Faith Formation: Micah: Kindness, Justice, Humility

The word of the LORD that came to Micah of Moresheth... Micah 1:1

Little is known of the person named Micah. The Bible remembered Micah, and the other prophets, because of what they said rather than out of any interest in their biography. Anything said about their character or life is necessarily vague, prefaced by "maybe," "perhaps," or "possibly."

Micah's writings or sayings were gathered with the writings and sayings of others called "prophets." The term "prophet" did not refer to someone who predicted the future. That popular understanding has warped the idea of prophecy. Rather a better understanding of a prophet, and prophecy, is someone who speaks on behalf of another about the current affairs of the culture, city, state, or situation needing to be addressed. Speaking as a prophet is a matter of preaching or proclamation rather than fortune telling or seeing the future. Biblical prophets spoke for God about the struggles, failings and hopes being experienced during the times in which they lived. Often they prefaced what they said with, "Thus says the LORD..." Stories were remembered about some prophets like Samuel, Elijah and Elisha in the books of 1 Samuel-2 Chronicles. The writings grouped together as "the Prophets" mostly record their words, most often written in poetry rather than prose. Typically the books of the prophets were specifically set in a time period by rehearsing the reigns of various kings. Kings and other leaders of the people were often the target of the prophets who called for justice, repentance, a renewal of faithfulness, and warnings of of God's disapproval and its consequences. Prophets may not have been able to read the future. They read the times.

Of Micah this may be said. First his name, like many biblical names, meant something. "Micah," in Hebrew, means "Who is like Yahweh?" "Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in splendor, doing wonders?" Exodus 15:11 "O LORD, who is like you? You deliver the weak from those too strong for them, the weak and the needy from those who despoil them." Psalm 35:10 "Who is like the LORD our God who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?" Psalm 113:5 Micah speaks for, represents, God who is holy and full of majesty, God whose justice favors the weak and the needy from the strong who despoil them. At the end of Micah's writing the phrase comes up again. "Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of his possession?" 7:18 While the prophets have a reputation for announcements of doom and wrath because of the failings of the leaders, kings, priests, and the wealthy elite, they also proclaimed God's mercy and messages of comfort and hope.

Micah was from Moresheth. Moresheth was a small town about 25 miles west of from on the lowland plains. Moresheth was among a group of fortress cities garrisoned with soldiers. Their purpose was to protect Jerusalem which was up in the hill country from the imperial armies that swept up and down the flat coast lands. Egypt lay to the south and Assyria to the north. In time Babylon, Greece and Rome would dominate Israel controlling and oppressing the region. The significance of controlling that part of the world was commerce. Israel sat on the superhighway of trade between Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, and any other empire that wanted to prosper. Because Micah seemed so familiar with the military outposts and other military language, Klaus Koch questioned whether Micah was part of the militia of Moresheth. Was he a soldier so fed up with being threatened by the the armies that besieged Israel that he spoke up with a word of the LORD? Micah came from a place very vulnerable to the great powers of the world. The fortress cities of Israel were no match for the armies of the empires who often fought out their battles for control where Micah and his people lived.

Micah lived with the peasants and the powerless people of the plains. Perhaps he was an elder, a sage, a leader in his community who might go to Jerusalem and speak to the leaders there about Morsheth's plight. As such Micah was an outsider to the people of power, a man from the margins of society. It seems Micah may have made one statement definitive of his character. "But as for me, I am filled with power (authority), with the spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might (courage), to declare to Jacob (Jerusalem and Judah) his transgression and to Israel (Samaria) his sin." 3:8 Micah was inspired, passionate, and bold. He believed that he, an leader in a small community on the edge of the nation possessed the authority of the word of God to speak to the centers of power in Jerusalem. Micah's language was graphic, full of satire and word play, and was fearless as to the consequences of speaking out. We do not know what became of him. We only have his words. People still listened to him 100 years after he spoke, and he is still worth considering today 2700 years later.

Do justice. Love kindness. Walk humbly with God.

Pastor Tim Bauer