Thoughts for the Day

Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity
and passing over the transgression
of the remnant of your possession?
He does not retain his anger for ever,
because he delights in showing clemency.
He will again have compassion upon us;
he will tread our iniquities under foot.
You will cast all our sins
into the depths of the sea.
You will show faithfulness to Jacob
and unswerving loyalty to Abraham,
as you have sworn to our ancestors
from the days of old.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Micah's name means 'Who is like Yahweh' (that is 'God') and the prophet starts this section of his work with a play on his name. But God has many names, perhaps up to 1,000 different ones in the Bible, though Yahweh appears over 6,000 times. His name is so sacred that in the past it would only have been used by priests in the Temple. When Moses asks God what is His name, God answers "I am" (Exodus 3.13-14), however, we don't have an exact translation in English, so the word "Lord", often in capitals, is used. In Hebrew a name reflects something of the character of the person, and Yahweh's name is no different. It indicates that He stands alone, self-sufficient, eternal, having always existed, and He is the beginning and the end. But Yahweh chooses to have a relationship with the world and the people He has created. Everything in our world changes, but Yahweh is unchanging. Yahweh keeps His promises but is ultimately a mystery.

Micah ends with a note of hopeful triumph. Despite all His people's sins Yahweh delights in offering mercy to them. The caveat is that Yahweh's people have to want mercy; they have to be prepared to acknowledge their sin; and they have to come to Yahweh in faith for He is prepared to offer them compassion as He did to their forefathers. Today, Yahweh makes the same offer to us!

Lord of Lords,
Almighty God,
Who is and is to come,
we thank You that You
want a relationship with us,
and we recognise
our total unworthiness.
Forgive our sin,
have compassion upon us this day,
and grant us mercy we pray.
Amen.