Adult Mentor: First Quarter 2019

By R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation

The Contemporary Training for the Church (CTC) is a church ministry of training. The discipline of the Contemporary Training for the Church guides train church membership in the distinctive beliefs held by Christians. This ministry is designed as an essential part of the total educational program of the church.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation
• Release date: Dec 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9781681674681

Book preview

CHANGE YOUR EVIL WAYS

QUARTERLY THEME:

Justice and Boldness

Lesson Scriptures:

Micah 2:4–11

DISCIPLINES LEARNED

I. MOCKING LAMENT

II. EXHAUSTING THE PATIENCE OF THE LORD

KEY VERSE:

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?

(Micah 2:7, KJV)

LEARNING SESSION

Micah’s ministry took place during the latter part of the eighth century and possibly the early part of the seventh century B.C. Most of his prophecies were directed toward the Jewish leadership. They were the ones who had greater responsibility in leading the nation and setting the tone for the life of the people. He was also aware that the wealthiest and most powerful were abusing the poor, and the Lord revealed to the prophet that He would no longer allow this type of abuse. In depriving others of the basic necessities of life in favor of their own comfort, the Jewish elite were robbing the entire Jewish community of the joy and blessings that the Lord had promised to the people.

EXPOSITION:

I. Mocking Lament

Reversal of fortune is a frequent theme in prophetic literature. For example, the Exodus from Egyptian slavery was one of the most important events in Israel’s great history. All of Israel remembered it, but some assumed that God’s favor would be shown automatically to His people. Although Moses had given the Ten Commandments to God’s people, the people in Micah’s day acted as though God’s favor came regardless of their obedience to Him. The wealthy in Israel were convinced that their material blessings were an indication of God’s continuing favor, and they persisted in their unethical practices despite the warnings of the prophets.

THEOLOGICAL CONCEPTS:

1 Social injustice is a travesty against God.

2 The words of false prophets only lead the people into destruction.

3 God punishes both the false prophets and leaders who defy His word.

The wealthy in society had used scheming ways to deal unfairly with the poor in Jewish society. Likewise, the prophet Micah condemned those who lay in their beds at night plotting ways to take the land of others (see Micah 2:1).

God was not pleased with those who sought to take advantage of the poor. The reference to lying in bed and devising ways to steal from the less fortunate is reminiscent of Solomon’s list of things the Lord hates (see Proverbs 6:16–19, NRSV). The wealthy in Israel were doing these things to the poor in society, and God was very angry. God is never happy when the marginalized of any society are the subject of abuse, neglect, and legal manipulation.

Micah 2:1–3 is a prophecy against those who had oppressed the poor by taking away their lands. The Lord assured these wealthy schemers that He would bring judgment against them: "Therefore thus says the LORD: Now, I am devising against this family an evil from which you cannot remove your necks; and you shall not walk haughtily, for it will be an evil time (v. 3, NRSV). They would feel as though the Lord had turned His back on them unfairly, and would cry out, but there would be no answer from the Lord. They would only hear their cries called back to them in mockery. The tables would be turned, a close and personal reversal of fortune would have taken place.

These wealthy people would suffer a punishment similar to the oppression that they had inflicted upon the poor. As they had taken away the land and inheritance of others, they and their descendants would also be cut off from their property. They would become a people without standing in the community, unable to defend their own rights. Their previous position of wealth and power would be taken away completely by the hand of the Lord. As a result of the sin that pervaded Israel, all that had been accomplished in the Exodus would be taken from God’s people—status, land, and blessing. Because Israel had acted like every other nation, God would discipline her like every other nation.

ACTIVITY:

MAKING IT STICK

Compare and contrast the study text with Amos 5. Why is social injustice so displeasing to God?

II. Exhausting the Patience of the Lord

This section is difficult to interpret because it is uncertain who is doing the talking, but either way the impetus is on Israel to get its life in order before the Lord because His judgment is before the nation. Do not preach’—thus they preach—one should not preach of such things; disgrace will not overtake us.’ Should this be said, O house of Jacob? Is the LORD’s patience exhausted? Are these his doings? Do not my words do good to one who walks uprightly? (vv. 6–7, NRSV). One likely interpretation is that those who were prophesied against in Micah 2:4–5 are responding in verse six. If this is the case, these individuals would have been talking to Micah, telling him not to speak. They would have believed that Micah was speaking falsely because they were certain of their present and future security.

After telling Micah not to speak, the false prophets began trying to justify their actions. They attempted to appeal to the compassionate nature of God. They believed that God would not condemn them because of His love and compassion. They attempted to create a god in their own image—a god who would allow them to do whatever they wanted. The Lord, however, would not listen to them, and He would defend the oppressed. The Lord was not fooled by their false attempts to appease His wrath.

God is the only One who can ultimately bring about