Year 2, Week 3, Day 3 Bible Reading Observations

Year 2, Week 3, Day 3

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Micah 5-7.

Today’s reading concludes the prophecy of Micah. Micah 5 describes a besieged Jerusalem: “Now muster your troops, O daughter of troops; siege is laid against us; with a rod they strike the judge of Israel on the cheek” (Micah 5:1). But the LORD would raise up a ruler who would come from Bethlehem to be their deliverer: “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days” (Micah 5:2). Micah 6 returns to the matter of Israel’s rebellion as the LORD is declaring His case against them: "Hear what the LORD says: Arise, plead your case before the mountains, and let the hills hear your voice. Hear, you mountains, the indictment of the LORD, and you enduring foundations of the earth, for the LORD has an indictment against his people, and he will contend with Israel” (Micah 6:1-2). Israel has failed to do what was required: “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?” (Micah 6:8). Micah 7 brings the prophecy to an end by extolling the LORD’s pardoning mercies: “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” (Micah 7:18-19a).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading is the incredible conclusion of Micah. There is an intriguing irony in the Book of Micah. Micah begins by declaring the fury of God’s wrath: “Hear, you peoples, all of you; pay attention, O earth, and all that is in it, and let the Lord GOD be a witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple. For behold, the LORD is coming out of his place, and will come down and tread upon the high places of the earth” (Micah 1:2-3). A fury in response to sin: “All this is for the transgression of Jacob and for the sins of the house of Israel” (Micah 1:5a). Even the opening verses of Micah 7 underscore the lack of anyone righteous before the LORD: “Woe is me! For I have become as when the summer fruit has been gathered, as when the grapes have been gleaned: there is no cluster to eat, no first-ripe fig that my soul desires. The godly has perished from the earth, and there is no one upright among mankind” (Micah 7:1-2a). Micah is filled with heartache over the state of humanity.

But this heartache is not how things end. Micah ends up, “lost in love and wonder and praise” (Charles Wesley hymn, Love Divine, All Love Excelling). Micah is deeply aware of his sin, but he also has a profound awareness that the LORD will defend him: “I will bear the indignation of the LORD because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon his vindication” (Micah 7:9). Micah looks to the LORD, for Micah believes that the LORD will act on his belief to carry out a judgment that will result in deliverance: “But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me” (Micah 7:7). Paul expressed what Micah is pointing out: “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life” (1 Timothy 1:15-16).

Micah is confident that his enemy will not get the last word: “Rejoice not over me, O my enemy; when I fall, I shall rise; when I sit in darkness, the LORD will be a light to me…Then my enemy will see, and shame will cover her who said to me, “Where is the LORD your God?” My eyes will look upon her; now she will be trampled down” (Micah 7:8,10). Micah is confident because of who the LORD is: ““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” (Micah 7:18-19a). Micah rests in the LORD who has revealed Himself to be rich in steadfast love and faithfulness: “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty” (Exodus 34:6-7a). Micah not only marvels at his pardon, but realizes also that both his sin and his enemies (sin itself being one of our enemies) will be defeated by the LORD: “We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin…For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:6,14).

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe