (Isa 30:27) The voice of the Lord calls to the city-
and wisdom will fear Your name:
Heed the rod and Him who has appointed it.
10 (Am 3:10; Jer 5:26-27) Are there still in the house of the wicked
treasures of wickedness?
And the short ephah
[A dry measure of about 3/5 bushel, or 22 liters.] which is accursed?
11 (Hos 12:7) Should I acquit the scales of wickedness,
and the sack of dishonest weights?
12 (Isa 1:23; Jer 9:8) Her wealthy men are full of violence,
and her inhabitants speak deception,
and their tongue in their mouth is treachery.
13 Therefore, I have struck you a dreadful blow,
devastating you because of your sins.
14 (Hos 4:10 ) You will eat, but not be satisfied,
with hunger within you.
You will set aside, but not retain;
and what you retain I will give over to the sword.
15 (Zep 1:13; Jer 12:13) You will sow, but not reap;
you will tread olives, but not anoint yourselves with oil;
you will crush grapes, but not drink wine.
16 (Jer 7:24; 51:51) You observe the statutes of Omri,
and every practice of the house of Ahab,
and you walk in their counsels.
Therefore I will give you over to destruction,
and the inhabitants to derision.
You will bear the contempt of My people.
Micah 6
[1] Hear ye now what the LORD saith; Arise, contend thou before the
mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice.
[2] Hear ye, O mountains, the LORD's controversy, and ye strong foundations
of the earth: for the LORD hath a controversy with his people, and he will
plead with Israel.
[3] O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied
thee? testify against me.
[4] For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of
the house of servants; and I sent before thee Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.
[5] O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and what
Balaam the son of Beor answered him from Shittim unto Gilgal; that ye may
know the righteousness of the LORD.
[6] Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high
God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year
old?
[7] Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands
of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit
of my body for the sin of my soul?
[8] He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require
of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?
[9] The LORD's voice crieth unto the city, and the man of wisdom shall see
thy name: hear ye the rod, and who hath appointed it.
[10] Are there yet the treasures of wickedness in the house of the wicked,
and the scant measure that is abominable?
[11] Shall I count them pure with the wicked balances, and with the bag of
deceitful weights?
[12] For the rich men thereof are full of violence, and the inhabitants
thereof have spoken lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.
[13] Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, in making thee
desolate because of thy sins.
[14] Thou shalt eat, but not be satisfied; and thy casting down shall be in
the midst of thee; and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver; and
that which thou deliverest will I give up to the sword.
[15] Thou shalt sow, but thou shalt not reap; thou shalt tread the olives,
but thou shalt not anoint thee with oil; and sweet wine, but shalt not
drink wine.
[16] For the statutes of Omri are kept, and all the works of the house of
Ahab, and ye walk in their counsels; that I should make thee a desolation,
and the inhabitants thereof an hissing: therefore ye shall bear the
reproach of my people.
Micah 7
Wait on the Lord
1 (Isa 24:13; Hos 9:10) Woe is me!
Because I am as the gathering of summer fruit,
as the gleaning of grapes;
there is no cluster to eat,
no early fig that my soul desires.
2 (Ps 12:1; Isa 57:1) The godly has perished from the earth,
and no one is upright among men.
All of them lie in wait for bloodshed;
each hunts his brother with a net.
3 (Mic 3:11; Pr 4:16-17) Both hands are upon evil, to do it well.
The prince and the judge request the bribe,
the powerful asserts the craving of his very soul-
they intertwine together.
4 (Isa 22:5; Eze 2:6; 2Sa 23:6-7) The best among them is like a brier,
the most upright among them a bramble;
the day of your watchmen,
of your punishment, has come;
now their confusion is at hand.
5 (Jer 9:4) Do not trust in a companion,
do not rely on a friend;
from her who lies in your embrace,
guard the doors of your mouth.
6 (Mt 10:35-36; Eze 22:7) For the son dishonors the father,
the daughter rises up against her mother,
the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law -
the enemies of a man are members of his own household.
7 (Isa 25:9) But as for me, I watch for the Lord;
I await the God of my salvation;
my God will hear me.
The Penitence of Israel
8 (Ps 112:4; Isa 9:2) Do not rejoice over me, my enemy!
