SCRIPTURE: Micah 3
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD, and with justice and might, to declare to Jacob his transgression, to Israel his sin. [Micah 3:8]
Micah has been given the power to speak boldly God’s message, even if no one is willing to listen.
He condemns their corruption and perversion and cruelty and injustice, and declares that God is against them, and will punish them!
The irony is, they think that God is on their side, that He will protect them!
Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets tell fortunes for money. Yet they look for the LORD’s support and say, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster will come upon us.” [Micah 3:11]
The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” [Luke 4:18-19]
Jesus is also anointed to speak God’s message of justice and mercy.
Quoting Isaiah, He says that God is fulfilling His purpose of justice and mercy for the weak, the poor, the blind, the oppressed, the imprisoned.
But part of this message includes the opposite judgment against those who are doing the oppressing.
And this is where Jesus’ message takes a turn for the worse – He accuses the people of His own hometown of not listening to God, of rejecting God.
All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way. [Luke 4:28-30]
Is it possible that people today THINK they are doing God a favour, when in fact they are not; they are actually guilty of the very things God hates?
Today, as in Jesus’ and Micah’s day, we need someone with Spirit-empowered boldness to challenge us in our comfortable christianity.
Though it may be hard to hear, and may challenge many of our convictions and lifestyles, we need someone to speak God’s truth into our lives.
Someone like Shane Claiborne comes to mind…
PRAYER:
Lord, show me where I am guilty of claiming to serve You, and yet doing the opposite. Show me where I am resiting You and Your kingdom, and help me to change!