Verse of the Day: V3 “O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.”
1. Weary (V1-5)
V3 “O my people, what have I done unto thee? and wherein have I wearied thee? testify against me.”
God questioned the people of Israel who had become wearied and tired of trusting Him and obeying His commandments. The Lord reminded them that He was the one who delivered them out of the land of Egypt, redeemed them out of slavery and sufferings, and gave them Moses, Aaron and Miriam to love and guide them in their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land that was filled with milk and honey and His richest blessings.
V4 “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.”
2. Walk (V6-9)
V7 “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?”
God warned His people that what was required of them was not the outward form of sacrifices of rams, or rivers of oil, or their firstborn child, but their inward relationship with Him. It is only through a closer walk and fellowship with God that we will do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before Him knowing that without Him, we can do nothing.
V8 “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?”
3. Works (V10-16)
V16 “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.”
The Lord shall judge our works whether they are good or evil. God severely judged and punished the two kings, Omri and Ahab, and all their people of Israel, because they had rebelled against God and committed evil and wicked deeds. Let us not be weary in doing good because one day, the Lord, our Judge, shall bless and reward us for our good works.
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:9)
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me not to be weary by having a closer walk with You.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 09:44 am
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Verse of the Day: V2 “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.”
1. The Little (V1-3)
V1 “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.”
Though the people of Bethlehem Ephratah was just a little or few people among the thousands of people in Judah, yet God would choose a man from among them to be not just the Ruler in Israel, but the Saviour of the world. This man was the Lord Jesus Christ.
V2 “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.”
2. The Lord (V4-7)
V4 “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.
The Lord Jesus Christ shall stand and feed His people who believe and trust in Him in the power of His Father, the Almighty God. The day shall come when the Lord Jesus Christ shall be the Peace who shall rule over His people in the new heaven and earth, and there shall be no more war and fighting, and no more tears and sorrows throughout all eternity.
V5 “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.”
3. The Lion (V8-15)
V8 “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.”
The young lion is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord shall lead and guide the remnant who believe and trust in Him, but destroy those who reject and mock Him.
V15 “And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to be the few who believe and trust in You.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 09:26 am
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Verse of the Day: V5 “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.”
1. War (V1-4)
V3 “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.”
Though the people of Israel suffered much as they lost their wealth, possessions, lands, and families because of war, the Lord promised the remnant who believed and trusted in Him that one day there shall be no more war, but everlasting peace with Him in heaven.
V4 “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.”
2. Walk (V5-7)
V5 “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.”
Though the people of Israel sinned against God, and worshipped their self made gods, and walked in the name of their gods, there would be a remnant that believed in the true and living God, and walked in His name, and would be under His reign now and forever.
V7 “And I make her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast off a strong nation: and the LORD shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth, even for ever.”
3. Woman (V8-13)
V10 “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 shall thou be delivered; there the LORD shall redeem thee from the hand of thine enemies.”
God encouraged the remnant to endure the intense pains just like the woman during childbirth. Just like there shall be great celebration when the baby is born, there shall also be great celebration when the remnant would be delivered from the Babylonian captivity.
V13 “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.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to walk with You and in Your name now and forever.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 10:00 am
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Verse of the Day: V4 “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.”
1. The Sins Of The Princes (V1-4)
V1 “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?”
God through Prophet Micah pronounced severe judgement upon the people of Jacob or Israel as their princes had sinned against Him. The princes were unfit to judge the sins of the people, and to lead them, because they were also in sins. This was why God refused to hear their prayers and hid His face from them when they cried to Him for deliverance.
V4 “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.”
2. The Sins Of The Prophets (V5-10)
V5 “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.”
Not only the princes sinned against God, even the prophets, God’s spokesmen, sinned against Him. The prophets preached for money. They preached on worldly success, fame and fortune, instead of exhorting them to trust and obey God’s Word and commandments.
V7 “Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.”
3. The Sins Of The Priests (V11-12)
V11 “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.”
Not only the princes and the prophets sinned against God, even the priests, sinned against Him. The priests also served for money. All of them pretended to serve, worship and lean upon the Lord, but God saw their wickedness and their love for money, and sent their enemies to invade and destroy all that they loved, and even destroyed many of their lives.
V12 “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.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to flee from the love of money and hear my prayers.
Posted by: Pastor Davy Sim AT 01:26 pm
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