Week 2 Sunday 25th February
Read chapter 3.
Chapter 3.
Micah really wants to get the attention of the people he is addressing. So, verse 1 begins with “Listen”, and verse 9 with “Hear this”. These sections we have here are directed at the leaders of Judah, but as we begin to reflect on this chapter, what is God trying to get your attention with?
The references to the leaders of Israel (ie the Northern kingdom) are probably ironic. Their kingdom has collapsed and Micah is suggesting that Judah (the Southern kingdom) will go that way also.
Micah, as you can see, is really very scathing about how the leaders of Judah are behaving.
He accuses them of cannibalism (verse 2-3). They might not have been actually eating their fellow human beings, but it gives a strong image of horrific, offensive ways of being.
The main thing is that Micah is pointing the finger at the ungodly behaviour of those who wield power.
He asks the rulers: “Should you not know justice?” (verse 1), in fact he accuses them of hating justice (verse 9), of being corrupt (verse 11) and more besides.
He says to those claiming to speak for God that they lead God’s people astray (verse 5); they tell the rich and comfortable and complacent that all is well (verse 5); but run down the poor (verse 5) and pander to those who pay the highest price (verse 11).
Well, weren’t they bad! That was then, this is now…and now….
Think about all the recent scandals in the world of entertainment and sport, in international aid charities, in education, in the church, in politics. And that’s just the ones to do with sexual power.
Our society, economy, political system, faith organisations, everything, is riddled with abuse of power.
What part do we play in this? Are we guilty of making the most of our power, no matter how small it might seem?
We all surely would say that we hate injustice and love justice. But when did we last do something to speak up for someone who has been wronged? When did we last add our voice to a campaign for justice?
And we might not think of ourselves as prophets or priests, but do we go along with and love to hear a nice Christian message that tells us it’s OK to make money at other’s expense, that we can’t go worrying too much about some poor underpaid, exploited worker in the fields of Kenya or Lincolnshire so long as we get the fruit and veg we want, when we want, at the price we want.
Micah had a strong message for those who have power in Jerusalem. He has a strong challenge for us who have power in Erdington.
He warned the people then that their precious Jerusalem would be flattened (verse 12). The king at that time (Hezekiah) took note of what Micah was saying. The people repented and Jerusalem was saved (see Jeremiah 26: 17-19). Will we heed his warnings?