Offense and Blessing

Micah 3-4

            It’s not much of a title today, but the first part of the reading seems really to focus on things that offend the Lord. First (and third, 3:1-4, 9-12) is a judgment on the oppression of the poor by the rich, described very graphically as “tearing skin off from bone.” In our day, we hear a lot about the growing wealth gap between the very rich and the increasing number of poor, but I suspect most of us never think about that phenomenon in spiritual terms. Let me just suggest that—scratch that, let Micah suggest—Christians should be just as fierce an advocate of curbing CEO pay, limiting corporate profits, and a serious social safety net as they are about any other political issue.

            Second, the Lord is beside Himself about false prophets, prophets who will preach anything as long as they get paid and their bellies are full (3:5-8). Again, a contemporary application: preachers better be preaching Law and Gospel, not self-help—and a lot of contemporary preaching has more to do with that than with the Word of God. The preacher is called to say, with the prophets, “Thus says the Lord!”

            Slipped into this judgment is a beautiful little prophesy of blessing and restoration, reconciliation with the Lord, and the establishment of His peace. (Micah 4:1-3 is very, very similar to Isaiah 2:1-4.) But it doesn’t last for long, and the chapter continues with a warning that that day of restoration is not yet. The day of restoration is not yet. Israel must go through its purification, but the Lord will give His people the ultimate victory (4:11-13).