STEVE WEBB - 0:00  
We've come just so far haven't we?

INTRO S12E282 - 0:10  
Coming to you from Riverside, California, this is the Lifespring Family Audio Bible, and podcasting since 2004, I'm your OG Godcaster, Steve Webb. This is the daily show where we're reading through the entire Bible in a year. Today is Prophecy Friday, so we'll read the book of Micah, seven chapters. I'm calling today's episode “The Greatest Miracle”. The show notes page is at lifespringmedia.com/s12e282. My email address is steve@lifespringmedia.com. And let's get started.

MICAH 1 (NLV) - 0:41  
Micah, chapter one. (1) This is the Word of the Lord which came to Micah of Moresheth about Samaria and Jerusalem in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

(2) Hear, O people, all of you. Listen, O earth and all who are in it. The Lord God will speak against you from His holy house. (3) See, the Lord is coming from His place. He will come down and walk on the high places of the earth. (4) The mountains will melt under Him and the valleys will break open, like a candle in front of the fire, like water poured down a hill. (5) All this is because Jacob would not obey and because of the sins of the people of Israel. What is Jacob’s sin? Is it not Samaria? What is the high place of Judah? Is it not Jerusalem? (6) So I will make Samaria a waste in the open country, making it a place to plant grape-fields. I will pour her stones down into the valley, and lay open the base of the city. (7) All of her false gods will be broken to pieces. Everything given in the place of worship will be burned with fire. I will destroy all her objects of worship, for she gathered them from the pay of a woman who sells the use of her body. They will return to pay a woman who sells the use of her body.

(8) Because of this I must cry out in sorrow. I must go without shoes and clothing. I must cry out like the wild dogs, and cry in sorrow like the ostriches. (9) For her hurt cannot be cured. It has come to Judah. It has come to the gate of my people, even to Jerusalem. (10) Do not tell about it in Gath. Do not cry at all. Roll in the dust in Beth-leaphrah. (11) Go on your way, people of Shaphir, without clothing and in shame. The people of Zaanan do not come out. Cries of sorrow come from Beth-ezel. Its help is taken from you. (12) Those who live in Maroth become weak waiting for good, because trouble has come down from the Lord to the gate of Jerusalem. (13) Tie the war-wagons to the horses, you people of Lachish. You were the beginning of sin to the people of Zion, for the sins of Israel were found in you. (14) So give gifts to Moresheth-gath. The people of Achzib will fool the kings of Israel. (15) I will bring one who will beat you in battle, O people of Mareshah. The shining-greatness of Israel will come to Adullam. (16) Cut off all your hair in sorrow for the children you love. Let no hair be on your head like the eagle, for your children will be taken away from you. 

MICAH 2 (NLV) - 3:09  
Micah, chapter two. (1) It is bad for those who make plans to do wrong, who lie on their beds thinking of something sinful to do! When morning comes, they do it, because it is in their power. (2) They want fields that belong to someone else, and take them. They want houses, and take them. They rob a man and his house, a man and what has been given to him. (3) So the Lord says, “I am planning trouble against this family, from which you cannot save yourselves. You will no longer walk in pride, for it will be a time of much trouble. (4) On that day they will make fun of you and sing a bitter song of sorrow, saying, ‘We are destroyed and everything is gone! My people’s land is divided. He takes it from me! He gives our fields to those who turned against us.’” (5) So you will have no one among the Lord’s people to divide the land in a right way for you.

(6) “The people say to me, ‘Do not speak about these things, because we will not be put to shame.’ (7) Should it be said, O people of Jacob: “Is the Spirit of the Lord angry? Would He do such things? Do not My Words do good to the one whose way is right and good? (8) My people have begun to hate those who are at peace with them. You pull the coat off from a brother Israelite, from those who pass by in peace like men returning from war. (9) You drive the women of My people away from their beautiful houses. You take My greatness away from their children forever. (10) Get up and go away, for this is no place of rest, because it is made unclean. It is destroyed with much suffering. (11) If a man comes speaking lies and says, ‘I will speak to you about wine and strong drink,’ he would be the one for these people!

(12) “I will gather all of you together, Jacob. I will gather all those left of Israel. I will put them together like sheep within a fence, like a flock in its field. The land will be filled with the noise of many people. (13) The One Who breaks open the way will go out before them. They will break through the gate and go out. Their king will pass through before them, and the Lord will lead them.” 

MICAH 3 (NLV) - 5:11  
Micah, chapter three. (1) And I said, “Hear now, leaders of Jacob and rulers of the people of Israel! Should you not know what is fair? (2) Yet you hate good and love sin. You tear off the skin from my people and the flesh from their bones. (3) You eat my people’s flesh, pull off their skin, break their bones, and cut them up like meat for the pot.” (4) Then they will cry to the Lord, but He will not answer them. He will hide His face from them at that time, because they have done sinful things.