Although I have fallen, I will rise;
although I dwell in darkness,
the Lord is my light.
9 (Ps 37:6; 1Sa 24:15) I will endure the rage of the Lord,
because I have sinned against Him,
until the time when He pleads my case
and executes judgment for me.
He will bring me out into the light;
I will look upon His vindication.
10 (Joel 2:17; Zec 10:5) Then my enemy will see,
and shame will cover her
who said to me,
"Where is the Lord your God?"
My eyes will look upon her;
now she will be trampled
like muck in the streets.
11 A day for building your walls,
in that day the boundary will be extended.
12 (Isa 19:23-25; 11:16) In that day they will come to you
from Assyria and the cities of Egypt,
and from Egypt to the River,
from sea to sea,
and from mountain to mountain.
13 (Isa 3:10-11; Jer 25:11) The earth will become desolate because
of its inhabitants,
from the fruit of their deeds.
The Restoration of Israel
14 (Mic 5:4; Ps 28:9) Shepherd your people with your staff,
the flock of your inheritance,
which live alone in a forest,
in the midst of a fertile land;
let them graze in Bashan and Gilead,
as in the days of old.
15 (Isa 11:16) As in the days when you came out of Egypt,
I will display wonders.
16 (Isa 26:11; 52:15) Nations will see and be ashamed,
despite all their might;
they will put their hand on their mouth,
and their ears will be deaf.
17 (Isa 49:23; Ps 18:45) They will lick dust like the serpent,
like crawling creatures of the earth;
they will come shuddering from their lairs.
They will turn in dread to the Lord our God,
and they will be afraid of You.
18 (Isa 43:25; Jer 32:41) Who is a God like You,
bearing iniquity and passing over transgression
for the remnant of His inheritance?
He does not remain angry forever,
because He delights in benevolence.
19 (Isa 38:17; Jer 50:20) He will again have compassion upon us.
He will tread down our iniquities,
and cast all of our sins into the depths of the sea.
20 You will give faithfulness to Jacob and benevolence to Abraham,
which You swore to our fathers from the days of old.
Micah 7
[1] Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the
grapegleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired
the firstripe fruit.
[2] The good man is perished out of the earth: and there is none upright
among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother
with a net.
[3] That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and
the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his
mischievous desire: so they wrap it up.
[4] The best of them is as a brier: the most upright is sharper than a thorn
hedge: the day of thy watchmen and thy visitation cometh; now shall be
their perplexity.
[5] Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the
doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.
[6] For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her
mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are
the men of his own house.
[7] Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my
salvation: my God will hear me.
[8] Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I
sit in darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.
[9] I will bear the indignation of the LORD, because I have sinned against
him, until he plead my cause, and execute judgment for me: he will bring me
forth to the light, and I shall behold his righteousness.
[10] Then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her
which said unto me, Where is the LORD thy God? mine eyes shall behold her:
now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets.
[11] In the day that thy walls are to be built, in that day shall the decree
be far removed.
[12] In that day also he shall come even to thee from Assyria, and from the
fortified cities, and from the fortress even to the river, and from sea to
sea, and from mountain to mountain.
[13] Notwithstanding the land shall be desolate because of them that dwell
therein, for the fruit of their doings.
[14] Feed thy people with thy rod, the flock of thine heritage, which dwell
solitarily in the wood, in the midst of Carmel: let them feed in Bashan and
Gilead, as in the days of old.
[15] According to the days of thy coming out of the land of Egypt will I
shew unto him marvellous things.
[16] The nations shall see and be confounded at all their might: they shall
lay their hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf.
[17] They shall lick the dust like a serpent, they shall move out of their
holes like worms of the earth: they shall be afraid of the LORD our God, and
shall fear because of thee.
[18] Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by
the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger
for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
[19] He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our
iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
[20] Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which
thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.
2) Our Daily Bread for 13 July 2023 titled
Personal Responsibility
Zephaniah 3:1-8
Woe to Jerusalem
1 (Jer 6:6) Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled,
the oppressing city.
2 (Jer 5:3; Ps 78:22) She obeys no voice,
she receives no correction;
she does not trust in the Lord,
she does not draw near to her God.
