Bible study starter: week two

 

Micah 7:8New King James Version (NKJV)

Israel’s Confession and Comfort

 

⁸ Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The Lord will be a light to me

 

Some might say this verse does not apply to us today. This passage only applied locally to Odom and Babylon getting happy...watching Jerusalem suffer. It was like saying, look at us and how well we prosper without your God. Oh, saddened nation of Israel, under such oppression, but of course...would be exalted by God and would (rise). In other words, they were down...but not out. They would bounce back! Stronger than before. This is a temporary setback in their promised blessing to one day be again the reigning nation and reflection of not only God's power, but of God's glory.

 

Now, look at, "I sit in darkness." This is not necessarily meaning one person sitting around with no lamp or camp fire and it's dark outside. No, this is more of a figure of speech to say, yes, we, the nation of Israel, God's children, are in trouble! We're going through some things! Life is hard! Those who are not believers or followers of the God of Israel would say they have lost their way and can't see! How to get out.  But the  next part brings it home. Glory is given to God, where it should be, look, it says, "the Lord shall be a light to me." Okay. See? Well, you do if your "light" is on. The people of God believe that God and God alone will bring them out of their troubles and this time of being lowly will soon pass and they will be put into a greater position of peace, prosperity and overall, their conditions, physically and spiritually will improve.  They lean not on their own understanding, but on the Word of God.

 

Let's go back to the beginning of it and put it into modern terms. Our world, our country, our local cities and neighborhoods are infested with sin, hate, destruction, greed, pride, lust, idolatry, demonic attack, satanic, anti-Christian rhetoric, so much so, that as a modern Christian, we might feel like the enemy has won! If we want the illusion of happiness, we should live like the world does, hate like the world hates and treat each other like the scornful neighbor or lying politician, robber or murderer, because who are we to think we are better than them? Where do we get off thinking that we are not subject to their ways?! Simple. Because WE. ARE. Christians! And by definition we are "in" this world, but we are not "of" this world and this life is temporary! Whatever we're going through, we do not succumb to solving our problems the way the world does. We believe in The Highest Power, in Jesus and our Father in Heaven, we know beyond any doubt that this soon will pass! And we will one day wake up in a better place in our lives. Better health, better finances, better work opportunities, better relationships, whatever it is that's clouding you in darkness, the Word is a light at your feet! This is a speed bump on the road to a brighter, greater blessing from God.  Do not grow weary in prayer, because God said you will rise again and God always keeps His Word. The fall of your enemies, the fall of the world around you and all its wicked ways will be forever brought down, but you! You will be like New Jerusalem and you will rise! Rise again stronger than before and not just in the life to come, but in this life, today.

DeMaster 9/13/2016