Faith Formation: Micah - Justice, Kindness, humility

Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, who cry, 'Peace' when they have something to eat but declare war against those who put nothing into their mouths. Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision, and darkness to you, without revelation. The sun shall go down upon the prophets, and the day shall be black over them; the seers shall be disgraced and the diviners put to shame; they shall all cover their lips, for there is no answer from God. But as for me, I am filled with power, with the spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin. Micah 3:5-8

In the Gospel of John Jesus told his disciples that one of them would betray him. None of them knew who, and all of them harbored suspicions about themselves or each other. Judas Iscariot, and Jesus, knew for Judas had cooperated with the chief priests and authorities to hand Jesus over. At the end of the uproar at Jesus announcement John gave a brief assessment of Judas departure from the meal to bring about the plan. John wrote, "And it was night."

Night is a metaphor for the absence or withdrawal of God from God's people. Maybe it is why people pray at night, to remind God to stay with them. When Jesus healed a blind man he employed the metaphor. "We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work." John 9:4 The other Gospels said there was darkness at noon when Jesus died, when the messenger of God withdrew from the world to death. Micah used the image to say that the prophets sold a false word of "Peace," not a word revealed by God. Further than the time of Eli when "visions were not widespread," now visions were no more. The sun had gone down on them, even the day turned "black over them." Rather than an image of sorrow or gloom, Micah characterized it as a disgrace and shame. Covering their lips was a sign of mourning, a sign that they knew the loss of God's presence and their own shame. People rely on prayer and one way or another discern answers, direction, assurance that God hears and guides us. The prophets and seers who led the people astray with deceptive words of peace and well-being received only silence from God.

Micah ended this poem in his own voice. "But as for me I am filled with power, with the spirit of the LORD, with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin." For Micah, even though he saw things falling apart everywhere he looked it was still day, he retained vision, and the word of the LORD was still revealed to him. Other prophets had their stories of being summoned by God recorded. Samuel being called in the night, Elisha seeing Elijah caught up in chariots of fire, Isaiah encountering the pure holiness of God in the Temple, Jeremiah called from the womb, Ezekiel's visions and Amos from being "a headsman and a dresser of sycamore trees." Most of the books of the prophets begin with, "The word of the LORD came to ...." Isaiah begins with, "The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz...." This is as much as we have of Micah's sense of being summoned by God to become God's mouthpiece.

James Luther Mays saw Micah gifted in three or four ways. First, "I am filled with power...," "power to persevere in the face of opposition and discouragement." Micah often seemed to be a lone voice speaking out against a capital of opposition, a rural outsider speaking to the seat of power. Second, Micah is filled with "the spirit of the LORD," which resembles Isaiah and Jesus sense of God's presence to speak and act in God's name. "The spirit of the LORD is upon me..." Isaiah 61:1, Luke 4:18. Mays says, "The spirit is the extension of the divine personality." Third and fourth, "with justice and might." Surrounded by opposition Micah needed strength to withstand all the voices that put him down and remain true to his convictions and passion. Justice became Micah's signature word, as it was for all the prophets. "Do justice..." Justice is a rich word that goes beyond matters of courts and laws. Justice is about what is right, what is needed, and what gives life. Justice was often focused not on those who could defend themselves and make sure they were treated with respect or got what they needed. Justice was most often focused on whether those who could not defend themselves got what they needed for life. Justice for the vulnerable was deeply the will of God. "You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. You shall not abuse any widow or orphan. If you do abuse them, when they cry out to me, will surely heed their cry..." Exodus 22:21 Justice was deeply connected to compassion, kindness. "And when your neighbor cries out to me, I will listen, for I am compassionate." Exodus 22:27 If we do not listen to those in need with compassion God will, but what does that say about us? The prophet Amos went so far as to say that justice was more significant worship and praise. "I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. ... take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps. But let justice roll down like mighty waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." Amos 5:22-24

Do Justice. Love Kindness. Walk humbly with God.

Pastor Tim Bauer