I was reading from Micah earlier this evening and the words of chapter 2 were frightening:

• “Lately my people [Judah] have risen up as an enemy” (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)
• “Then they will cry to the LORD, but He will not answer them; He will hide His face from them at that time, because they have made their deeds evil.” (Micah 3.4)
• “The sun shall go down on the prophets, and the day shall be black over them.” (Micah 3.6)

Not the most joyful message that God had to send to His people, is it?  The kernel of the problem is this: the leaders of the nation were leading their people in sin, while proclaiming that God would bless and not judge.  This leads to some hard questions: “Why, Lord, why do you let your people go on in this blatant hypocrisy?  Why don’t you put faithful people in charge?  Why don’t you let godly men lead us in righteousness?”  Or, in the words of Habakkuk, “Oh LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear?  Or cry to you, ‘Violence!’ and you will not save?  Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong?  Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention arise.  So the law is paralyzed, and justice never goes forth.  For the wicked surround the righteous; so justice goes forth perverted” (Hab. 1.2-4).  We can feel his sentiment, can’t we?  “Why, Lord, is our nation moving toward open acceptance of so many sins?  Why don’t we have a truly righteous candidate for certain key offices?  Why is the culture around us so blatantly God-less?  Why are so many in the church cold and indifferent?”

God answers Micah (and Habakkuk) with something different from what we’d expect.  Rather than a theological explanation, God gave prophecy.

I broke into a smile as I read Micah 4:

• “It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it” (Micah 4.1).
• “For out of Zion shall go forth the law” (Micah 4.2)
• “We will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever.” (Micah 4.5)
• “the lame I will make the remnant, and those who were cast off, a strong nation” (Micah 4.7)

And the irony of Micah 4.11-13 is wonderful!  The nations surround Zion, desiring to defile and profane her, “but they do not know the thoughts of the LORD; they do not understand his plan!”  God allows them to surround His people, but really, “He has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor.”  Their attack turns into an ambush – their own destruction as the Lord gives His people an iron horn and brass hooves (images of strength and power to destroy) and uses His people to “beat in pieces many peoples and … devote their gain to the LORD.”  And all this ties into the coming of Messiah – God’s “Anointed One” – who will be born in Bethlehem, the least city.

How should we react to this prophecy?  Micah 6.8 tells us.  This verse has been oft quoted, beautifully set to music and inscribed on greetings and plaques – but also meant to be obeyed!  “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?”

And wonderfully, the book ends with this assurance about our God: “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.  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” (Micah 7.18-19).

The problem: sin around and within God’s people.  God’s answer: prophecy about the coming day when He will make things right. Our response: do justice, love kindness, walk humbly with God.  The motivating confidence: our God delights in loyal love and irreversibly forgives sin!