Scripture Reading : Micah 7
Theme : Sadness and Joy
Sadness in Fallen World (1-7). Micah laments about his life in this fallen world. There is no godly people in Judah. The strongest, the most intelligent, the most powerful and the most godly people in Judah are good as harmful thorns. Even the family, the most basic unit of society, is broken. They are all filthy. This is the result of a world without God or any influence of believers. In such corrupt world, the only hope is to wait on God.
Joy in Heavenly World (8-20). Even the godly in such corrupt society is not blameless and deserves the discipline of God. The godly agrees with God’s discipline and waits for His loving hand of healing. Joy can only be found in God’s present and future grace. His present grace will sustain Micah and His future grace will deliver Micah. Micah will have to endure the suffering of this corrupt society as God sustains him, but Micah will experience unspeakable joy when God’s future grace will restore Jerusalem and Micah will be in this glorious new Jerusalem.
Praying the Scripture
- The corruption of Judah is not a historical anomaly. This sad tragedy happens constantly throughout history especially in atheistic communist Russia, China and Cambodia, where children treated parents with contempt and persecuted their elderlies. This is a grim foretaste of hell for all who rejects God. Hell is the crystallization of a life of sin and hell is the active judgment of God. May nonbelievers see their terrifying end and repent.
- True, lasting, holy joy can only come from the knowledge that we will be with our glorious savior in a glorious new world. It is this joy that will sustain us through all the troubles of the world (2 Cor. 4:17). It is this joy that will give us strength to battle and live for Him each day (Neh. 8:10). May God continue to replenish this joy in our heart each day.
经文：弥迦书7
主题：悲伤与喜悦
在堕落世界里的悲伤（1-7）。弥迦为自己在这堕落世界里的生命哀叹。犹大没有一个人敬畏神；犹大最强大、最聪明、最有势力与最敬虔的人竟与有害的刺一样。就连家庭，社会的基本单位，也是破碎的。他们都是污秽的。这就是一个无神或无信徒影响的所产生的世界。在这个如此腐败的世界里，人唯一的盼望是仰望神。
在天家的喜悦（8-20）。即便是敬虔之人也会在这等败坏的社会中犯罪，当受神的管教。敬虔人同意神的管教，并等候祂医治的慈爱双手。喜乐唯有在神至今与未来的恩典中才能找到。靠神的力量，弥迦还得在这腐败的社会中忍受苦难，但当神未来的恩典复兴以色列时，当弥迦进入这荣耀的新耶路撒冷时，他将有无比的喜乐。
用经文祷告
- 犹大的腐败并不是历史上的异常事件。这种悲哀的结局在历史中持续上演，尤其是在无神论之国的苏联、中国与柬埔寨等共产国家；那里，孩子经常鄙视他们的父母，也逼迫自己的年长者。这是给拒绝神之人关乎地狱的严酷预示。地狱是罪恶生命的结晶，是神活性的审判。愿非信徒能看到他们悲惨的下场，迅速悔改。
- 人只有晓得他们将与荣耀的救主在一个荣耀的新世界中共度永生，才能用属实、永恒并圣洁的喜乐。我们就是因着这喜乐，才能忍受世上的忧患（林后4:17）。我们就是因着这喜乐，才能每日有精神争战，为主而活（尼8:10）。愿神每日添补我们心中的喜乐。
