Thoughts for the Day

And I said:
Listen, you heads of Jacob
and rulers of the house of Israel!
Should you not know justice?—
you who hate the good and love the evil....

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 acted wickedly.

Thus says the Lord concerning the prophets
who lead my people astray, who cry ‘Peace’
when they have something to eat,
but declare war against those
who put nothing into their mouths.
Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision,
and darkness to you, without revelation......

Hear this, you rulers of the house of Jacob
and chiefs of the house of Israel,
who abhor justice
and pervert all equity:....

Because of you
Zion shall be ploughed as a field;
Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins,
and the mountain of the house a wooded height.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

In Chapters 1 and 2 Micah spoke to God’s people in general. Now he addresses their leaders, because they have a responsibility to care for God's people. He accuses them of loving evil and pictures them as metaphorically tearing the skin off God's people. He says that instead of caring for the people they are abusing them and people were dying because of their poverty. People should not live to create wealth for their leaders, instead God establishes leaders to care for all His people, especially the poorest. Micah says if they only care for themselves, they are like cannibals, and when they turn to God for help He will be silent.

Secondly, Micah looks at false prophets, to those who wrongly proclaim God's word, saying God will bring peace or prosperity, when it's not true. In due course they will answer to God's judgement. Instead Micah speaks God's message in confidence that he is obeying God's words, knowing that the Spirit of the Lord is with him, when he declares their sin.

As Christians today, we have a duty to pray for our leaders and to help their legitimate plans; we have a duty to vote for those who stand for election; and we have a duty to do what we can within our own community to help those less fortunate than ourselves.

Heavenly Father,
we thank You that You called
Your prophet Micah to work for You;
that he was brave enough to speak out
against the leaders of Judah and Israel;
that he held false prophets to be accountable;
and that he spoke for many years
going unheard for much of this time
but never stopping.
May we take note of his example
and play our part in helping to establish
a fair society and a caring Church.
Amen.