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The Scriptorium

The True Prophet

God has called us as He called Micah. Micah 3.8

Warnings to Rulers: Micah 3 (4)

Opening Prayer: Psalm 77.1-3
I cried out to God with my voice—
To God with my voice;
And He gave ear to me.
In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord;
My hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing;
My soul refused to be comforted.
I remembered God, and was troubled;
I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed.

Psalm 77.1-3
(Leoni: The God of Abraham Praise)
My voice to God shall rise; I seek Him on His throne.
In days and nights of trouble I seek God alone!
When I remember Him, then am I sore distressed!
My spirit faints and longs to find in Him its rest.

Read Micah 3.8

Preparation
1. How did Micah differ from the treacherous prophets?

2. What was his message to God’s people?

Meditation
Micah contrasts himself with the false and treacherous prophets he exposed in verses 5-7. As a true prophet Micah is filled with power by the Spirit of the Lord. Power for what? To hear the Word of the Lord, proclaim it boldly, and stand firm in his calling, come what may. This is spiritual power at work via spiritual means for spiritual ends.

The Spirit of the Lord gives us the power to bear witness (Acts 1.8). We look to Him to lead us into all God’s truth (Jn. 16.12-15). He uses the Word to convict us of our sins (Mic. 3.8; Jn. 16.8-11) and to teach and transform us into the image of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 3.12-18).

Thus, the true prophet does not shy away from calling out the sins of the people (Mic. 3.8). But he does not stop there; he feeds the people with the Word and promises of God, and equips them for their mission as salt, light, and leaven in the world (Mic. 4.1-8).

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
The true prophet is to obey God, and declare sin, thus the need for a Savior, and to accomplish this through the power of the Holy Spirit.  

Micah was full of power, justice, and might to declare to the people their transgressions and sins

That was what he was called to do, and that is what he did. He did not shirk from his responsibility even though his job might not be described in Carnegie’s book, How to Win Friends and Influence People.

But Micah persisted because he knew Whom he served and wanted to serve Him well. He was not afraid because, again, he knew Whom he was obeying.

We have been given this same job to do; and the same Spirit. We must do it well. And like Micah, we need not be afraid because we know Who holds the future.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim. 1.7). “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Tim. 1.12).

Come what may, we are called to be true prophets of God’s Word. Declarers of transgressions and sins and of the Good News of Jesus. “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?” And “in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Rom. 8.31, 37).

Reflection
1. Why do you suppose so many Christians are not embracing their calling to bear witness to Jesus?

2. What are the primary obstacles keeping us from being more consistent in fulfilling our calling?

3. How can you have the power of God’s Spirit to be a witness for Jesus in your Personal Mission Field?

Here Micah, in a courageous spirit, stands up alone against all the false teachers even when he saw that they were a large number, and that they appealed to their number, according to their usual practice, as their shield. Hence he says, I am filled with power by the Spirit of Jehovah. This confidence is what all God's servants should possess, that they may not succumb to the empty and vain boastings of those who subvert the whole order of the Church.
John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Micah 3.8

Closing Prayer: Psalm 77.11-20
Remember the works of the Lord. Meditate on His goodness and power. Call on Him to prepare and shepherd you as you serve Him throughout this day.

Psalm 77.11-20
(Leoni: The God of Abraham Praise)
Now let us call to mind Your deeds and wonders, Lord,
and meditate on all Your works and praise Your Word.
Full holy is Your way, great God of earth and heav’n.
To You, O God of strength and pow’r all praise be giv’n!

The waters and the deeps all tremble ‘neath Your hand.
The clouds give forth, the sky resounds across the land.
Your lightning flashes forth and lights the earth around;
we feel beneath our feet the trembling of the ground.

Your way leads through the sea; Your path the water parts.
Your footprints are to us deep mysteries in our hearts.
As then by Moses’ hand and Aaron’s law-filled voice,
You led Your sheep, lead us that we may all rejoice!

T. M. and Susie Moore

You can listen to our summary of last week’s study by clicking here.

Micah in God’s Covenant
Where does the book of Micah fit in God’s covenant with His people? Our workbook, God’s Covenant, can help you to answer that question and to gain a better understanding of how the grace of God reaches and transforms us in Jesus Christ. Order your free copy by clicking here.

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Except as indicated, all Scripture are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by clicking here.

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

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