Prophet Pearls #40 – Balak (Micah 5:7[6]-6:8)
In this episode of Prophet Pearls, Nehemia Gordon and Keith Johnson discuss the Prophets portion for Balak covering Micah 5:6-6:8. The portion begins with Micah drawing from the song of Moses to illustrate what the remnant of Jacob will look … Continue reading →
In this episode of Prophet Pearls, Nehemia Gordon and Keith Johnson discuss the Prophets portion for Balak covering Micah 5:6-6:8. The portion begins with Micah drawing from the song of Moses to illustrate what the remnant of Jacob will look like—“as showers upon grass.” The prophet also provides a list of things that will be cut off “in that day.” And lest we think biblical idolatry is obsolete, Gordon and Johnson provide modern day examples that masquerade as piety. We learn the uses of the paragraph divisions of “samech” and “pei” and Gordon scours the Tanakh for other uses of “in that day.”
In closing, Gordon and Johnson share their individual histories and perspectives with the closing verses that inform us “what the Lord requires.” In Micah’s context of blood, rams and oil, the good list sounds simple and can be stated on one foot—but even so requires the intention of a whole life.
Image courtesy of the Digital Image Archive, Pitts Theology Library, Candler School of Theology, Emory University.
"He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does Yehovah require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8
Looking forward to reading your comments!
Transcript
Prophet Pearls #40 – Balak (Micah 5:7[6]-6:8)
You are listening to Prophet Pearls with Nehemia Gordon and Keith Johnson. Thank you for supporting Nehemia Gordon's Makor Hebrew Foundation. Learn more at NehemiasWall.com.
Keith: Welcome to Prophet Pearls. This is Keith Johnson and Nehemia Gordon down into the deep dark breaches of a basement in the side of a mountain in the land of Jerusalem. We are here actually recording at breakneck speed, but really having an amazing time, not only having our nose in the Scriptures but actually walking amongst the people in the land. It really is becoming amazing. We’re trying to do our best to let you know about prophecy for yesterday, today, and tomorrow, and that’s exactly what we’re about to do in this section in the Book of Micah. Nehemia, welcome back again!
Nehemia: Shalom, Keith. I love this book, the Book of Micah. I can’t wait to talk about this.
Keith: You’re talking about the Book of Micah, so I have to tell you something. We talked earlier about Isaiah, and how I see him, and Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, and even Amos, but I have to tell you I don’t have an image for Micah. Can you help me? Can you tell me something about this prophet?
Nehemia: So he’s actually mentioned by Jeremiah, if I’m not mistaken. Let’s see, Jeremiah Chapter 26 verse 18. It says… here let me read you in the JPS. Jeremiah is talking about the different prophets, and it says, “Micah the Morashtite, who prophesied in the days of Hezekiah of Judah, said to all the people of Judah, ‘Thus said Yehovah of Hosts, Zion shall be plowed as a field, Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins and the Temple Mount a shrine in the woods.’” That was his famous prophecy.
And what they’re talking about there is if you have a negative prophecy, does that mean that you’re a traitor against the government? Because that’s what they were accusing Jeremiah of. They said, “Well, wait a minute, why is Jeremiah against the kingdom of Judah for prophesying that we’re going to be punished – Micah the Morashtite did that.” So that’s him, he’s a cool… it’s interesting, I don’t know that we have many other examples of one prophet who mentions another prophet in parallel. We actually have Daniel mentioning Jeremiah, but Daniel’s not in the Prophets in the Tanakh, Daniel’s in the Writings. So that’s interesting.
Keith: Yes. Well, the verse that we start out with is verse 7, Micah 5.
Nehemia: By the way, that quote is from Micah Chapter 3 verse 12 in Jeremiah. Isn’t that interesting?
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Comments
Hi Nehemias,
Thank you for your teachings. I want to ask for prayer. I have discovered the truth about Shabbat and I am having an uphill battle to keep it with my Employer. Is like the Hebrews trying to worship God and Pharos impeding my worship. I am not a Christian, nor a Jew. I am a believer. I have found very difficult to be understood. Your teaching has led me to the truth along with another Rabbi.
Wherever the phrase “And it came to pass” is used disaster is being foretold.
