Sermon: Where Justice and Grace Meet

If you have a Bible, please open to Michael chapter 7. If you are using one of the pub Pew bubbles, I believe it's on page.

micro chapter 7 this is going to be the last serma in the series of preaching the book of this minor prophet. And my brothers have done excellent works in the past few weeks so that the leaves to the climax of the whole book. Last week you are here. The pattern was trying to steal information from my chapter. So this evening if I can make a pet a happy I will be able to go home safely. Let us go to the Lord for his help.

Oh Lord, God Almighty. Who am I to preach your word? All I can do is try to get out of the way and not mess up the message because your word itself can reach. Or by your mercy. May you use your servant to distribute the spiritual food? And may your people will be satisfying you in jesus' name, I pray. amen brothers and sisters hear the word of God Woe is me for I have become as when the summer fruit has been gathered. That's

when the grapes have been gleaned. There is no cluster to eat. No first arrived fake that my soul desires. The Godly has perished from the earth and there is no one upright among mankind. They all lie in wait for blood and each hunts the other with the night. Their hands are on what is evil to do it well. The Prince and the judge ask for a bribe And the Green Man utters the evil desire of his soul. Thus they weave it together.

The best of them is like a briar. the most operator of them a thorhedge the day of your Watchmen of your punishment has come. Now their confusion is at hand. Who no trust in a neighbor have no confidence in a friend. guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms. For the son treats the father with contempt. The daughter Rises up against her mother the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law a mass enemies are the man of his own

house. But as for me, I will look to the Lord. I will wait for the god of my salvation. My God will hear me. Rejoice Not Over Me Oh My Enemy when I fall I shall rise. When I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have seen against him. Until he pleased my cause. And execute judgment for me. He will bring me out of the light. I shall look upon his vindication.

Then my enemy will see and shame will cover her who said to me. Where is the Lord your God? My eyes will look upon her now. She will be trampled down like the mayor of the streets. A day for the building of your walls in that day the boundary shall be far extended in that day. It will come to you. From Assyria and the cities of Egypt and from Egypt to the River from sea to Sea and from Mountain to Mountain. But the Earth will be desolate because of because of

its inhabitants for the fruit of their deeds. Shepherd your people with your staff The flock of your inheritance who do well alone in a forest. in the midst of regarding land Let them graze Invasion and Gilead as in the days of old. As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt. I will show them marvelous things the Nations shall see and be ashamed of all their might. They shall lay their hands on their mouths their ears

shall be deaf. They shall lick the dust like a serpent like The Crawling things of the Earth. They shall come trembling out of their strongholds. They shall turn in drive to the Lord Our God and they shall be in fear of you. Who is the god like you? hardening in equity and passing over transgression, but the remnant of his inheritance He does not retain his anger forever because he Delights instead of his love. You will again have compassion on us. He

will treat try to our iniquities under food. You will cast our sins into the depths of the sea. It will show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast. Love to Abraham as you have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.

Human beings are born Experts of looking for excuses. Do you agree? We are all good at finger pointing. When troubles come we immediately immediately look for the sauce from the outside, but not within. The room is messy. Mom is angry. It is my brother's fault. I couldn't find her job is the economies fall. I am still single is woman's fault. Coronavirus is China's fault. gas price Rises are high is Russia and democrats for

Etc, etc, etc. Moreover if we put ourselves in the identity group and apply critical theory. We are all victims of someone or some groups of people. Simply put in this trend our troubles are because we are surprised by some other people. It is always someone else's fault, but not mine. Therefore we want to fix others. We are passionate about changing the world. But the tragedy is without the grace of God without the gospel.

