Faith Formation: Micah Justice, Kindness, humility

Now why do you cry aloud? Is there no king in you? Has your counselor perished, that pangs have seized you like a woman in labor? Writhe and groan, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor, for now you shall go forth from the city and camp in the open country; you shall go to Babylon. There you shall be rescued; there the LORD will redeem you from the hands of your enemies. Micah 4:9-10

This is another short section connected to surrounding sayings by common vocabulary. "Now" begins three pieces, "daughter of Zion" (Jerusalem) appears thrice, and perhaps there is a theme of now there is distress and then there will be redemption or vindication. Each "Now" pointed to the crisis of an enemy empire besieging Jerusalem. God's deliverance was certain, but the means and speed of delivery contrasted with each other.

The prophet's words had been harsh on the king accusing the king and his supporters with vehement and graphic language. The tone of the prophet's words shifts to mockery, sarcasm. taunting, and a bit of "I told you so" smirking. Poor, poor pitiful king and elite of Jerusalem. Look whose crying now. The setting appears to be the lament of either a besieged city or one already lying in ruins. What the outlying villages had experienced came to the gates of Jerusalem. At the end of Babylon's siege the king did try unsuccessfully to flee. When he was caught he was forced to watch as his sons were slaughtered, then his eyes were gouged out and he was led away in chains to exile, along with his entourage. Such were the pains likened to birth pangs, but without hope of new life being born. Such became the writhing and groaning of the entire city which for all its labors gave birth to nothing. The king and the city, particularly those who had any measure of power and authority went forth from the city into the open country and across the desert to Babylon.

The king was supposed a counselor who would guide, protect, and ensure peace for the city. The means of such provision were not power, military strength, or wealth, but rather obedience to the way of God. Rather than listen to the counsel of the Torah, the way of God, the king listened to voices of injustice and apathy towards the poor and vulnerable of the land. The king was supposed to, the people hope for a king with wisdom and good counsel based on the teaching of God. "For a child has been born to us a son given to us; authority rests on his shoulders, and he is named Wonderful counselor..." Isaiah 9:6 "A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. His delight shall be in the fear of the LORD." Isaiah 11:2-3 A king, any king of Israel, present, future or ideal was to have this character.

The prophet still held out hope, though it was hope to be waited for, a rescue that would take time. "There you shall be rescued; there the LORD will redeem you from the hand of your enemies." The period of exile lasted a generation. During that time many stories were told, of Esther, Daniel, and Susanna. During that time Israel remembered, reconsidered, and was reborn from its sufferings. After that time God sent them a savior, even a Messiah, Cyrus of Persia, who let them go home to rebuild. More stories were told, of Ezra, Nehemiah. It was not easy coming home to the remnant who had remained behind.

Do Justice. Love Kindness. Walk humbly with God.

Pastor Tim Bauer