(5) This is what the Lord says about the men who speak in God’s name and lead my people the wrong way. When they have something to eat, they speak of peace. But they make holy war against him who does not feed them. (6) So night will come to you without a special dream. Darkness will come to you without any word about the future. The sun will go down on those who speak about special dreams, and the day will become dark over them. (7) Those who tell what is going to happen in the future will be ashamed. Those who learn about the future using their secret ways will be ashamed. They will all cover their mouths because there is no answer from God. (8) But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the Lord, with what is fair, and with strength. I am able to make known to Jacob his wrong-doing, and to Israel his sin. (9) Now listen to this, you leaders of Jacob and rulers of the people of Israel. You hate what is fair, and turn everything around that is right. (10) You built Zion with blood and Jerusalem with much wrong-doing. (11) Her leaders take pay in secret for doing wrong. Her religious leaders teach for a price. Her men who tell what is going to happen in the future do it for money. Yet they rest upon the Lord and say, “Is not the Lord among us? No trouble will come to us.” (12) So because of you Zion will be plowed as a field. Jerusalem will be laid waste. And the mountain of the Lord’s house will be covered with trees. 

MICAH 4 (CEV) - 7:06  
Micah, chapter four.
(1) In the future, the mountain
with the Lord's temple
will be the highest of all.
It will reach above the hills,
and every nation
will rush to it.
(2) People of many nations
will come and say,
“Let's go up to the mountain
of the Lord God of Jacob
and worship in his temple.”

The Lord will teach us his Law
from Jerusalem,
and we will obey him.
(3) He will settle arguments
between the distant
and powerful nations.
They will pound their swords
and their spears
into rakes and shovels;
they will never again make war
or attack one another.
(4) Everyone will find rest
beneath their own fig trees
or grape vines,
and they will live in peace.
This is a solemn promise
of the Lord All-Powerful.
(5) Others may follow their gods,
but we will always follow
the Lord our God.

(6) The Lord said:
At that time
I will gather my people—
the lame and the outcasts,
and all others into whose lives
I have brought sorrow.
(7) Then the lame and the outcasts
will belong to my people
and become a strong nation.
I, the Lord, will rule them
from Mount Zion forever.
(8) Mount Zion in Jerusalem,
guardian of my people,
you will rule again.

(9) Jerusalem, why are you crying?
Don't you have a king?
Have your advisors gone?
Are you suffering
like a woman in childbirth?
(10) Keep on groaning with pain,
you people of Jerusalem!
If you escape from your city
to the countryside,
you will still be taken
as prisoners to Babylonia.
But later I will rescue you
from your enemies.

(11) Zion, because of your sins
you are surrounded
by many nations who say,
“We can hardly wait
to see you disgraced.”
(12) But they don't know
that I, the Lord,
have gathered them here
to grind them like grain.
(13) Smash them to pieces, Zion!
I'll let you be like a bull
with iron horns
and bronze hoofs.
Crush those nations
and bring their wealth to me,
the Lord of the earth. 

MICHA 5 (CEV) - 8:59  
Micah, chapter five.
(1) Jerusalem, enemy troops
have surrounded you;
they have struck Israel's ruler
in the face with a stick.
(2) Bethlehem Ephrath,
you are one of the smallest towns
in the nation of Judah.
But the Lord will choose
one of your people
to rule the nation—
someone whose family
goes back to ancient times.
(3) The Lord will abandon Israel
only until this ruler is born,
and the rest of his family
returns to Israel.
(4) Like a shepherd
taking care of his sheep,
this ruler will lead
and care for his people
by the power and glorious name
of the Lord his God.
His people will live securely,
and the whole earth will know
his true greatness,
(5) because he will bring peace.

Let Assyria attack our country
and our palaces.
We will counterattack,
led by a number of rulers
(6) whose strong army will defeat
the nation of Assyria.
Yes, our leaders will rescue us,
if those Assyrians
dare to invade our land.

(7) A few of Jacob's descendants
survived and are scattered
among the nations.
But the Lord will let them
cover the earth like dew and rain
that refreshes the soil.
(8) At present they are scattered,
but later they will attack,
as though they were fierce lions
pouncing on sheep.
Their enemies will be torn
to shreds,
with no one to save them;
(9) they will be helpless,
completely destroyed.

