Deitrich Devotionals

I’ve been so busy recently that I didn’t notice until seeing the date just now that we are only nine days away from the glorious celebration of the Savior’s birth. This Savior plays a part in the the fifth chapter of Micah, in which Micah prophecies the exact location of the birth of Jesus. Micah 5:2 says, “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village among all the people of Judah. Yet a ruler will come from you, one whose origins are from the distant past.” The story continues that this ruler, Jesus, will lead his flock and his name will be honored around the world (verse 4), and that in the day of this ruler, the Lord will destroy our idols (Micah 5:13).

Micah also mentions a time when the Assyrians try to invade Israel, but God rescues the Israelites (Micah 5:6). But when he rescues them, it says that the remnant Israelites will take their place among the nations, like dew sent by the Lord or rain falling on the grass, which no one can hold back and no one can restrain. I will venture to parallel this to our time and place, by saying that even though Satan tries to fight against the Church, God rescues his chosen people, and he puts us in place so that no one can hold us back and no one can restrain us (Micah 5:7). A common motivational speaker question is “What is one thing you would do if you knew you would be successful at it?” We know that we are successful in what we do for the Lord, because no one can hold us back, so the better question is, why aren’t we doing the things for the Lord that we’re afraid to do?

In Micah 6:3, God says, “O my people, what have I done to you? What have I done to make you tired of me? Answer me!” Just as he demanded this of his people then, I would imagine the timeless God is still demanding this of his people now? What has God done that people have gotten tired of experiencing and worshiping him and just turned away? He has done no such thing to bore his people. Even today, we have no answer in the light of this challenge, God has not made us tired of Him, we have gotten tired of Him on our own, and must awaken to his mercies and love again. I can only hope to see a place on this earth filled with even a handful of people whose souls are really awake to God.

What can we bring to the Lord? I’ve wondered, philosophers and theologians have wondered, and perhaps you too have wondered what can possibly be offered up to God if everything is his already. Micah addresses this issue in Micah 6:6-8: “What can we bring to the Lord? What kind of offerings should we give him? Should we bow before God with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn child to pay for our sins? No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Do what is right, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God. These are the sacrifices and offerings we have the power to make, and must make.

There was an interesting contrast between Micah and Revelation today in my reading about satisfaction. Micah 6:14 says that because of the sins of the people, they will eat but never have enough, save their money but have nothing in the end. I just want to note here how a spiritual problem is connected to a physical problem. When we are disconnected from God, we are disconnected from knowing what satisfaction truly is, and so we won’t be satisfied in our worldly needs. In Revelation 7:16-17, John is observing a vast multitude in heaven, which some believe is the raptured church, and one of the twenty-four elders around the throne tells John that “no longer will they hunger; no longer will they thirst; no longer will the sun strike them, or any heat. Because the Lamb who is at the center of the throne will shepherd them; He will guide them to springs of living waters, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Satisfaction, now and eternally, comes from God.

I will finish this post out with two sections of the last chapter of Micah, because they really do speak on their own behalf about the character of God:

“As for me, I look the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my god will certainly hear me. Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. I will be patient as the Lord punishes me, for I have sinned against him. But after that, he will take up my case and give justice for all I have suffered from my enemies. The Lord will bring me into the light, and I will see his righteousness… Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean! You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love as you promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago.” – Micah 7:7-9,18-20.

Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord! Praise him, you who serve the Lord, (Psalm 135:1)

-Zachariah