Scripture:
Micah 2: 1 and 2
Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds!
At morning’s light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it. They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud a man of his home, a fellowman of his inheritance.
Observations:
Micah is a book that can be divided into three sections:
1. Chapters 1–3 mainly consist of oracles of judgment.
2. Chapters 4–5 of oracles of hope.
3. Chapters 6–7 begins with judgment and moves to hope.
(Wikepedia)
Chapter two is that section of oracles and judgments as the prophet gives the “woe” list to us. Here he is pleading to those who plan to bring harm to another. He speaks against greed – the longing of one man to have what another has so much so that he stays awake at night and plots to bring the other man down. Their greed and plotting are to defraud another of his home and inheritance. Simple because they have the power to bring ruin on another they do it.
Application:
We have seen this very thing happen in our country of recent date, but it is not unique to our life and time. When someone defrauds another, lies about services or products, steals another person’s identity, then we have this very passage being lived out. But it can happen to us anytime when we allow iniquity in out heart. The question today is where does this live inside of you? Do you have that heart in you? It rises when someone wrongs us and we want more than justice, we want revenge. It rises when someone says, “take them to court.” It rises when someone says: “I see opportunity to take advantage of another person here, and if I have to be dishonest in the process I will.” It is the greed and the covetous heart that drives the actions and this is what we must guard against at all cost.
Where do I hope for someone else’s failure?
Where do I covet something someone else possesses?
Where do I hold hate, grudges or disdain for another?
Answering these questions will keep us off the path of iniquity. Woe to us if we do!
Prayer:
Lord, help me to have a heart of grace in all things and towards all people. Remind me that vengeance belongs to you and not to me.
I thank you for how you care for me and love me, may I treat others the same. In Jesus the grace-givers name. Amen.
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