And It Came To Pass

Micah 1 to 4

Micah is another minor prophet with a short story.  He prophesied during the reign of Hezekiah and Jotham and Ahaz, and things happened during his ministry. Historically noteworthy things. Wars and defeats and victories.

Which I think is kind of neat, because the things that happen and get recorded give legitimacy and significance to the words recorded in the Bible.  That these things actually happened.  The Bible a historical eyewitness account; A history book.

Micah has his own flavour.  Just like you and I bring our own special brand of joy and life to the world.   I think that’s important to remember, especially if there are pieces of yourself that you wish you could alter.   I thought about that today.  About things that happen that change us and we wish we could back in time.   But…..life happens and we  are never the same and that is how we travel forward.   And if we really desire to be clay in the Hands of the Potter, then we should not expect to stay the same.  

The NIV notes.  Micah’s prophesy attests to his deep sensitivity to the social ills and injustices of his days especially as they affected the small towns and villages of his homeland.  I think this flavour in his words would resonate with politician and social work friends of mine.  

There are also historical events that happen.  Wars and victories that change boundaries and governments.  The Notes share that Israel is in an apostate condition.  That’s polite wording to say they worshipped idols and all the bits of lifestyle that went along with that.  Samaria falls.  And Micah predicts the desolations of Judah and the sparing of Jerusalem.   The internet’s definition of desolation is “the state of complete misery and destruction.” 

Micah means “Who is like the LORD”.  Such a wonderful name. This man called to prophesy and speak during such difficult and volatile times.  And call people back to considering just who their God is.

Micah speaks out against false prophets who the tell the people what they want to hear in return for a full belly.  Really?   And they ask Micah to be quiet because his message does not jive with theirs.

So I kind of love it that he has his own groove.  

He also quotes Isaiah, and I wonder how someone like Micah gets his hands on Isaiah’s words.  Are they peers, or did they sit at the city gate together or worship at the temple or go to Bible/scroll study together?  Micah the prophet from the little town and Isaiah close to the king’s court in Jerusalem.

In chapter 4 he echoes Isaiah’s phrases…. the mountain of God, Daughter of Zion, the highway of the exiles, and the remnant. And little Bethlehem out of whom would come a ruler.

Ch 4: 1 “In the last days

The mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established

As chief among the mountains;

It will be raised above the hills

And peoples will stream to it.

2Many nations will come and say,

‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,

To the house of the God of Jacob.

He will teach us His ways

So that we may walk in His paths.’

The Law will go out from Zion,

The Word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

3They will beat their swords into plowshares

And their spears into pruning hoods.

4 Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree,

And no one will make them afraid,

For the LORD Almighty has spoken

5 All the nations may walk

In the name of their gods;

We will walk in the Name of the LORD our God for ever and ever. ‘“

That’s all God ever wanted!  To be acknowledged and exalted in the hearts and on the lips of his people.   And they would live securely on their tribal allotment, their inheritance and sit and enjoy a rest from striving.

Ch 4:6 “‘In that day,’ declares the LORD,

‘I will gather the lame;

I will assemble the exiles

And those I have brought to grief.

7 I will make the lame a remnant,

Those driven away a strong nation….’”

Not the valiant or the beautiful but the lame and grieving.

Those swept away and swept along in the violence.

But the steadfast ones without a voice or a choice.

Ch 4:7 “The LORD will rule over them in Mount Zion

From that day and forever.

10 You will go to Babylon

There you will be rescued.

There the LORD will redeem you

Out of the hand of your enemies.”

The words to Israel sound so fatal.

In order to come through to the other side you first have to lose everything.

Your stuff, your nationhood, your name.

Your identity and your sense of belonging, and along with that your sense of entitlement.

And when you have nothing left

And you are empty

And you are at the end of yourself.

THEN the LORD will come and redeem you.  

Maybe because when you are at your emptiest, God can fill you again.

Maybe there your ears and your heart are in a posture of listening and receiving.

Ch 5:2 “But you, Bethlehem Ehphrathah

Though you are small among the clans of Judah

Out of you

Will come for me

One who will be ruler over Israel.

Whose origins are from of old

From ancient times.

4 He will stand and shepherd His flock

In the strength of the LORD,

In the majesty of the Name of the LORD His God.

And they will live securely

For then His greatness will reach to the ends of the earth.

5 And He will be their peace. “

Through all our own ups and downs

There is always God’s better plan for our lives.

The ultimate good He wants from us and for us.

Peace.

Ch 5:7 The remnant of Jacob

Will be in the midst of many peoples

Like the dew from the LORD,

Like showers on the grass,

Which do not wait for man

Or linger for mankind.’

I love the mental picture that draws

Of our lives today.

Of the way we are sprinkled around the world

And are rooted where God places us.

Like dew.

And like showers.

To bring His life-giving Words

Like Amos and Isaiah and Micah.

To speak Life to all those on our paths and travelling with us.