Hosea 4:6 English Standard Version (ESV) My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

That is a serious warning. Who is being warned and why? Is it the office of priest or the function of priest? How about parents? We do not want God to forget our children. When children are involved we tend to take warnings more seriously.

I learned a lesson yesterday from a pastor I respect. We discussed yesterday’s blog and the issues of misquoting the bible. He had not looked into that misquote and was intrigued by those thoughts. He had not thought to inquire about Micah 5:2. He was thankful that I had and complimented my diligence in studying God’s Word. The compliment stuck a cord of satisfaction in me that gave me pause to think.

Do I study God’s Word to serve God or to bolster my image as the answer man? It feels good to have others turn to us for answers. We want to be known as a dependable source of help. It is part of our service to the church, and to God. We hope to bring our people closer to God. We should however seek to be humble and not allow those feeling to feed our egos and cause pride to swell in our hearts.

I pondered what I had said about Herod being denied more prophecies in Micah 5 and I saw this.

Micah 5:5 English Standard Version (ESV) And he shall be their peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men;

Jesus had twelve apostles. Who are these seven shepherds and eight leaders of men?

I cannot recall anyone asking about this issue. Would the naming of these men add any value to my library of knowledge? Would having a ready answer have any meaning if no one ever asks the question?

Matthew 2:4-6 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁴ and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. ⁵ They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:

⁶ “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

It bothers me when the bible is misquoted. It leaves the impression that either the bible lies or the speaker doesn’t know what they are talking about. I tend to believe the later and it should not matter but it does if the hearer is curious about the word of God. Trying to find misquotes can be very difficult.

Micah 5:2 English Standard Version (ESV) But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

This is the prophet that is misquoted. Was the misquote intentional? These learned men were quoting Old Testament to a Roman Tetrarch who was not brought up studying the Old Testament. He would not have known the difference. Israel was under Roman rule and the last thing they wanted this ruler to know was more of Micah’s prophecy.

Micah 5:5-6 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁵ And he shall be their peace. When the Assyrian comes into our land and treads in our palaces, then we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men; they shall shepherd the land of Assyria with the sword, and the land of Nimrod at its entrances; and he shall deliver us from the Assyrian when he comes into our land and treads within our border.

Herod, being unable to interpret the word properly might have killed them for not answering his question to his satisfaction. These men might have misquoted the Old Testament for self-preservation.

The bible remains accurate because this is what they told Herod.