We cannot change others because we cannot even change ourselves. And the way we change the world is doomed to be a big mess. You see the problem of this world is not that no one wants to change it. The problem of this world is too many people wants to change it. But a very few wants to change themselves. And no one can really change themselves to be a righteous person in God's eyes. Does it sound familiar to what happened

in Genesis chapter 3? After Adam and Eve took the forbidden fruit. God asked the Adam. Have you eaten of the tree of which I can manage you not to eat? Adam said the woman whom you gave to me gave to be with me. She gave me fruit of the tree and I ate Then God said to Eve. What is this that you have done? the woman said the serpent deceived me and I ate you see in this narrative when the curse or punishment comes Adam passed the back to Eve

and Eve to the serpent. It seems that only the serpent didn't look for excuses. And and if you pay close attention to what Adam and Eve had said fundamentally, they pointed their finger back to God the Creator. It is because you that we sin. It is because you created the woman it is because you created The Serpent and put in the garden. France it is a scene in us that needs to be changed. We are the troublemakers. Before you want to make the world a better place you have

to start it from you. But the question is can you? Can you change yourself? Can you improve yourself to be a better person? Do you have the power and ability? The good news is the answers to these questions can be found in this chapter. The passage will be divided into three parts. The first part is from verses 1 to 6. Judas sing and God's judgment The second part is God's salvation to the remnants from verses 7. To 17 and the third part

is about how God's judgment and salvation come together for his people from verses 18 to the end of the chapter. And we are going and we are going to look at them one by one. first Judas sing and God's judgment after the prophet Micah foretold the national crisis of Judah. is coming in chapter 6 he did not immediately look for the sauce from outside. hear what he says in verse 1 Michael Cries Out What is me? War is me for I have

become as when the summer fruit has been gathered as when the grapes have been gleaned. Michael rightly diagnosed that the reason for the national crisis of Judah the reason for the upcoming disaster Not merely because of others but also himself. Brothers and sisters. This has to be a person who is under the grace of God can do that. Because it is against our nature. After the fall our tendency is to blame others. the Contemporary profit of

Micah is Isaiah you remember what happened in Isaiah chapter 6 when the prophet Isaiah saw the Glorious and the Mighty God present in Temple. And he saw the suffering seraphim. Covered their faces and called to each other. Holy holy. Holy is the Lord of hosts. The whole earth is full of his glory. What did Isaiah do at that moment? He immediately realized himself is a sinner. He said woe is me for I am lost for I am a man

of unclean lips. Who else that you can think of? Peter When Peter saw Jesus miracle for catching a lot of fish. He immediately fell down on his knees and said depart from me for I am a sinful Man O Lord. Brothers and sisters the ability to recognize that we are the troublemakers as a sign of we are receiving God's grace. Then Micah uses analogy in this chapter. He Compares himself to a Vine dresser. A Vine dresser worked hard for a year

and come to the Vineyard in summer to gather the fruit. See what he saw in the second half of verse 1. There is no cluster to eat. No first wrap fake that my soul desires. Of course, this is this is an analogy when Micah uses analogy of volume. People at that time would immediately think of Israel? Just like if I say tulip you may think of the Netherlands if I say cherry blossom you may think of Japan. Vine Israel in some 80 the poet says

you you brought a vine out of Egypt you drove out of the Nations and planet. You clear the ground for it. It took deep root and failed the land the mountains were covered with its shade the mighty sedars with Ace branches. He sent out his branches to the Sea and his shoes to the river. One then have you broken down its walls so that all who pass the law the way plaque is fruit. The bore from the forest ravages it and all that move in the field

feed on it. The recipients of formica knew that at the the analogy was about them. Either the vine of failed to produce the fruit. Or the fruit that was gathered by someone else. Therefore nothing is live in the vineyard. But according to the Torah there should have been something left. the Leviticus 19:9-10 when you reap the Harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to his Edge. Neither shall you gather the gleanings after

your Harvest and you shall not strip your Vineyard bear. Neither. Shall you gather the Fallen grips of your viar? You shall leave them for the poor and for the Sojourner. I am the Lord your God. The fruitless Vineyard represents no righteous man in front of God's eyes. in verse 2 The Godly has perished from the Earth. And there is no one upright among mankind. And if we keep reading we can see that their vices are. They all lie in waiting for blood.

