Micah 1:1-16 Many of Israel Worship False gods

 

Many of Israel Worship False gods

Micah 1:1-16         The Book of Micah [in Smaller Chunks]

The Word of the Lord, that came to Micah, the Morasthite, [that] he saw [about] Samaria & Jerusalem, [during] the days of Jotham; Ahaz; & Hezekiah, [Judah's] kings. O earth, & all [who are in it, listen,] & all you people hear & let the Lord God witness against you, from [the Lord's] holy temple.

For, [look,] the Lord comes out [from] His place, & will come down, & [walk] upon the [earth's] high places. And the mountains shall [melt beneath] Him. And the valleys shall be [separated & drip down] [like] wax [melts] [in front of] the fire, & [like] the waters that are poured down [from] a steep place.

All this is for the transgressions of Jacob, & the sins of the house of Israel.  [2 Peter 3:9-10 The Lord is not slack, [a.k.a. slow, about] His promise, [like] some men [consider] slackness; but is [patient toward] us, not filling that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

*But the day of the Lord will come [like] a thief in the night; in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, & the elements shall melt with fervent heat; the earth, & also the works, [a.k.a. things made,] that are [in there,] shall be burned up.]

What is the transgression of Jacob? Isn't it, Samaria? [2 Kings 17:16 And they left all the commandments of the Lord their God, & made [themselves] 2 [molded] images, even 2 calves, & made a grove, & worshiped all the host of heaven, [a.k.a. stars and constellations,] & served Baal.]

And [where] are the high places of Judah? Aren't they [in] Jerusalem? [1 Kings 14:22-23 And Judah did evil in the sight of the Lord, & they provoked Him to jealousy with their sins, [that] they had committed, above all that their [forefathers] had done. For they also built [themselves] high places, & images, & groves, on every high hill, & under every green tree.]

Therefore, I will make Samaria [like a] [ruinous] heap [in] the field. And [like] planting [in] a [rocky] vineyard. And I will pour down [an avalanche of] stones [of it] into the valley. And I will discover, [a.k.a. uncover, its] foundations.

And the [carved] images [of it,] be beaten to pieces, & all [those who played the unfaithful harlot,] shall be burned with fire. And I will [make] all [its] idols desolate. For she gathered it [like] the hire, [a.k.a. payment] of [a] harlot.

[Revelation 17:1-2 And 1 of the 7 Angels came there, [who] had the 7 vials, & talked with me, saying to me, Come [here.] I will [declare] to you the judgment of the great [harlot, who] sits upon many waters: with whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, [a.k.a. adultery.] And the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her [adultery.]

Therefore, I will wail & howl & I will go mourning, stripped & naked. I will make wailing [sounds] like the [jackals] & [like] the owls. For her wound is incurable. For it [has] come [into] Judah & he [has] come to the gate of My people, even to Jerusalem.

[2 Kings 18:13 Now, [during] the 14th year, king Hezekiah [ruled,] & Sennacherib, [Assyria's] king, [came] up against the fenced, [a.k.a. fortified,] cities of Judah & [captured] them.]

[Don't] declare it [in] Gath, & [don't] weep, at all. In the house of [Beth] Aphrah, roll yourself in the dust. You, having your shame, & naked, [go] away, you [inhabitants] of Saphir. The [inhabitants] of Zaanan, [didn't] come [out, during] the mourning of Beth Ezel.

[From] you, he shall receive his standing, [a.k.a. reputation.] For the [inhabitants] of Maroth waited [cautiously] for good, but [disaster ] came down from the Lord, [into] the gate of Jerusalem. [Jeremiah 14:18-19 If I go [out] into the field, then [I] [see] the slain, [by] the sword!

And if I enter into the city, then [I] [see those, who] are sick, [because of the] famine! [Yes,] both the prophet & the priest go [around] to a land that they [didn't] know.

[Have] You [totally] rejected Judah? [Has] Your soul loathed Zion? Why [have] You [afflicted] us, & there is no healing for us? We looked for peace, & there is no good, & [looked] for the time of healing, & [saw] [only] trouble!]

O you [inhabitants] of Lachish, [hitch] the chariot to the swift [horse.] She is the beginning of the sin [of] the daughter of Zion for the transgressions of Israel were found in you. [2 Kings 18:14-16 And Hezekiah, [Judah's] king, sent to Lachish, [Assyria's] king, saying, I have offended [you.]

