Day 77 – December 11, 2023: Micah 1-7

Things are not looking good in Micah, he predicts, accurately I might add, that Israel and Judah will be defeated and will be carted off into exile. In fact, the wording is pretty descriptive, even as we wish that it would not be so descriptive. Look at chapter 3 that describes the current situation where the rulers are eating the flesh of their own people. While we should not take this literally, it is a clear description of how the rulers of the people of God are more interested in their own way of life being preserved, than in th needs of the people. The line that struck me this time the most is seen in 3:5 where they declare peace to those who provide them with something to eat and war against those who provide nothing. This sense of favoritism among their own people is cannibalism at its finest.

We can’t miss the best known verses in this passage. Go to Micah 5:2 where you see the prediction of the coming Messiah to be born in Bethlehem. This is how the advisors to Herod knew where he was going to be born when the wise men were visiting to see where the future king would be born. You see that in Matthew. But this isn’t actually the best known Scripture in Micah, but we can’t miss this important Scripture which revels itself especially in this time of year as we prepare for Christmas.

The best known Scripture is seen in Micah 6:6-8, where we see what the Lord actually requires from each one of us. God is not interested in superfical worship that may or may not change our lives. God is interested not in sacrifices that are perfunctory and of no impact on our lives or on the live of those around us. God is genuinely interested in justice, kindness, and walking humbly with God. These three things are reflected in the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 5-7 where we understand the way of life to which God has called us. A way of life which reflects justice, kindness, and walking humbly with God.