Micah 7: Near the Sinners

Woe is me! For I have become
    as when the summer fruit has been gathered,
    as when the grapes have been gleaned:
there is no cluster to eat,
    no first-ripe fig that my soul desires. (Micah 7:1)

Micah has written, "Woe" to many a person throughout his short book. "Woe to the oppressors..." "Woe to those who devise iniquity..." "Woe is me," is a decidedly new angle.

Micah is the voice of reason amidst voices of chaos, the voice of God in a land that has put its hands over its ears and turned its eyes away from heaven.

This barren vineyard is a picture of how spiritually dead Israel has become. It's like everything that was good about Israel is in the past, it's been harvested, and all that's left is a shrivelling vine. Micah makes this picture personal, using it in reference to himself. 

It reminds me of the way we sometimes pray for our country. "Lord, forgive us..." "God, we have sinned..." "We are sorry Father, for turning away from You." We take on the faults of those around us, knowing that a nation is made up of people; and as a part of it, we have, if not a hand in the problem by neglect, at least a responsibility to change it.

He goes on to say that there is "no one upright among mankind." The corruption, he reiterates, is about as bad as it gets.

Put no trust in a neighbor;
    have no confidence in a friend;
guard the doors of your mouth
    from her who lies in your arms;
6 for the son treats the father with contempt,
    the daughter rises up against her mother,
the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law;
    a man's enemies are the men of his own house.
7 But as for me, I will look to the Lord;
    I will wait for the God of my salvation;
    my God will hear me. (Micah 7:5-7)

I love this. Micah's words go into the homes of the people he's talking to, the people he just identified with. They show how rejection of God breeds the distrust they experience on a regular basis... and then declare that God is still trust-worthy.

While this vicious cycle of corrupted relationships goes round and round, one corrupted relationship is eager to be restored.

Micah started by identifying himself with these people, taking on the responsibility of their sins. When he speaks of broken relationships, these are relationships that he's in the midst of, that he's been burned by like everyone else. When he says that he will wait for the God of his salvation, and states with confidence that God will hear him, he is not far off from the people, and so neither is his God.

Rejoice not over me, O my enemy;
    when I fall, I shall rise;
when I sit in darkness,
    the Lord will be a light to me.
I will bear the indignation of the Lord
    because I have sinned against him,
until he pleads my cause
    and executes judgment for me.
He will bring me out to the light;
    I shall look upon his vindication.
10 Then my enemy will see,
    and shame will cover her who said to me,
    “Where is the Lord your God?” (Micah 7:8-10a)

Here again, Micah declares with humble confidence that though he is deserving of God's judgment, he knows that his attitude of submission will be honoured by God, and He will save him from being treated unjustly.

For fear of repeating myself, I almost don't want to clearly outline my conclusion, but...for fear of not getting the point across, I will.

Because Micah started the chapter off in humility, taking the sins of Israel on himself, every confident statement he makes concerning God's willingness to work on his behalf and not against him, is an invitation to everyone else.

Now, I have a concern.

When I set out to learn more about the book of Micah and the prophet by that name, I first read through the whole book quickly. My impression was that it was all very confusing, boring at best, depressing at worst.

I was keenly aware though, that there was LOTS to be discovered under this surface. In writing this series, I wanted to point out to you a few themes that I "unearthed."

My first concern was that in reading the book of Micah, one might completely miss the implicit themes of grace and character amidst the more explicit themes of sin, wrath, and judgment. My second concern is that in reading my series, one might completely miss the contextual and historical themes (the explicit ones) amidst my musings over God's ever-faithful love for His people. (the implicit ones)

Both are very important in understanding this book, so I don't want to overpower one in an attempt to show the importance of the other. I hope, as you've been following along, that you have been reading the book for yourself.

That being said, I am jumping over a few verses now. (Which you will notice if you are reading Micah 7.)

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity
    and passing over transgression
    for the remnant of his inheritance?
He does not retain his anger forever,
    because he delights in steadfast love.
19 He will again have compassion on us;
    he will tread our iniquities underfoot.
You will cast all our sins
    into the depths of the sea.
20 You will show faithfulness to Jacob
    and steadfast love to Abraham,
as you have sworn to our fathers
    from the days of old. (Micah 7:18-20)

"Who is a God like you?"

Just think about that for a moment.

Remember the wickedness of Israel. Remember the stubbornness of Israel. Remember how God said that He wailed and lamented over their sin. No one else is a God like Him, Who never changes. Yesterday, today, forever, remember?

Now imagine Jesus, experiencing unimaginable pain, hanging by nails on a cross. Remember that next to Him hung a man who had earned that place? Remember what the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Holy One of Israel, Who visits the iniquities of the fathers upon their children to the third and fourth generations, said to him?