3 (Hab 1:8; Jer 5:6) Her princes within her are roaring lions;
her judges are evening wolves
who leave nothing until the morning.
4 (Eze 22:26; Hos 9:7) Her prophets are reckless,
treacherous men;
her priests have profaned the sanctuary
and done violence to the law.
5 (Dt 32:4; Zep 3:15 ) The Lord is righteous in her midst;
He does no unrighteousness.
Every morning He brings His justice to light;
He does not fail,
but the unjust knows no shame.
6 I have cut off nations,
their strongholds are devastated;
I have made their streets desolate,
with no one passing by.
Their cities are destroyed;
there is no man, no inhabitant.
7 (Hos 9:9; Jer 7:7) I said,
"Surely you will fear Me;
and you will receive correction."
So her dwelling will not be cut off,
according to all that I have appointed against her.
But they were more eager
to corrupt all their deeds.
The Conversion of the Nations
8(Joel 3:2; Zep 1:18) Therefore wait for Me, declares the Lord,
until the day when I rise up to seize the plunder;
for My decision is to gather nations,
to assemble kingdoms,
to pour on them My indignation,
all My fierce anger;
for all the earth will be devoured
with the fire of My jealousy.
[1] Woe to her that is filthy and polluted, to the oppressing city!
[2] She obeyed not the voice; she received not correction; she trusted not
in the LORD; she drew not near to her God.
[3] Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves;
they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.
[4] Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have
polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.
[5] The just LORD is in the midst thereof; he will not do iniquity: every
morning doth he bring his judgment to light, he faileth not; but the unjust
knoweth no shame.
[6] I have cut off the nations: their towers are desolate; I made their
streets waste, that none passeth by: their cities are destroyed, so that
there is no man, that there is none inhabitant.
[7] I said, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction; so
their dwelling should not be cut off, howsoever I punished them: but they
rose early, and corrupted all their doings.
[8] Therefore wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up
to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may
assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my
fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my
jealousy.
My friend's eyes revealed what I was feeling-fear! We two teens had behaved
poorly and were now cowering before the camp director. The man, who knew our
dads well, shared lovingly but pointedly that our fathers would be greatly
disappointed. We wanted to crawl under the table-feeling the weight of
personal responsibility for our offense.
God gave Zephaniah a message for the people of Judah that contained potent
words about personal responsibility for sin (Zephaniah 1:1, 6–7). After
describing the judgments He would bring against Judah's foes (ch. 2),
He turned His eyes on His guilty, squirming people (ch. 3). "What sorrow
awaits rebellious, polluted Jerusalem," God proclaimed (3:1 nlt).
"They [are] still eager to act corruptly" (v. 7).
He'd seen the cold hearts of His people—their spiritual apathy, social
injustice, and ugly greed-and He was bringing loving discipline. And it didn't
matter if the individuals were "leaders," "judges," "prophets"(vv. 3-4 nlt)
-everyone was guilty before Him.
The apostle Paul wrote the following to believers in Jesus who persisted in
sin, "You are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. . . . [God] will
judge everyone according to what they have done" (Romans 2:5-6 nlt). So, in
Jesus' power, let's live in a way that honours our holy, loving Father and
leads to no remorse.
By: Tom Felten
Reflect & Pray
Why should you take personal responsibility for your sin?
How do your wrong choices bring shame to God?
Heavenly Father, please help me pursue good choices for You.
For further study, read Feeling the Weight of Sin.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 7 Promises of Grace - Day 5 The Way Out
1 Cor 10:13
13 (1Co 1:9; 2Pe 2:9) No temptation has taken
you except what is common to man. God is faithful,
and He will not permit you to be tempted above
what you can endure, but will with the temptation
also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.
13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common
to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be
tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation
also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
Becky had experienced some hard knocks in the past few weeks; the stress
was beginning to show, and she wasn't sure she should handle anything else.
"Why me?" Becky wept, covering her face. "I just can't stand it any more!
I can't pay my bills; I just lost my job, and now my car broke down
on the highway. How much more of this can I take?"
Some people seem to have more than their share of trouble and temptation.
