Book for the Ages

“Woe to those who plan iniquity, and work out evil in their couches.” Micah 2:1

The Bible is a book for all ages, epochs and countries. I am amazed as I ponder the readings for today. In the 2nd chapter of Micah and Psalm 10, it is as if the prophet and psalmist are speaking in our midst, right here and right now about our present situation. 

“Woe to those who plan iniquity, and work out evil on their couches; In the morning light they accomplish it when it lies within their power.” (Micah 2:1) “Why,  O Lord, do You stand aloof? Why hide in times of distress? Proudly the wicked harass the afflicted, who are caught in the devices the wicked have contrived. For the wicked man glories in his greed, and the covetous blasphemes...The wicked man boasts, ‘He will not avenge it’; ‘There is no God’ sums up his thoughts. His mouth is full of cursing, guile and deceit; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity. He lurks in ambush...murdering the innocent; his eyes spy upon the unfortunate. You do see, for You behold misery and sorrow, taking them in Your hands. On You the unfortunate man depends; of the fatherless you are the helper.” 

Throughout the ages, there are tyrants, demagogues and dictators. They rise and fall, they destroy and they themselves are destroyed. They plunder, deceive, curse, and have people murdered. They say there is no God and act accordingly. Many people follow blindly. 

Let us set our sights on eternal truths. “These are times that try men’s souls” Thomas Paine said in 1776 in his pamphlet , “American Crisis”. We are undergoing a crisis today, and the battle is on so many fronts. Let us stand with faith and courage, knowing that as always, the battle is not ours but God’s. Our enemies will surely fall, but we know we already have the victory in Christ. Just as the prophets and psalmist speaks to us today of our plight, so too we can depend on God’s Word to give us hope. 

“For the Lord your God is the One who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” Deuteronomy   20:4