[Withdraw your troops] from me, & I will bear [whatever] you [put] upon me. And [Assyria's] king, [determined:] 300 talents of silver & 30 talents of gold, [for the payment of] Hezekiah, [Judah's] king. And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the [Lord's] house, & in the [treasury] of the king's house.

At that time, Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the [Lord's] temple, & from the pillars [that] Hezekiah, [Judah's] king, had overlaid, & gave it to [Assyria's] king.]

Therefore, you shall [still] give presents, [a.k.a. bribes or tribute,] to Moresheth Gath, & the houses of Achzib, shall [prove to be] a lie to the kings of Israel. [Still,] I will bring an heir to you, O inhabitant of Mareshah. He shall come to Adullam, the glory of Israel. Make [yourself] bald, & [cut your hair,] for your delicate children.

[Increase] your baldness, [like] the eagle; for they [have] gone into captivity from you. [Amos 5:25-27 Have you offered sacrifices & offerings to Me in the wilderness 40 years, O house of Israel?

But you have [carried] the tabernacle of your: Moloch & Chiun, your images & the star of your god, [that] you have made [for] yourselves. Therefore, I will cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, says the Lord, Whose Name Is The God of Hosts.]

Jonah 4:1-11 Jonah Was Very Displeased & Very Angry

 

Jonah Was Very Displeased & Very Angry

Jonah 4:1-11               The Book of Jonah [in Smaller Chunks]

But it [exceedingly] displeased Jonah, & he was very angry. [Jonah 3:10 And God saw their works, [a.k.a. deeds,] & that they turned from their evil ways. And God [withdrew from] the [disaster,] that He had said that He would do to them; & He didn't do it.]

And [Jonah] prayed to the Lord, & said, I pray You, O Lord, wasn't this [what] [I said,] when I was [still] in my country? [That's why] fled to Tarshish, before. For I knew that You [are] a gracious God, merciful, slow to anger, & of great kindness, & You [withdraw] of the [disaster.]

[2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people, [who] are called by My Name, shall humble themselves, & pray & seek My face, & turn from their wicked ways, then, I will hear from heaven, & will forgive their sin & will heal their land.]

Therefore, O Lord, I [beg] You, take my life from me; for it is better for me to die than to live. Then, the Lord said, [Are] you [doing] well to be angry? So, Jonah went out of the city, & sat on the East side of the city.

And made [himself] a booth, [a.k.a. shelter,] there & sat under it, in [its shade, until] he [could] see what would [happen to] the city. And the Lord God prepared a gourd, & made it come up over [top of] Jonah, [so] that it might [provide] [shade] over his head, to [relieve] him from his grief.

So, Jonah was [exceedingly] glad [about] the gourd. But the next day, God prepared a worm, & [at dawn, the worm struck] the gourd, [so] that it withered. And it [happened,] when  the sun [arose,] that God prepared a [strong] East wind; & the sun beat [down] upon [Jonah's] head, [so] that he fainted.

And [he] wished [within] himself to die, & said, It's better for me to die, than to live. And God said to Jonah, [Are] you [doing] well to be angry for the gourd? And [Jonah] said, I do well to be angry, even to [the point of] death.

Then, the Lord said, You [have] had pity on the gourd, for which you haven't [worked,] & neither [have you] made it grow; [that] came up in a night, & perished in a night.

And shouldn't I spare Nineveh, that [large] city, [in which] are more than 120,000 [people,] that can't [distinguish] between their right hand & their left hand; [plus] much [livestock?]

Jonah 3:1-10 The 2nd Time the Lord Tells Jonah to Warn Nineveh

 

The 2nd Time the Lord Tells Jonah to Warn Nineveh

Jonah 3:1-10               The Book of Jonah [in Smaller Chunks]

And the Word of the Lord came to Jonah, the 2nd time, saying, Arise & go [into] Nineveh, that [large] city, & preach to it the preaching that I [requested of] you. So, Jonah arose, & went [into] Nineveh, according to the Word of the Lord. Now, Nineveh was an [exceedingly large] city, [taking a] 3 day journey [to cross it.]

And [on the 1st] [day's] journey, Jonah began to enter into the city. And [Jonah] cried [out] & said, [In only] 40 days, Nineveh shall be overthrown. [Deuteronomy 18:21-22 And if you say [within] your heart, How shall we know the Word, [that] the Lord hasn't spoken?