Within six months, one family faced financial trouble, cancer, quadruple
bypass surgery, and leukemia; their trials brought them face to face with
anger, bitterness, and despair as well. Other people seem to go through
life with relatively minor stresses and few real temptations to sin.
But whether our problems are great or small, they are part of the common
thread that ties humanity together. All of us face temptation; it is ,
Paul says, "Common to man." But Paul assures us that
"God ... will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear."
Often what we can bear is more that what we think we can bear. God will use
the troubled times in our lives for our maturity in him, but he promises
as well that he will not let temptation break us. He will provide "a way out,"
"a way of escape".
Sometimes the "way out" is true escape, being removed from what caused the
trouble. At other times, rather than being removed from it, we must
withstand the stress, face the temptation, enure the pain. Whether we escape
or endure, God is faithful to provide what we need; we can trust him
not to give us more than we can bear.
Application
a) Have I ever faced more stress or temptation than I thought I could bear?
b) Under what circumstances has God provided an "escape" for me?
When have I had to walk "through" my difficulties?
c) How can today's verse encourage me when times are tough?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
2 Chr 26:5
5 (2 Ch 24:2; Da 1:17) And he sought after God in the days of Zechariah,
the one who instructed him in the fear of the Lord. And in the days
that he sought after the Lord, God caused him to succeed.
5 And he sought God in the days of Zechariah,
who had understanding in the visions of God: and as long
as he sought the LORD, God made him to prosper.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
God's Gift of Salvation
Ps 40:1-3,9-11
PSALMS 40
1 I waited patiently for the Lord,
and He turned to me, and heard my cry.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
out of the miry clay,
and set my feet on a rock,
and established my steps.
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) He has put a new song in my mouth,
even praise to our God;
many will see it, and fear,
and will trust in the Lord.
...
9 (Ps 38:6; 18:2) I have proclaimed righteousness
in the great congregation;
I have not held back my lips,
O Lord, You know.
10 (Ps 42:3; Joel 2:17) I have not hidden Your righteousness
within my heart;
I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation;
I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth
from the great congregation.
11 (Ps 42:5; 43:5) Do not withhold Your compassion from me, O Lord;
may Your lovingkindness and Your truth always guard me.
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.
1 I waited patiently for the LORD;
And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even
praise unto our God:
Many shall see it, and fear,
And shall trust in the LORD.
...
9 I have preached righteousness in the great congregation:
Lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.
10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart;
I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation:
I have not concealed thy lovingkindness,
And thy truth from the great congregation.
11 Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O LORD:
Let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2022 edition?)
Where do Muslims live?
Canada is a land of immigrants. And Muslims are coming in increasing numbers
to our shores. Where do they live? How can we pray for these areas? Use this as
your more effectively for Muslims in Canada.
Data for those population figures is extrapolated for the 2011 National
Household Survey and population growth projections by Pew Forum. These have
also been adjusted by +40% as reliable sources state that on 60% of Muslims
self-identify on government surveys and forms. These estimates are still on
the conservative end of the spectrum. Percentages represent that of the total
Canadian population, not provincial
BC - 136493 - 7.5%
AB - 195240 - 11%
SK - 17279 - 1%
MB - 21349 - 1.2%
ON - 1001542 - 55%
QC - 418946 - 23%
NB - 4543 - 0.003%
NS - 14629 - 0.1%
PEI - 1127 - 0.0006%
NFLD - 2065 - 0.001%
Yukon - 69 - 0.00004%
NWT - 473 - 0.0003%
NU - 86 - 0.00005%
Adding further
30 days of prayer for the Muslim World 24 April to 23 May 2020
Under the Keep Praying page
When the new moon is sighted it marks the beginning of t he new Islamic month
and Eid al-Fitr, the "Festival of Breaking the Fast", will start! After 30 days
of fasting, the Eid celebration at the end of Ramadan is a joyful time that
usually lasts about 3 days. Muslims will buy new clothes, exchange gifts and,
of course, enjoy special foods. In Muslim-majority nations, the streets may be
decorated and festivals will be held.
For many Muslims, Eid-al-Fitr begins with communal prayers at daybreak and the
distribution of money (zakat) to the poor, which is one of the 5 pillars of
Islam.
You can greet Muslim friends during this time by saying "Eid Mubarak",
which means Blessed Eid!"
