Micah, Day 2 Readings

The Leaders Should Know Better  

Today's reading places blame for God's punishment -- the political and religious leaders who should know better have not expected people to live justly with each other.  Instead, the kings and royal authorities, and the priests and prophets, have allowed behavior.  In fact, instead of condemning injustice, they have offered false words, suggesting that God accepts such behavior.  Judges, priests, and prophets can be bought off -- not only turning their heads from the problem, but becoming part of the this unjust behavior.

Read Micah 3:1-12  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

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Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Micah 3 today.

Micah, Day 1 Readings

Warnings of Punishment  

Today's reading is the beginning of Micah, the prophet who tried to give direction amid the decline of the kingdom of Judah.  It begins with warnings of punishment for wrong -- idolatry in Samaria (the northern kingdom of Israel) and a list of sins in Judah.  Promising that the destruction will be complete, and that even Jerusalem will be captured, it gives ways that people have stopped following God's teaching.

Here, the greatest sin of Judah is not idolatry, but an unfaithful way of life.  The people are mistreating each other -- instead of living together in harmony, there is selfishness and greed.  Evidently, people were willing to do bad things to their neighbors (and maybe even family members) in order to "get ahead."  Even so, this long warning of destruction and punishment is followed by a hope for reunification of God's people from the two kingdoms into one peaceful kingdom.

Read Micah 1:1-2:13  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

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Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Micah 1-2 today.

Micah, Overview

Godsway 66, Book 33 - Micah 

Micah was a prophet in the southern kingdom of Judah.  During his career, the northern kingdom of Israel was captured and the southern kingdom was threatened (though it did not fall until decades after Micah's death).  Consistently, Micah prophesied to the leaders in Jerusalem to change their ways so that such a defeat could be avoided.

After opening with a short description of God's frustration with the northern kingdom of Israel (here identified by its major city, Samaria), Micah turns attention to the problems in Judah.  Ultimately, it is a question of justice -- the people are not living fairly with each other, but instead are lying and cheating to try to get ahead.  Worse, the political and religious leaders in Jerusalem participate in such behavior and do nothing to help the people repent and follow God's teaching.

The leaders believe that God will be satisfied as long as worship and sacrifices in the Temple continue regularly; however, God's concerns are much larger than what happens in the Temple alone.  Such attitudes have thoroughly corrupted the people; in fact, the few who try to be faithful to God still sin a great deal due to this environment.  Drastic steps will be necessary to restore the situation so that they can live up to the special covenant with God to be God's people.

Jonah, Day 5

A Day to Catch Up  

If you've had a busy week, today you have a chance to play catch up on any of the selections of Jonah you might have missed.
 Click to open the information for any of this week's readings.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Share Your Thoughts

A good way to remember something you've recently read or done is to talk about it or to write it down.  Take a few minutes to think about this week's Bible readings.

• If you like to journal, reflect on the passage that surprised you the most or the one that was the most emotional to read.
• Talk to a family member, friend, or neighbor about something you've read this week.
• Join the discussion of the Godsway 66 Facebook page.

Get Ready for Sunday's Sermon

Rev. Joshua Patty will preach on Jonah on Sunday at Eastgate Christian Church in Independence, MO.  Join us for the sermon or check back here for the recorded sermon.

Jonah, Day 4 Readings

Disgruntled Jonah Waits to Die  

Today's reading is the odd conclusion to the saga of Jonah.  After the overwhelming response to his brief prophecy by the people of Ninevah, Jonah was hugely disappointed that God did not destroy the city.  In fact, Jonah spoke to God and rationalized his earlier fleeing from God by saying "he knew it all along" that God would forgive instead of punish.

Then, Jonah climbed a hill overlooking Ninevah, still hoping that God would destroy the city.  Instead, God tried to teach Jonah a lesson.  God allowed a plant to grow to shade the prophet, and then God allowed the plant to be infected by a worm and die.  Jonah, full of self-pity, asked to die.  God points out Jonah's nearsightedness about the bush and asks why a city of 120,000 people shouldn't attract God's care, concern, and protection.

Read Jonah 4:1-11  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

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Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Jonah 4 today.

Jonah, Day 3 Readings

Tepid Jonah and the Overwhelming Response by Ninevah  

Today's reading is a part of the Jonah story that is even more unbelievable than Jonah surviving in the belly of a fish.  After he was spit on dry land, the prophet accepted his mission to go to Ninevah, the Assyrian capital.  However, Jonah only carried out the mission half-way.  He went into the city, but not to its center, said one sentence warning of God's wrath against Ninevah, and left town.

The response to this warning, though, was dramatic.  Word spreads and the Assyrian king learns of the foreign prophet's words.  He immediately instructed every resident of the city to fast, to wear sackcloth and ashes, and to pray -- further, they were to make every animal in the city do the same thing.  The king hoped that through this overwhelming display they could change God's mind, which God did.

Read Jonah 3:1-10  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

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Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Jonah 3 today.

Jonah, Day 2 Readings

Praying from the Depths of the Fish's Belly  

Today's reading is probably the most famous part of Jonah.  After being tossed off the boat, Jonah was swallowed by a giant fish (or whale, depending on the translation), where his life was somehow preserved.  In the belly of the fish, Jonah desperately prayed to God, asking for forgiveness.

Jonah compares falling into the ocean with falling into Sheol, the pit of nothingness that is the farthest point from God humans can imagine.  Then, he bemoans that he will not live to offer another sacrifice to God in the Temple.  At the end, God caused the fish to spit Jonah miraculously onto dry land.

Read Jonah 2:1-10  (NIV)   (NRSV)   (CEB)

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Reading the Bible in Its Entirety

If you are planning to read the Bible in its entirety, you should read Jonah 2 today.