When a prophet speaks in the Name of the Lord, if the thing [doesn't] follow, nor [happens,] that is [what] the Lord hasn't spoken, but the prophet has spoken it, [over confidently.] You shall not be afraid of him.]

So, the people of Nineveh believed God, & proclaimed a fast, & put on sackcloth from the [powerful, even to the powerless] of them. [Matthew 12:40-41 For [since Jonah,] was 3 days & 3 nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of Man be 3 days & 3 nights in the heart of the earth.

The men of Nineveh shall rise [up] in judgment [against] this generation, & shall condemn it; because [Nineveh] repented at the preaching of [Jonah,] & [look,] a greater [One] than [Jonah] is here.]

For Word came to the king of Neineveh, & he arose from his throne, & he [took off] his robe, & covered [himself] with sackcloth, & sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed & [distributed] through [out] Nineveh by the decree of the king & his nobles, saying, neither man; [animals;] herd; nor flock, [are to] taste anything. [Don't] let them [eat], nor drink water.

[Joel 1:14 Sanctify a fast [for] [yourselves] & call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders & all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the Lord your God, & cry [out] to the Lord.]

But let [men & animals] be covered with sackcloth, & cry [out] mightily to God. [Yes,] let everyone [of] them turn from his evil [ways,] & from the violence that is in their hands.

[Isaiah 58:6-7 Isn't this the fast that I have chosen? To [loosen] the bands of wickedness, to [lighten] the heavy burdens, & to let the oppressed go free, [so] that you break every yoke?

Isn't it to deal, [a.k.a. distribute,] your bread to the hungry, & that you bring the poor, [who] are cast out, [into] your house? When you see the naked, that you cover him; & that you [don't] hide yourself from your own flesh [& blood?]

Who can tell if God will turn & [withdraw,] & turn away from His fierce anger, [so] that we [don't] perish? And God saw their works, [a.k.a. deeds,] & that they turned from their evil ways. And God [withdrew from] the [disaster,] that He had said that He would do to them; & He didn't do it.

Jonah 2:1-10 Jonah Prayed to the Lord God From the Belly of the Fish

Jonah Prayed to the Lord God From the Belly of the Fish

Jonah 2:1-10               The Book of Jonah [in Smaller Chunks]

Then, Jonah prayed to the Lord his God [from] the fish's belly, & said, I cried [out] to the Lord, [because] of [my] affliction, & He heard me. I cried [out from] the belly of hell, & You heard my voice. For You [had] me [thrown] into the deep, in the midst of the seas; & the [flood] [waters] [surrounded around] me.

All Your billows & Your waves [flowed] over me. Then, I said, I am [thrown] out of Your sight; & [still,] I will look again toward Your holy temple. [1 Kings 8:38-40 [Whatever] prayer & [request is] made by any man, or by all Your people, Israel, which every man shall know the [affliction] of his own heart, & spread [out] his hands toward this, [the Lord's] house.

Then, You hear in heaven, Your dwelling place, & do, & give to every man, whose heart You know, according to his ways, (for You, even only You, know the hearts of the children of men.) That they may fear [respect] You all the days that they live in the land, which You [gave] to our [forefathers.]

The waters [surrounded around] me, & the weeds were wrapped [around] my head, & the depths [enclosed around] me, even to the [point of death.] O Lord my God, I went down [into the depths & saw] the bottoms of the mountains. The earth with [all its barriers were] [around] me, forever.

[Still,] You have brought [me] up [& saved] my life from corruption. [Psalm 86:13 For Your mercy is great toward me: & You have delivered my soul from the lowest hell.]

When my soul, [a.k.a. life,] fainted within me, I remembered the Lord. And my prayer came into Your holy temple, to You. [Those, who] observe [what are:] lying vanities, [abandon] their own mercy.

[Jeremiah 1:16 And I will [express] My judgments against them [about] all their wickedness. [Those,] who have [abandoned] Me, & have burned incense to other gods & worshiped the works [made by] their own hands.]

But I will sacrifice to You, with the voice of thanksgiving. I will pay, [what] I have vowed. Salvation is [from] the Lord. [Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my light & my Salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?]

And the Lord [spoke] to the fish, & it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.

