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"Tell it not in Gath"

Text: Micah 1:10

THE STATE OF ISRAEL

The judgment that would be meted out against Israel caused Micah to feel deep sorrow.

“For her wounds are incurable.
For it has come to Judah;
It has come to the gate of My people-
To Jerusalem.
Tell it not in Gath,
Weep not at all;
In Beth Aphrah
Roll yourself in the dust.”
Micah 1:9-10

1. “Her wounds are incurable”

a) These wounds were caused by sin.

b) Like an incurable and deadly disease sin had spread right to the heart.

c) Jerusalem was severely affected by the problem of sin, transgression and iniquity!

2. “Tell it not in Gath”

a) This phrase was borrowed from the famous dirge that King David wrote.

“The beauty of Israel is slain on your high places!
How the mighty have fallen!
Tell it not in Gath,
Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon-
Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,
Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.”
2 Samuel 1:19-20

b) Micah did not want their enemies to rejoice too.

i) The old enemies were still around.

ii) He did not want them to rejoice over the fallen state of Israel.

3. “Weep not at all”

a) Restraint must be made.

b) Weeping is usually made with loud wailing and howling.

c) Micah caught himself and determine he would find another expression for his sorrow.

4. “In Beth Aphrah”

a) Micah was a master wordsmith.

b) He found another way of expressing his deep sorrow.

c) Beth Aphrah

i) It means “the house of dust”.

ii) He will bow himself to the ground… to the dust.

5. “Roll yourself in the dust”

a) In joyous circumstances, happiness is expressed in dancing and singing.

b) In sorrowful circumstances, the opposite is done.

i) One sits on the ground wailing.

ii) One may also roll in the dust… (ground and dust are interchangeable words here).

iii) This is silent sorrowing and is valid.

There is more than one way of sorrowing for the fallen state of Israel.