Micah 6:7-8 is a beautiful passage and shows the difference between our God and the heathen gods. YHVH does not take delight in seeing animals slaughtered and blood flowing and get some sort of pleasure from it. That is the horrific outcome of our disobedience. No, He wants us to love Him, love our neighbour and walk humbly with Him and that way, there will be no need for sacrifices. That is the the character and chesed of YHVH. He is undescribably loving and awesome.
I don’t know why in the end pray mentioned China. But I do believe China is a special area although not open enough but less contaminated by the devil culture populor in west world. And I do believe Chinese had a good relationship with Yehovah in the ancient times just they forgot and didn’t know nowadays. So thanks for sharing I also pray to Yehovah for an answer for my this belief.
Thank you so much, and amen.
Regarding Micah 6:1 and pleading their case before the mountains. Nehemia said: “Well, they are the witnesses.” Where does it say in scripture that the mountains are witnesses? I can’t find it. Thank you, I learn a lot listening to these.
You’ve presented “Food 4 Thought”; i.e. “spiritual widows”
It’s above my ‘paygrade’ to tear down someone else’s altar in their own backyard. I have my own yard to deal with, including possible stuff in my own eyes.
Fabulous teaching guys! So insightful from the Jew and the Christian.
Micah 6:4 …I redeemed you and I sent before you the whole life order of Moses, Aaron joined with Miriam. Focus is on Moses and Aaron and not Miriam. Dealing with only parts of Miriam’s life when joined to Moses, Aaron when coming out of Egypt.
If you walk humbly and obediantly as a child listening to and being respectful,and in awe of him, and his safety rules,and watching out for others while life can have hardships life can be better.Sacrifics were usually needed after a person ran head long into trouble because they were not listening,being prideful,willful.Which is better, to have a child listen to you when you say:wear your shoes and don’t walk in that area where there is glass or metal or to have to make a trip to an ER with a child that is in pain and crying and to have the child’s foot sewn up because they did not listen?
It’s best if you read through the commands for yourself, some are for men, some for women, some for children some for Kings and priests. If it envolves the Holy Temple; or the land of Israel then we most likely cannot do at this time. We are all responsible for what is in the book; as best we can. Usually one at a time, we start with Sabbath, you can ask Yeshua what elsse and always ask for wisdom and understanding, it’s mostly about your character, moral and ethical.
The Father tells us to over throw their alters….because we have not he has sent those that are not following Torah …Deuteronomy 12:2
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Like!
Do you have a teaching on what commandments are pertinent for today..
That’s what I been telling other, it how you treat on another, the poor , orphans, widows, even spiritual widows. etc.
wow wonderful teaching. I asked a while ago about what my Father would like me to do? The answer is here Deuteronomy 10:12 Thank you guys I learned so much!
Summary of today’s Prophet Pearls in Mic 6:8 (one of my fav verses too!)
1. Hebrew is never passive, what we know has to be applied in our lives.
2. To serve YHWH, is to walk in awe of Him, to keep His commandments and statutes, (Deut 10: 12)
To obey is better than sacrifice. 1 Sam 15: 22
Beautiful! Toda, Nehemia and Keith.
How old was Pinchus; when he died?
I love the simplicity of Micah 6:8. This is where Torah living starts. This is repentance. Having more understanding of the finer details of what is written in the Torah is a daily progressive walk The Torah is not too difficult, but it is near, even in our mouths and on our lips (Deuteronomy 30:14). Someone once said, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light,” which happened to be the Torah when reading this in its context (Matthew 11:30).
Some tell me that they cannot accept Torah because they cannot live their life according to a book. I tell them that I must accept Torah because I cannot live my life according to others’ opinions. Indeed, the Torah is the most liberating piece of work ever written.
“That which is hateful to you, do not do to another.” “That is the whole Law.” “The rest is commentary.” “Now go and learn.”
I just want to thank you Nehemia for your insights. I have cerbral palsy and it is a blessing to dig into the word; with your help.
It was Hillel and it is part of a story about the difference between Hillel and Shammai. The man came first to Shammai to learn the Torah standing on one foot, and Shammai thought the man was mocking him and threw him out. So the man came to Hillel, who taught him “What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. The rest is commentary; now, go and study it.”
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