(10) The Lord said:
At that time I will wipe out
your cavalry and chariots,
(11) as well as your cities
and your fortresses.
(12) I will stop you
from telling fortunes
and practicing witchcraft.
(13) You will no longer worship
the idols or stone images
you have made—
I will destroy them,
(14) together with the sacred poles
and even your towns.
(15) I will become furious
and take revenge on the nations
that refuse to obey me. 

MICAH (CEV) - 10:41  
Micah, chapter six.
(1) The Lord said to his people:
Come and present your case
to the hills and mountains.
(2) Israel, I am bringing charges
against you—
I call upon the mountains
and the earth's firm foundation
to be my witnesses.

(3) My people, have I wronged you
in any way at all?
Please tell me.
(4) I rescued you from Egypt,
where you were slaves.
I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam
to be your leaders.
(5) Don't forget the evil plans
of King Balak of Moab
or what Balaam son of Beor
said to him.
Remember how I, the Lord,
saved you many times
on your way from Acacia
to Gilgal.

(6) What offering should I bring
when I bow down to worship
the Lord God Most High?
Should I try to please him
by sacrificing
calves a year old?
(7) Will thousands of sheep
or rivers of olive oil
make God satisfied with me?
Should I sacrifice to the Lord
my first-born child as payment
for my terrible sins?
(8) The Lord God has told us
what is right
and what he demands:
“See that justice is done,
let mercy be your first concern,
and humbly obey your God.”

(9) I am the Lord,
and you are wise to respect
my power to punish.
So listen to my message
for the city of Jerusalem:
(10) You store up stolen treasures
and use dishonest scales.
(11) But I, the Lord, will punish you
for cheating with weights
and with measures.
(12) You rich people are violent,
and everyone tells lies.

(13) Because of your sins,
I will wound you and leave you
ruined and defenseless.
(14) You will eat,
but still be hungry;
you will store up goods,
but lose everything—
I, the Lord, will let it all
be captured in war.
(15) You won't harvest what you plant
or use the oil
from your olive trees
or drink the wine
from grapes you grow.

(16) Jerusalem, this will happen
because you followed
the sinful example
of kings Omri and Ahab.
Now I will destroy you
and your property.
Then the people of every nation
will make fun and insult you.

MICAH 7 (CEV) - 12:39  
Micah, chapter seven.
(1) I feel so empty inside—
like someone starving
for grapes or figs,
after the vines and trees
have all been picked clean.
(2) No one is loyal to God;
no one does right.
Everyone is brutal
and eager to deceive
everyone else.
(3) People cooperate to commit crime.
Judges and leaders demand bribes,
and rulers cheat in court.
(4) The most honest of them
is worse than a thorn patch.

Your doom has come!
Lookouts sound the warning,
and everyone panics.
(5) Don't trust anyone,
not even your best friend,
and be careful what you say
to the one you love.

(6) Sons refuse to respect
their own fathers,
daughters rebel against
their own mothers,
and daughters-in-law despise
their mothers-in-law.
Your family is now your enemy.
(7) But I trust the Lord God
to save me,
and I will wait for him
to answer my prayer.

(8) My enemies, don't be glad
because of my troubles!
I may have fallen,
but I will get up;
I may be sitting in the dark,
but the Lord is my light.
(9) I have sinned against the Lord.
And so I must endure his anger,
until he comes to my defense.
But I know that I will see him
making things right for me
and leading me to the light.

(10) You, my enemies, said,
“The Lord God is helpless.”
Now each of you
will be disgraced
and put to shame.
I will see you trampled
like mud in the street.

(11) Towns of Judah, the day is coming
when your walls will be rebuilt,
and your boundaries enlarged.
(12) People will flock to you
from Assyria and Egypt,
from Babylonia
and everywhere else.
(13) Those nations will suffer disaster
because of what they did.

(14) Lead your people, Lord!
Come and be our shepherd.
Grasslands surround us,
but we live in a forest.
So lead us to Bashan and Gilead,
and let us find pasture
as we did long ago.
(15) I, the Lord, will work miracles
just as I did when I led you
out of Egypt.
(16) Nations will see this
and be ashamed because
of their helpless armies.
They will be in shock,
unable to hear,
(17) because of their fear of me,
your Lord and God.
Then they will come trembling,
crawling out of their fortresses
like insects or snakes,
lapping up the dust.

(18) Our God, no one is like you.
We are all that is left
of your chosen people,
and you freely forgive
our sin and guilt.
You don't stay angry forever;
you're glad to have pity
(19) and be pleased to be merciful.
You will trample on our sins
and throw them in the sea.
(20) You will keep your word
and be faithful to Jacob
and to Abraham,
as you promised our ancestors
many years ago.

