#DailyDevotion God’s Church Will Be Purified
Micah 1 8For this I will wail and howl and go barefoot and naked. I will wail like a jackal and mourn like an ostrich. 9The blow she’ll get will not be cured; it will have an effect on Judah and reach the gate of my people, yes, even Jerusalem.
The reason for Micah to wail and howl and go barefoot and naked is because of the previous verses and which he explains in the next. The blow Samaria is going to get from the LORD is going to expand down into Judah as well. The Assyrians who will invade and destroy Samaria will also invade the kingdom of Judah and many of its people will be taken prisoner as evidenced by the barefoot and naked. Samaria will not be able to recover from the Assyrian invasion. They will be utterly destroyed because they rejected the King of Glory. The fact that it reaches the gate of Jerusalem means the Assyrians will deeply go into Judah as prophesied also by Isaiah the prophet in 8:8 and 30:28.
10Don’t tell it in Gath. Don’t weep there. In Beth-le-aphrah [City-of-dust] roll in the dust. 11You who live in Shaphir [Beauty-town], leave it shamefully naked. You who live in Zaanan [March-town] will not march out of it. The lamentation in Beth-ezel [Near-town] is because there is nothing to stand near. 12You who live in Baroth [Bitter-town] will be tired of looking for better days. Disaster will come down from the LORD to the very gate of Jerusalem. 13Hitch the horses to the chariots, you who live in Lachish. You started the people of Zion to sinning because the sins of Israel were found in you. 14Then give a parting gift to Moresheth, near Gath. The homes of Aczip [Deception] will deceive the kings of Israel. 15You who live in Mareshah [Possession], I will again allow the enemy to dispossess you until Israel’s glory comes to Adullam.
We see here how complete the invasion will be into Judah as the prophet lists off ten towns or cities in Judah that will be affected. Ten is often the number of completion in biblical thought. He starts off with Gath and quotes David from 2 Sam. 1:20 referring to Saul’s death. David didn’t want the Philistines to rejoice over this though Saul had made David his enemy, David was loyal to Saul as the LORD’s anointed. So too there will be great mourning because of the invasion by the Assyrians into Judah.
He lists punishments for these towns based on their names. The second he says they will roll in the dust. The second, though beautiful, will leave it naked. The third meaning march says they will not march. The fourth will be nothing to stand near. The fifth will tire looking for better days. It continues with the rest. This interesting one is Lachish. The prophet says the sin of Israel was found there and caused the people of Zion to start sinning. Joram (2 Kings 18:18) king of Judah married Ahab’s daughter. She brought with her probably Baal worship though perhaps instead of Baal she brought a golden calf, like Bethel and Dan, and set it up in Lachish to be worshiped. Bad company corrupts good morals. This is as good a reason not to marry unbelievers, we who are Christians. It’s not clear whether the LORD will bring an heir to Mareshah or a conqueror. Translations go either way. Perhaps the glory to Adullsm indicates an heir. Adullam was the cave to which David fled to for safety. Perhaps this is a reference to Jesus. Jesus was buried in a cave and when He arose He established the kingdom of God. God’s people, the Church, are dispossed of until Christ Jesus comes again in glory. May we remain faithful to receive it.
Heavenly Father, grant us faith to endure Your discipline so we may receive the Kingdom won for by Your Son, Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen.