The Hills Bow at the Mountain of the Lord
Greetings in the Lord!
I remember getting today's Scriptures (Micah 2-3) quite a bit when I lived in Aleppo, Syria. And, unfortunately, even at the time that I lived there (2003-'04), I heard firsthand accounts from several people who were suffering from the injustices I was reading about....I can only imagine how corrupt things are today!
Woe to those who plot iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning's light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it. They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud a man of his home, a fellowman of his inheritance.
Therefore, the Lord says: "I am planning disaster against this people, from which you cannot save yourselves. You will no longer walk proudly, for it will be a time of calamity. In that day men will ridicule you; they will taunt you with this mournful song: 'We are utterly ruined; my people's possession is divided up. He takes it from me! He assigns our fields to traitors.'" Micah 2:1-4.
Well, there's no question that total calamity has come upon the land there....but has the situation and leadership changed? My guess is 'No way!' In fact, in times like these usually people in authority become more corrupt--because it is in their power (for the time being) to do so. And if there was ever any question as to their evil behavior, in the last ditch "Big Grab" to hold onto power and gain possessions for themselves, all will be revealed plainly as to the depth of their cruelty and atrocious behavior against the powerless and needy. As witnesses come forth, God's decree against them will be just and unquestionably deserved.
"Listen, you leaders...you rulers--should you not know justice, you who hate good and love evil; who tear the skin from My people and the flesh from their bones; who eat My people's flesh, strip off their skin and break their bones in pieces; who chop them up like meat for the pan, like flesh for the pot?" Then they will cry out to the Lord, but He will not answer them. At that time He will hide His face from them because of the evil they have done. This is what the Lord says, "As for the (false) prophets who lead My people astray, if one feeds them, they proclaim 'peace'; if he does not, they prepare to wage war against him. Therefore night will come over you, without visions, and darkness, without divination. The sun will set for the (false) prophets, and the day will go dark for them." Micah 3:1-6.
The people of Syria suffer from wicked leadership, and from false prophets that look to violently take advantage of them as well. God is allowing both to destroy each other and come to ruin, and when they cry out to God, He will not listen because of all their wickedness and evil behavior. But the people will begin to turn their eyes to the One, true God and there they will find restoration, comfort, and peace.
"...the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.....All the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever." Micah 4:1-2, 5.
~Be blessed and be a blessing.
I remember getting today's Scriptures (Micah 2-3) quite a bit when I lived in Aleppo, Syria. And, unfortunately, even at the time that I lived there (2003-'04), I heard firsthand accounts from several people who were suffering from the injustices I was reading about....I can only imagine how corrupt things are today!
Woe to those who plot iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning's light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it. They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud a man of his home, a fellowman of his inheritance.
Therefore, the Lord says: "I am planning disaster against this people, from which you cannot save yourselves. You will no longer walk proudly, for it will be a time of calamity. In that day men will ridicule you; they will taunt you with this mournful song: 'We are utterly ruined; my people's possession is divided up. He takes it from me! He assigns our fields to traitors.'" Micah 2:1-4.
Well, there's no question that total calamity has come upon the land there....but has the situation and leadership changed? My guess is 'No way!' In fact, in times like these usually people in authority become more corrupt--because it is in their power (for the time being) to do so. And if there was ever any question as to their evil behavior, in the last ditch "Big Grab" to hold onto power and gain possessions for themselves, all will be revealed plainly as to the depth of their cruelty and atrocious behavior against the powerless and needy. As witnesses come forth, God's decree against them will be just and unquestionably deserved.
"Listen, you leaders...you rulers--should you not know justice, you who hate good and love evil; who tear the skin from My people and the flesh from their bones; who eat My people's flesh, strip off their skin and break their bones in pieces; who chop them up like meat for the pan, like flesh for the pot?" Then they will cry out to the Lord, but He will not answer them. At that time He will hide His face from them because of the evil they have done. This is what the Lord says, "As for the (false) prophets who lead My people astray, if one feeds them, they proclaim 'peace'; if he does not, they prepare to wage war against him. Therefore night will come over you, without visions, and darkness, without divination. The sun will set for the (false) prophets, and the day will go dark for them." Micah 3:1-6.
The people of Syria suffer from wicked leadership, and from false prophets that look to violently take advantage of them as well. God is allowing both to destroy each other and come to ruin, and when they cry out to God, He will not listen because of all their wickedness and evil behavior. But the people will begin to turn their eyes to the One, true God and there they will find restoration, comfort, and peace.
"...the mountain of the Lord's temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.....All the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever and ever." Micah 4:1-2, 5.
~Be blessed and be a blessing.
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