Exploring Our Next Prophet: Micah

Let's move on from Jonah to Micah, as we continue in our "Majoring in the Minor Prophets."

Not minor as in having little significance, but in length. 

Micah was prophesying around the time of Isaiah, between the years of 750 and 686 BC.  He spoke during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, who were kings in Judah.  He also was active during the time of Hosea. Micah spoke of the condition of the poor, before Hezekiah instituted his reforms. He predicted the fall of Samaria, which was the capital of Israel.  He also spoke about how Judah would one day come to ruin. [1]

God speaks through His people.  He uses circumstances to warn, guide and call for repentance in those who call upon His name.  

When judgement rolls down, people act shocked or amazed.  The warning signs were there all along, but people chose to ignore them.  If you are a history nerd, like me, you see that all throughout history, before any major event, the signs were very apparent something bad was going to happen if significant steps were not taken to remedy or alter the situation. 

Yes, hindsight is 20/20.  But the prophets tell us what God expects of His people.  Then, one day, after it is clear that people and their society are falling down a sinful rabbit hole, God will let His judgment come. 

Why?  

Because God is just.  He desires that "justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream" (Amos 5:25).

But I am not talking about man's definition of justice.  Far too often, people today are seeking to remedy injustice by blaming others and creating a new kind of oppression to remedy the old oppression: Because you did this to me, I have the right to do this to you.  But oppression does not fix oppression.  It creates resentment and one day, when people once again gain control, they will engage in payback.

It is similar to when people say, "Hey, I am a good person.  I don't do those terrible things that others do.  I am not a serial killer, criminal, bully, drunkard or abuser."  Rock on, and thank you for not engaging in those behaviors.

But we are not the standard, even those who live an admirable life.  

God is the standard.  

Suddenly, all of our self-righteous proclamations are seen for what they are: words that are come from hearts that are not humble.  Jesus gave us a wonderful parable that illustrates the kind of comparison  we make that pits us against others: 

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’"

But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner."

I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted (Luke 18:9-14).

Paul makes it clear that God is the standard for us: 

This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (Rom. 3: 22-24). 

God is also the standard of what being "just" mean. We may come up with all kinds of definitions, but at the core, we feel we have been wronged and something/someone must do something about it.  That is not the part that is problematic.  The "do something about it" part is where our flesh can waltz right in and start making demands, regardless of the consequences.  We want a quick fix, one that makes us feel better, now that people know our pain. 

When we have been wronged, wanting justice is completely understandable.  How we handle our  demands for justice being met is where our fallen flesh can trade one injustice for another. 

Wanting justice for wrongs committed against us is ultimately a cry against the Fall, where sin entered  and broke the beauty of creation.  We bear the image of God, and that mirror was marred by sin. We were called to be in relationship with God and each other, but now, we find an enormous amount of brokenness around us. We want to be connected to one another, but very often instead of love and community, we find brokenness, abuse, hurt and emptiness.  

But God's justice is deeper than reparation. It is about restoration: of hearts, relationships and society.

Enter the prophets.  They called out injustice, based on the standard of God's character, where lies, abuse, violence, exploitation, and murder are not acceptable in any way.  God's character is one of truth, compassion, peace, caring for others and preserving life.  He expects those who call on His name to reflect that not only in their lives but in their society. 

The prophets' message can be summarized in these verses from Micah 6:8:

He has told you, mortal one, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God?  

Let's begin our next inquiry!

[1] The NIV Study Bible. Kenneth Barker, ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Bible Publishers, 1985), 1370.