And each has the other with the night. Their hands are on what is evil to do it well and so on. This is in comparison of what? comparison to Michael chapter 6 verse 8 Oh man, what is good? And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God. Apparently we all feel this task. We are all Covenant Breakers because we do not do what God commanded us to do. our righteousness

was corrupted and we cannot bear fruit. How does it relate to us? You know when we are involved with a good church Community for a while. We tend to see what we are. We tend to see where all the good people. We matter our face based on the people around us. and our social and financial status Pharisees could easily recognize that our savior was eating meals with a group of singers because among them. where tax collectors and prostitutes

Iran, actually the people who needed Jesus the most were Pharisees who were the top characters in society. brothers and sisters We are all needy people. the people who say to be said you his face or her faith is not yours. You needed Jesus no matter whether you are American or Chinese. Jewish or gentiles Not because you have a good career. Marry a beautiful wife have a bunch of Adorable case then you are immune to sins.

We are all sinners and we all need a crest. There is no one single moment in our lives that we do not need the grace of God. Because Jesus says in John 15:5. I am the vine you are the branches whoever abising me and I him he it is that bears much fruit. For a part of from me you can do nothing. In micro 7 Michael Compares himself to a Vine dresser and Israel as the Vine. In John 15, Jesus Compares god of the father as the vine dresser.

himself two of himself as the Vine. In Matthew Chapter 2 Matthew Chapter 2 verses 13 to 15. Andrew of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said res take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt and remained their until I tell you for Harold is about to search for the child to destroy him. And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fail what

the Lord has has spoken by the prophet all of Egypt. I called him my son. brothers and sisters Jesus is a true Israel who abides in him are spiritual Israelites. the concept of Israel as a nation failed to produce fruit but in fact the crest has been raised from the dead the first the fruits of those who have fallen asleep sis in 1st Corinthians 15 verse 20 verse 23 Christ the first of fruits then at his coming those who

belong to Christ. The Israelites who lived in Michael's Arrow failed to obey God's command on Justice and righteousness. But Jesus came to fulfill the law. This is Our Hope brothers and sisters In verse 4 of this chapter Micah also compare himself to Watchmen. He announced the national crisis a punishment from the Lord following God's people breaking the Covenant by their evil Deeds. However in the darkest time and it seems the prophet implies.

That beyond the God's judgment. There is also salvation. in verse 7 But as for me, I will look to the Lord. I will wait for the god of my salvation. My God will hear me. What Micah is talking about? Oh, wait a minute. You just announced the a lot of bad news in chapter 6. Of course, there was there was no chapter divisions of the original book, but you know what I'm talking about. You just said God will punish the southern Kingdom

of Judah because of their sin. And God had a certainly punished the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Now you are talking about salvation. Wait a minute. What about our iniquities? What about God's justice? We are living in a strange world. We are living in a world that sing is not seen and if sin is not a thing then we don't like being punished. Or taking any responsibilities for our behaviors. If you like musicals, you're probably have

watched less Miserables in 2012. Featured Hugh Jackman and Annie Hathaway. The story is based on a fiction by Victor Hugo. There is a character whose name is Jean Varan who still a loaf of bread for his family. And the contact and the context of this story was around the French Revolution. Jean Van was called by a lieutenant when he was stealing the bread. And he was sentenced to a few years in prison serving heavy labor.

Jamboreal did not feel that he deserved that punishment. So he escaped the prison when a good chance happened. So the rest of the story was the lieutenant trying to bring around back to the prison and take it the punishment. No matter no matter where John Valjean escaped. The lieutenant will find him eventually. There was a time became a very warm hearted entrepreneur in a small town. And he helped many poor people. but even that the lieutenant

still found him and tried to capture him for what he had done in the past. Last Miserables is one of my favorite affections because eight manifest the concept of Justice well brothers and sisters we all have seen Yes, we may also have done some good things. according to our standards But you cannot use what you have done for good to cover what you did wrong. That will never gonna work. Like oursis Pro are always says what do you do

with your guilt? God is Almighty and on knowing he knows where we escaped. And his Justice will run us down eventually no matter where we go. Like any human also I can feel Hugo is trying to balance the concept of justice and Grace. But there are some limitations in this story. We tend to be content we tend to be compassionate. about around but who like me I'm more compassionate about the lieutenant. He always does what he is supposed to do to punish

iniquities. We tend to think a small crime is not a crime. Stealing a piece of bread is not a big deal. I just light once in my lifetime. I just took a small bed. of the forbidden fruit Why does God so fuss about it? Why does God why does he? threaten people to go to hell to experience Eternal punishment brothers and sisters. We really need to understand. God's justice before we can understand how sweet and precious is

graces. When we see, who are we really offending. Thomas Watson is helpful here. The reason why sin committed in a short time is eternally punished is because ever seeing is committed against the king's person, which is a secret. Much more that offense which is against God's crown and dignity is of a heinous and infinite nature and cannot be satisfied with less than Eternal punishment. now the question comes Why Micah is so helpful in verse 7

after he announced the national crisis? But as for me, I will look I will wait. I will look to the Lord. I will wait for the god of my salvation. My God will hear me. This leads to the second point of this sermon. God's salvation to the remnant Michael here brought a brought up the concept of the remnant. Which is not everyone will be under through God's judgment, but some will receive his salvation. This is the Hope in the darkest moment.

But when will Microsoft prophecy family be realized? Because we know that a Northern Kingdom of Israel was captive by Assyrians in 722 BC. And the southern Kingdom of Judah was captive by Babylonians in 586 BC over 100 years after mikers prophecy. the prophecy of mica is realizing through the invisible Church You can say it is the sum of God's people. Is Remnant or his elect? Matthew 16:18 Jesus says I will build my church

and the powers of Death Shall Not Prevail against it. So we have talked about the people in the southern Kingdom of Judah who sing. And God was going to judge them. And we also talked about God will give some people salvation. But how does God bring judgment and salvation together to his people? This comes to our third point. And the hint is in verses 18 to 20. Who is a God Like You? pardoning iniquity and the passing over

transgression for the remnant of his inheritance He does not retain his anger forever. Brothers and sisters. Let us pause here for a moment. Why will God not retain his anger forever to the remnant? You remember after Jesus resurrection? He appeared to two men on the road of amias. Luke 24:27 and the beginning with Moses and all the prophets Jesus interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

I wish I was there to listen to how our lord Jesus interprets Micah concerning himself. But I was not there. so I can only guess how my car points to Christ I would guess the seemingly ambridgeable chasm. between God's punishment and God's salvation to the remnant in this book. prophesizes the future coming of Jesus however, Jesus has come already. He filled the gap. and God Justice and the grace were perfectly mad on jesus'

Redemption work on the cross.

back to our opening questions Can we change ourselves to be a better person? Who does that cause trouble? The answer is no we cannot. Do we have the power and ability to change ourselves? The answer is no we do not have the power and ability. but Jesus can He can change us when we abiding him the True Vine. We cannot produce fruit because we we can produce Treasures fruit because of him. Brothers and sisters. We don't want God's punishment.

We need his salvation. But how can we satisfy satisfy God's justice, but also receive his grace. Let me tell you. Don't waste your time. You cannot find a place. To meet God's justice, and the God's grace at the same time except on the cross. Cross is where God's justice and and God's grace perfectly mad in one person. Jesus is what Michael really prophesies in this book. Brothers and sisters Micah's. Hope is also Our

Hope. Michael says in verse 8 when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me. It is still the greatest mystery in history. why God could run us down for our sins, but when he catches us, he stretched his arms and say welcome home my children. like Charles Wesley wrote Amazing Love How can it be? That thou my God shoot his die for me. Let us pray.

Heavenly Father we Thank you. We thanks. Thank you for you did not. exercise judgment on us But instead of you send your only begotten son Jesus Christ. died for our sins on the cross so that you Save a Remnant for you. Lord may you may your spirit? Be with us so that we can abide in the true mind Jesus Christ and bear the fruit. May you revive us a praying Jesus name? Amen?