Ramadan is over for this year, but you can continue to pray for Muslims you
know, and Muslims around the world:
- Despite the unsettling developments in our world today that involve actions
in the name of Islam, there is at the same time a largely untold story about
unprecedented movement to Christ among Muslims. There have been more such
movements of thousands or more new disciples among Muslims in the last three
decades or so than in all the previous history of Christian Muslim
relationships! Pray for this momentum to continue.
Acts 2:12-17 : 17 "In the last days it shall be," says God,
"that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams.
18 Even on My menservants and maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.
19 And I will show wonders in heaven above and signs on the earth below:
blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke. 20 The sun shall be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood, before that great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
21 And whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."[a]
Footnotes
Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
- Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to inspire you to have god's heart for
Muslims, to see them as He does, and to be the light that then to Jesus.
Matthew 5:14-15 : 14 "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a
hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under
a basket, but on a candlestick. And it gives light to all who are in the
house."
Ideas for prayer
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
And
Thank you for praying through the
5 Days of Prayer for Sikhs.
"My name is Kam. I'm 29 years of age, and I grew up Sikh. As a teenager,
I struggled with depression, brokenness, and addiction to
cannabis. I didn't know how to stop or how to get help.
Then a friend invited me to church. As I spent time with Christians
and heard the message of the Gospel, I experienced the
love of Jesus Christ, and it was like nothing I'd known before.
One night I had a dream where I saw Him - a figure surrounded by
light who I knew was Jesus, the light of the world.
As I began to understand the gospel message, I encountered a reassuring and
confident solution to the problem of sin. I knew that I needed a solution
to my sin problem, and I gave my life to Christ.
Slowly, God began to heal my broken heart and my addiction.
Nine years have passed, and I am a devoted husband and a father
to two beautiful boys. I grow deeper in love with Jesus each day.
I ask you to continue praying with me, and others around the world, for Sikhs.
God is the only one who can draw people to Himself. He works in and through
the prayers of His people. I want Sikhs to know the freedom
and healing that is only available through Jesus Christ."
13 (Ro 14:17; 12:12) Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy
and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope,
through the power of the Holy Spirit.
[13] Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that
ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
ROMANS 15:13
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
13th Day of the Month
a) Pray that, with God's help, children and
young people will be able to journey with hope towards the destiny God has
for each of them
b) Pray for the province of Newfoundland and Labrador
I) Pray for the leaders of Newfoundland and Labrador, that God's Spirit
would influence then to act justly, serve with integrity
and honour high moral standards.
( 1 Tim 2:1 - 4
1 Therefore I exhort first of all that you make supplications, prayers,
intercessions, and thanksgivings for everyone,
2 (Ezr 6:10) for kings and for all who are in authority, that we may
lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty,
3(1Ti 1:1; Lk 1:47) for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God
our Savior,
4 (Eze 18:23; 18:32)who desires all men to be saved and to come
to the knowledge of the truth.
)
II) Pray for the churches of the province, that they would be lighthouses
beaming forth the illuminating truth of God's Word.
III) Pray that the Lord would use the Finding the Hope Campaign
and booklet to turn many hearts to Jesus
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and and pray fr your nation to turn away from its evil ways
and turn to the Lord.
Pray to the Lord: "Heavenly Father, please help me pursue good choices for
You."
Pray to the Lord and pray to give Him all your temptations.
Pray to the Lord and pray to seek Him diligently.
Pray to the Lord and pray to know Him as source of Salvation.
Pray for Muslims in Canada to know Jesus as Saviour.
Pray for Christian workers an organisations focused on seeing effective
discipleship movements among Muslim people.
- Pray for opportunities to show the love of Christ to Muslims around you
- Pray for, and offer generous hospitality to, those you know who are serving
Christ among Muslim people -
Romans 12:13 "contribute to the needs of the saints, practice hospitality."
- When you gather with fellow believers, remember to pray for Muslims
throughout the year and encourage them to also participate in 30 Days!
Pray that, with God's help, children and
young people will be able to journey with hope towards the destiny God has
for each of them.
Pray that believers in Cameroon will bear one another's burdens, serving
as witnesses of Christ's love .
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness.
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God.