March 3, 2014
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

Bad News First

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Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for being so patient with me. When I mess things up, You are still there for me.

Read Micah 1:1-2:5

[1] The word of the LORD that came to Micah of Moresheth during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah-the vision he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. [2] Hear, you peoples, all of you, listen, earth and all who live in it, that the Sovereign LORD may bear witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple. [3] Look! The LORD is coming from his dwelling place; he comes down and treads on the heights of the earth. [4] The mountains melt beneath him and the valleys split apart, like wax before the fire, like water rushing down a slope. [5] All this is because of Jacob’s transgression, because of the sins of the people of Israel. What is Jacob’s transgression? Is it not Samaria? What is Judah’s high place? Is it not Jerusalem? [6] “Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of rubble, a place for planting vineyards. I will pour her stones into the valley and lay bare her foundations. [7] All her idols will be broken to pieces; all her temple gifts will be burned with fire; I will destroy all her images. Since she gathered her gifts from the wages of prostitutes, as the wages of prostitutes they will again be used.” [8] Because of this I will weep and wail; I will go about barefoot and naked. I will howl like a jackal and moan like an owl. [9] For Samaria’s plague is incurable; it has spread to Judah. It has reached the very gate of my people, even to Jerusalem itself. [10] Tell it not in Gath; weep not at all. In Beth Ophrah roll in the dust. [11] Pass by naked and in shame, you who live in Shaphir. Those who live in Zaanan will not come out. Beth Ezel is in mourning; it no longer protects you. [12] Those who live in Maroth writhe in pain, waiting for relief, because disaster has come from the LORD, even to the gate of Jerusalem. [13] You who live in Lachish, harness fast horses to the chariot. You are where the sin of Daughter Zion began, for the transgressions of Israel were found in you. [14] Therefore you will give parting gifts to Moresheth Gath. The town of Akzib will prove deceptive to the kings of Israel. [15] I will bring a conqueror against you who live in Mareshah. The nobles of Israel will flee to Adullam. [16] Shave your head in mourning for the children in whom you delight; make yourself as bald as the vulture, for they will go from you into exile. [1] Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it. [2] They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud people of their homes, they rob them of their inheritance. [3] Therefore, the LORD says: “I am planning disaster against this people, from which you cannot save yourselves. You will no longer walk proudly, for it will be a time of calamity. [4] In that day people will ridicule you; they will taunt you with this mournful song: ‘We are utterly ruined; my people’s possession is divided up. He takes it from me! He assigns our fields to traitors.'” [5] Therefore you will have no one in the assembly of the LORD to divide the land by lot.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright &copy 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.&reg Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Reflect

“When people fail to lead others in just and loving ways, disorder and chaos reign. That is one of the reasons why the perversity in the modern world seems to get worse and worse” (Gary V. Smith).

After a brief introduction that sets the book in historical context (1), Micah starts with a vision of God which is for everyone (2). He sees the Lord emerging in such an awe-inspiring way from the Jerusalem temple, where he was especially present, that what seems most firm dissolves in his presence (3,4).  The reason for this is that God is coming to deal with his chosen people who are exemplary only for their sin which is focused in the very heart, the capital, of each kingdom (5). The underlying message is one that is later articulated by Jesus: much is expected of those to whom much is given (Luke 12:48). The greater the gift, the greater the responsibility and accountability for using it well. God’s people came to know the true God and his will in the Exodus and at Sinai–a God who searchingly requires his people to display the integrity that is his (cf. Deut. 32:4). Yet here their practices are characterized by Micah as idolatry and oppressive greed (1:7; 2:1,2).

The consequence is that the Lord, who is for his people, is also now against them. Devastating disaster will come upon Samaria and Jerusalem, and will come explicitly from the Lord (1:6,12; 2:3). This is because the overthrow of their peace and security is the wages of sin. God’s ultimate purposes are good, and yet in the short term, while people are set on self-will, they may not appear good, just as a disobedient child who is banned from watching television is unlikely at the time to appreciate a parent’s good purposes.

For Micah, there is no satisfaction at seeing the faithless receive their desserts. Rather, he shares their pain (1:8,9). As Jesus weeps over Jerusalem (Luke 13:33-35; 19:41-44), so does Micah.

Apply

How can you learn to see painful things as being within God’s good purposes for you?

Closing prayer

Loving Lord, at times I am wayward and willful. I take ownership of these sins and confess them to You. Help me to walk faithfully in Your ways.

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