"Today you will be with Me in paradise."

To everyone who avoided associating with sinners because they were trying to be holy, that God would hang next to one, sharing in his suffering, and "pass over his transgression," was shocking.

But didn't Micah tell them? Jesus came and showed them what God was like, but they could have known before Him, if they had only bothered to understand what Micah and the prophets were saying when they said things like, "He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love. He will again have compassion on us; he will tread our iniquities underfoot."

I asked the girls in my bible study to recite John 3:16, a verse most of us know very well.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

"Do you think you understand what that verse means?" I asked.

All of the sweet and brilliant girls in my class nodded their heads, while one of their teachers, sitting in the back listening, shook her head.

I had to laugh. I'm pretty sure as a Christian, you inevitably reach points in your faith where you think you know everything, and then a little while later realize you know nothing. The very things you thought you understood end up meaning more and more, until you realize just how little your mind is able to comprehend.

"For God so loved the world," Stop.

How can God love the world? We just went through a brief, 7 chapter summary of how evil humanity can be.

They covet fields and seize them,
    and houses, and take them away;
they oppress a man and his house,
    a man and his inheritance. (Micah 2:2)

But lately my people have risen up as an enemy;
you strip the rich robe from those who pass by trustingly
    with no thought of war. (Micah 2:8)

If a man should go about and utter wind and lies,
    saying, “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,”
    he would be the preacher for this people! (Micah 2:11)

you who hate the good and love the evil,
who tear the skin from off my people
    and their flesh from off their bones,
3 who eat the flesh of my people,
    and flay their skin from off them,
and break their bones in pieces
    and chop them up like meat in a pot,
    like flesh in a cauldron. (Micah 3:2-3)

Its heads give judgment for a bribe;
    its priests teach for a price;
    its prophets practice divination for money;
yet they lean on the Lord and say,
    “Is not the Lord in the midst of us?
    No disaster shall come upon us.” (Micah 3:11)

Their hands are on what is evil, to do it well;
    the prince and the judge ask for a bribe,
and the great man utters the evil desire of his soul;
    thus they weave it together.
4 The best of them is like a brier,
    the most upright of them a thorn hedge. (Micah 7:3-4a)

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son," Stop.

Because God had been wronged, He decided to be the one to endure the pain of loss.

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)

Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. (Hebrews 2:10)

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish but have everlasting life." ....Stop.

Throughout the summary of the wickedness of humanity, we have also seen a summary of the constant longing that God has to be in relationship with His people. The same longing that caused Him endless grief over sin, caused Him to go so far as to create a way for us to simply come to Him.

His way to come to us was not simple, nor was it easy. But He did it "that whosoever believeth..." Can you hear the emphasis on the word that? Somehow, that had to be accomplished. 

Can you imagine the joy that God has when someone decides they will be like Micah, the lone voice in chaos, simply trusting in God? When He has worked so hard, the least we can do is what He calls us to, trust.

"Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10)

'For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:24)

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1-2)


I hope you enjoyed this series, thanks for reading!

Micah 6: Hear, You Mountains, the Indictment of the Lord

Good morning! Or whatever time of day it is for you, as you read this.

Micah 6 begins with a strain of desperation in the prophet's voice.

Hear what the Lord says:
Arise, plead your case before the mountains,
    and let the hills hear your voice.
2 Hear, you mountains, the indictment of the Lord,
    and you enduring foundations of the earth,
for the Lord has an indictment (controversy) against his people,
    and he will contend (plead) with Israel. (Micah 6:1-2)

Until now, God has been telling them that sin has brought coming judgment on them, and their response has been to blatantly say that Micah's word is false. They've been coming up with their own prophecies about blessing, and assuring themselves that nothing will go wrong.

The beginning of this chapter reminded me of a time recently when I was visiting my sister and her four little kids.

Her two oldest are 4 year old (now 5, but 4 when this story took place) twin girls, the third is a 3 year old girl, and the youngest a baby. One of their aunts sent them a ton of princess dresses, and two pairs of play-high-heels. You can imagine how it was with three little girls and only two pairs of beautiful shoes, so their mother put the shoes away with the promise that they'd make an appearance again when they learned to share with each other.

When my sister and I arrived, they did get the shoes out! But not without a warning, the shoes would only stay out as long as they could play nicely. Well, they couldn't, so in the box they went again. One of the twins felt so wronged. She just could not understand why the shoes had to be put away.