COMMENTS - 15:18  
Well the book of Micah, although a lot shorter is a bit like the book of Isaiah. That book was about Judah and Jerusalem. And Micah's prophecy is about Samaria and Jerusalem. Micah brings God's warning about the coming judgment of Israel and he mourns it.

The sins of Israel are laid out: idolatry, covetousness, oppression, rejection of God's word, corrupt leaders, both spiritual leaders and political leaders, and, you know, I'm sure glad we don't live back then. We've come just so far, haven't we? Idolatry, covetousness, oppression, rejection of God's word, corrupt leaders, yeah, nothing like today.

Well, thankfully for Israel, the later chapters in the book had some encouraging words. And as always, it's important to remember that God's judgments are not vengeful towards his people. They're motivated by love.

Chapter four began with the words “in the future”. Some of the prophecies Micah wrote back then have now been fulfilled, and some are yet to be.

Verse one of chapter four says, “In the future, the mountain with the Lord's temple will be the highest of all, it will reach above the hills and every nation will rush to it.”

Well, in a figurative sense, the mountain with the Lord's temple could be considered the highest of all with the coming of Messiah. And there are believers in every nation. Remember, it said there, every nation will rush to it. But beyond that, I believe that the temple will be rebuilt during the millennial reign of Christ after he returns. And when that happens, of course, it'll be a much more literal fulfillment of that prophecy.

Chapter five, verse two through five is a prophecy of the coming Messiah. Bethlehem is named in the fact that the Savior would come from a family with a long history. Obviously, we know that Jesus’ lineage was traced back to King David, and that was prophesied in other books of the Bible. And we know that God promised David that the Messiah would come from his line and would establish a kingdom that would last forever.

Moving to chapter seven, verses 14 and 15. Well, those verses encapsulate the relationship that God really wants with his people. That means with you and with me. Micah prays in verse 14, “Lead your people, Lord, come and be our shepherd.” And in verse 15, God answers, “I the Lord will work miracles just as I did when I led you out of Egypt.”

Well, what greater miracle is there than a loving, merciful, righteous and holy God, choosing to leave the glories of Heaven, to live as a man among the wretched and fallen creation that has been so crippled by sin, to live a perfect and sinless life with a knowledge that he would be despised, rejected, beaten, broken, and hanged on a cross as the sacrifice for the very people who sent him to that cross, only to have life enter his body again on the third day and then, miracle of miracles, freely offer salvation from sin to anyone who believes? There is no greater miracle than that, wouldn’t you say. Like Micah, we can pray, “Lead your people, Lord, come and be our shepherd.”

What are your thoughts? Leave a comment at lifespringmedia.com/s12e282. Tomorrow is Gospel Saturday. We'll read Acts five and six. We'll read about Ananias and Sapphira, and we'll be introduced to Stephen.

Boost!

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER SHOUT-OUT - 18:56  
The Executive Producer for today's show is Roderick. He came in with his monthly $50 donation. Roderick, thank you so very much. I appreciate your support. And thank you for helping to keep the Lifespring Family Audio Bible coming your way.

Beloved, if you'd like to support the show, go to lifespringmedia.com/support. Take a look, see what makes sense to you, pray about it, and then do what God leads you to do, lifespringmedia.com/support.

ON THIS DATE IN CHURCH HISTORY - 19:35  
On this date in church history, June 10, 1692, Bridget Bishop became the first person hanged for witchcraft during the Salem witch trials. In all, 20 people died as a result of those trials.

And on this date in church history, June 10, 1925, Canada's largest Protestant denomination, the United Church of Canada, was officially formed from the union of the Methodist Church, Canada, the Congregational Union of Canada, the Council of Local Union Churches and about two-thirds of the Presbyterian Church of Canada. The new denomination’s government was organized as Presbyterian in form.

CLOSING PRAYER - 20:22  
Let's pray. Our Heavenly Father, we so look forward to the time when Jesus will return and everything is set right. That will be a marvelous time, Lord. But until that day, we want to be busy doing the work you've given us. Use us in whatever way brings you the most glory. I pray God that you would bless the Lifespring family today and may each of us glorify you today. We pray this in Jesus name, amen.

If you've got a prayer request or a praise, go to prayer.lifespringmedia.com.

OUTRO S12E282 - 20:59  
Thanks to Kirsty, Sean of San Pedro and Denise. I'm so thankful for you three and may God bless you richly.

Comment on the show and lifespringmedia.com/s12e282. Email me at steve@lifespringmedia.com. Thanks to Executive Producer Roderick today. God bless you, Roderick, and thank you for inviting me into your life today. I do enjoy our time together. Support the show at lifespringmedia.com/support.

And until tomorrow, may God bless you richly. My name is Steve Webb.

Bye.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai