Since we have observed many practical lessons from the thirty-second book of the Bible, let us now move on to the thirty-third and thirty-fourth books, Micah & Nahum.

1. SOME DECEIVE THEMSELVES INTO THINKING THE LORD IS WITH THEM.
Micah 3:11 - "Her heads judge for a bribe, her priests teach for pay, and her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the LORD, and say, 'Is not the LORD among us? No harm can come upon us.'"

Merely practicing a form of religion and making use of hirelings is not the same as seeking God wholeheartedly, and God knows the difference!

2. THE MESSIAH IS AN ETERNAL BEING.
Micah 5:2 - "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting."

The Bethlehem the Messiah would be born in was small numerically. The Messiah is not a created being for His ways are "from everlasting."

3. THE ESSENCE OF TRUE RELIGION IS RIGHTEOUSNESS, MERCY, & HUMILITY.
Micah 6:8 - "He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."

Some have called this the "essence of true religion." Although such is recorded in the Old Testament (which is not generally binding today), the truth expressed here is echoed throughout the pages of the New Testament.

4. GOD PUNISHES THE WICKED AT THE PROPER TIME.
Nahum 1:2,3 - "God is jealous, and the LORD avenges; the LORD avenges and is furious. The LORD will take vengeance on His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies; the LORD is slow to anger and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked."

God will not allow another to take His place; He will punish the wicked when the time is right. Such is still true today.

5. GOD IS FIERCE BUT GOOD.
Nahum 1:6,7 - "Who can stand before His indignation? And who can endure the fierceness of His anger? His fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by Him. The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him."

In some ways, the fierceness of God is like an erupting volcano! But, those who reverence & trust Him have nothing to fear, for He is full of goodness.