A New View
In Micah 4:5 we read:
“For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.”
Before we take a deeper dive into the book of Micah, I need to share something from I Peter. Peter wrote:
“As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (I Peter 1:14-16).
Peter borrowed that quote from the book of Leviticus:
"Set yourselves apart and be holy, because I am holy” (Leviticus 11:44).
Now, back to Micah, and we’ll see how this all fits together. Micah is teaching us that our view of our god/God, will determine our character, our goals, our work ethic, our everything!
As I began to ponder this truth, I began to realize that many people must not have a very high view of God. Having the privilege of working with students, I see year after year that the majority of students have a low view of God. I see this in their character which shows in their work ethic, relationships, worship, self-discipline, and every area of life.
When a Christian has a high view of God they are energized, excited, prayerfully expectant, on fire to evangelize, a studier of His Word, sharing unceasing testimonies, and very joyful. The higher your view of God, the more exciting life becomes.
When the prophet Micah says that “all people will walk every one in the name of his god,” he is teaching that a person’s view of their god will determine their “walk.” This idea is also expressed in the word “name.” In Hebrew the word for “name” also carries the idea of one’s reputation, fame, glory, memorial, monument, a mark of individuality, by implication honor, authority, character, renown, and report. If for example you worship sports figures or celebrities, then your character will only grow to the level of those you worship. You can only rise to the level of your role model’s character. That is why God commands us to be holy as he is holy. He desires for us to rise to the level of his character.
Even, however, if you worship the God of heaven, but you don’t see him as all powerful, all loving, all creative, all knowing, and right there by your side to partner with you, then you will be sluggish in your character. Sadly, there are a lot of sluggish Christians out there.
Peter understood this and called out Christians to be holy as God is holy in “all” manner of behavior.
How’s your view of God? David writes in Psalm 84 that “He is a sun and shield; God gives grace and glory, and no good thing will he withhold from them who walk uprightly.” Paul writes in Ephesians 3 that God will do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or imagine. Jesus taught that greater things will you do than he did! We serve an abundant God of glory that is waiting to lavishly bestow immeasurable benefits upon us. In the book of Malachi chapter 3 we read:
“Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.”
A change of view can make a big difference.
Sincerely,
Mark Hamby
M.S., M. Div., Th. M., D. Min
Recommended Reading:
My Little Rose book (Ages 6+)
Hungering and Thirsting book or audio drama (Ages 6+)
Tip Lewis and His Lamp book or audio drama (Ages 9+)
Ned Franks: The One-armed Sailor book (Ages 12+) Click HERE for the Ned Franks’ Trilogy. Also available as audio book MP3s.