Their mother knew that they didn't have the maturity yet to understand the answer, so she told her not to argue about it, she had made up her mind. My little niece couldn't see that my sister really wanted them to have the shoes, and that she would love to give them back. She couldn't understand how she could both want them to have them, and take them away. So she continued to argue.

My sister, knowing she was perceived as unfeeling, eventually tried to reason with my niece. "The reason I took them away was because you can't share them! I want to get them out for you, but I just can't right now."

"But we CAN share!" Was the response. The same response they gave earlier, that had resulted in more fighting between sisters.

Parents have to make decisions that are good for their children, even if those decisions make them seem unfeeling or mean. Most often, because their parents know that small children don't have the maturity to grasp reason, a debate is not a part of the equation. Sometimes, if a parent is accused of being wrong, and pushed to their limit, that parent might in desperation, TRY to plead their case. Usually, like with my sister and her daughter, the case is made to a jury who is highly biased.

In Micah 6, God reminds me of a desperate parent. Having all good intentions, every decision made in the best interest of His "children," He is still argued with. Finally, He decides to try "pleading" with Israel.

This is His case:

“O my people, what have I done to you?
    How have I wearied you? Answer me!
4 For I brought you up from the land of Egypt
    and redeemed you from the house of slavery,
and I sent before you Moses,
    Aaron, and Miriam.
5 O my people, remember what Balak king of Moab devised,
    and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him,
and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,
    that you may know the righteous acts of the Lord.” (Micah 6:3-5)

(Before I get into this, I recommend reading Numbers 22-24 for proper context. For sake of space, I won't go through the whole thing, but the entire context of the story is very helpful to understand.)

God starts by showing them that His intentions toward them have always been good. He brought them out of bondage, He gave them great leaders, He conquered their enemies, He blessed them by people who set out to curse them. Why would they turn away from Him now, supposing that His intentions have changed?

As I was thinking about the people He gave them for leaders, I was reminded of Exodus 32, when the people of Israel, RIGHT after coming out of Egypt, have already built idols to worship. God's response is rage, He tells Moses that He will destroy them, and start over with his family. He would be keeping His covenant to Abraham, because Moses was a descendant of His.

But Moses' response is this:

Why should the Egyptians say, ‘With evil intent did he bring them out, to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from your burning anger and relent from this disaster against your people. Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your offspring, and they shall inherit it forever.’” And the Lord relented from the disaster that he had spoken of bringing on his people. (Exodus 32:12-14)

I just thought, Wow. What better case could God make before this "jury?"

Not only did God save the people, bless the people, fight for the people, but He gave them a leader who loved the people enough to argue with God for their protection. To guard against a moment when God Himself had had enough, He put in place a man who would plead for them.

On top of this, He mentions another story, where a man was commissioned to curse them. God has power to break every curse, to protect from evil, but He didn't just do that. He wasn't content just to shield them from evil, He wanted to replace that evil with good. Instead of cursing, He caused their would-have-been enemy to bless them.

And then we get one of the most profound thoughts in the whole bible.

“With what shall I come before the Lord,
    and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
    with calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
    with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
    the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
8 He has told you, O man, what is good;
    and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
    and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:6-8)

His case is made. His intentions have always been good, He has always done rightly, He has even done more for them than they ever deserved. His conclusion is not that He wants them to repay Him for His goodness by servitude, His conclusion is that He wants them to come back to Him.

His desire is to walk with them, His longing to teach them, His ambition to make them like He is.

I mentioned in a previous post that I love to try to see how the heart of God stays consistent in the Old and New Testaments, I feel like this verse needs very little inspection to make that clear.

Imagine verses 7-8 put this way:

I was not pleased with thousands of rams,
    with ten thousands of rivers of oil.
So I gave My firstborn for your transgression,
    the fruit of My body for the sin of your soul.”
8 I have told you, O man, what is good;
    and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
    and to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:6-8)

The rest of the chapter, (I hope you read) goes right back to the judgment that God is bringing, and why He is bringing it.

One thing that I found interesting about this whole book, is that it was more than a warning to the people from Micah. First, it was a warning to the people while they were in rebellion, but second, it was a book. It was written to last, to be a reminder for the people when they were captives, looking back with regret that they hadn't listened. I imagine, for every hopeless captive who read it, that all of the time God spent showing them how He cared for them and still had goodness in store for them, it brought hope.

But clearly that's not all it was for, because it STILL lasts. God isn't done with this message for Israel, and now that He gave His firstborn for our transgression, inviting everyone to be a part of Israel, this book is for all of us.

Everything God judged Israel for still grieves Him, and He will judge. Everything Israel did that hurt God still hurts Him, everything He wanted for Israel He wants for us. 

His heart, shown so intensely in an intense time in history, is the same.