Jonah 1:1-17 Jonah Tries to Flee from the Lord's Request

 

Jonah Tries to Flee from the Lord's Request

Jonah 1:1-17               The Book of Jonah [in Smaller Chunks]

Now, the Word of the Lord came to Jonah, [Amittai's] son, saying, Arise & go to Nineveh, that [large] city, & cry [out] against it. For their wickedness [has] come up before Me. But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish, from the presence of the Lord & went down to Joppa.

And [Jonah] found a ship going to Tarshish, so he paid the fare [for it,] & went down into [the] [ship,] to go with them to Tarshish, from the presence of the Lord. But the Lord sent out a [enormous] wind [onto] the sea. And there was a mighty [storm on] the sea, so that the ship was [likely] to be broken.

[Psalm 107:25-27 For He commands, & raises the stormy wind, [that] lifts up [its] waves. [The waves] mount up to the heaven, & they go down again to the depths. Their soul [melts,] because of trouble. They reel [back & forth] & stagger like a [drunk] man, & are at their wit's end.]

Then, the mariners were afraid, & every man cried [out] to his god. [1 Chronicles 16:26 For all the gods of the people are idols: but the Lord made the heavens.]

And [they] [threw out] the [cargo] into the sea, that was in the ship, to lighten [it.] But Jonah had gone down into the sides of the ship. And he lay [down] & was fast asleep. So, the ship masters, [a.k.a. captain,] came to [Jonah,] & said to him, What [do you] mean [by sleeping,] O you sleeper?

Arise, & call upon your God, if [perhaps] that God will think [about] us, [so] that we [don't] perish. [Psalm 107:28-30 Then, they cry [out] to the Lord in their trouble, & He brings them out of their [distress.] He makes the storm calm, so that [its] waves are still. Then, they are glad, because [the waves] are [peaceful,] so He brings them to their desired [harbor.]

And everyone said to his fellow [sailor,] Come, & let us [draw] lots, [so] that we may know for [whom,] this evil [has] come upon us. So, they [drew] lots, & the lot fell upon Jonah. Then, they said to him, We pray [that] you tell us, for [what reason,] is this evil upon us?

What is your occupation? And [where] [do] you [come] [from?] What is your country? And what people are you [from?] And [Jonah] said to them, I am a Hebrew. And I fear [respect] the Lord, the God of heaven, [Who] has made the sea & the dry land.

[Genesis 1:9-10 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together to one place, & let the dry land appear. And it was so. And God called the dry land: Earth. And He called the gathering together of the waters: Seas. And God saw that it was good.]

Then, the men were exceedingly afraid & said to [Jonah,] Why [have] you done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. Then, they said to [Jonah,] What shall we do to you, [so] that the sea may be calm [for] us? For the sea [was growing more] tempestuous.

And [Jonah] said to them, [Pick] me up, & [throw] me [overboard] into the sea, so the sea shall be calm [for] you. [Because] I know that this [large storm] is upon you for my sake. [Still,] the men rowed hard to bring [the ship] to the [shore,] but they couldn't.

For the sea [was growing more] tempestuous against them. [Acts 5:39 But if it [is] of God, you can't overthrow it; lest [by chance] you are even found to fight against God.]

[For this reason,] they cried [out] to the Lord, & said, We [beg] You, O Lord, we [beg] You, [don't] let us perish for this man's life & [don't] lay upon us innocent [bloodshed.] For You, O Lord, [have] done as it pleased You.

So, they [picked] up Jonah, & [threw] him [overboard] into the sea. And the sea [stopped] from [is] raging. [Psalm 89:8-9 O Lord God of Hosts, who is a strong Lord [similar] to You? Or [similar] to Your faithfulness [all around] You?You [rule] the raging of the sea. When [its] waves arise, you [still] them.]

Then, the men exceedingly feared [respected] the Lord, & offered a sacrifice to the Lord, & made vows. [Matthew 14:30-33 But when [Peter] saw the boisterous wind, he was afraid; & beginning to sink, he cried [out,] saying, Lord, save me.

And immediately Jesus stretched [out] His hand, & caught him, & said to him, O you of little faith, [for what reason] did you doubt? And when they [came] into the ship, the wind ceased. Then, [those, who] were on the ship came & worshiped Him, saying, [Truthfully,] You are the Son of God.]

Now, the Lord had prepared a [large] fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish 3 days & 3 nights.