I was power-trimming weeds beneath a large tree in our backyard when I felt a painful, burning jab to the back of my skull. Turning, I noticed several hornets buzzing around me. Having been already stung by one, I fled the scene. Later that night I discovered I had bumped the hornets’ watermelon-sized nest with my head! A sting had snapped me out of my clueless state, one that could have resulted in me being swarmed and stung repeatedly.
The prophet Micah was called to do something similar—to wake God’s people out of their clueless state. They had their heads down—ignoring God and His call—living unjust, self-centered, spiritually apathetic lives (Micah 1:5, 2:2). As one commentator put it, “With passionate forthrightness, [Micah] attacks the social evils [religious corruption, social oppression, economic injustice, etc.] of his day. His stubborn refusal to float on the tide of his social environment, and his courageous stand for his convictions of God’s truth, must commend Micah to . . . every age.”
Micah brought God’s stinging words: Judgment was coming through their enemies the Assyrians (Micah 5:1). But he also gave them hope in One who would come from Bethlehem and “be the source of peace” (Micah 5:2,5). The prophet’s words described a “Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6)—revealing to the people of that age and ours that One would come and “lead his flock” and “be highly honored around the world” (Micah 5:4).
Jesus, the One who fulfilled that prophecy, provides what we need to passionately swim against the currents of social ills today. This is no time for floating. Let’s lift our heads and find our voice as Christ gives us the power and strength to live out His justice, truth, and love.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Matthew 15:32–16:12
More:
Read 1 Peter 2:9-12 and consider what it means to swim against the corrupt culture of this world.
Next:
In what ways have you been “floating” spiritually? What will you do today to stand firm in your faith and lift up those in need?
Gary Shultz on July 21, 2017 at 5:32 am
Hi Tom: Interesting subject for you, not that it is not appropriate, but your such a positive person, always looking toward love and encouragement. “Tom the attacker” just didn’t seem in the picture, but you are correct, to have balance with the kindness, there must be the warning of consequences. That’s a difficult one to make swim. In most of history, people don’t want to hear about judgement. When making a personal approach, a judgement first message is not very successful. Which brings me to a long term question. We know Micah had a prophetic message to deliver, as did other prophets, they addressed the general populous of the day. I am guessing most readers here today will be making individual contact with people. How and when do we punch out a message of judgement. We talk about “just love’n on people”, and I agree, a warning is an act of love, but it is difficult to dress it up that way. Like your hornet, it stings. Thanks Tom
Tom Felten on July 21, 2017 at 9:53 am
“Tom the Attacker,” gotta love that moniker, Gary! I was most certainly attacked by those hornets. 🙂 Regarding the idea of bringing hard (but honest and truthful) words to others, I think of what the apostle Paul wrote: “Speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ” and “Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them” (Ephesians 4:15,29). The loving thing requires that we speak hard words of truth to others at times. “Wounds from a friend can be trusted” (Proverbs 27:6 NIV).
minkjh on July 21, 2017 at 11:19 am
Gary & Tom, sound words indeed! Two things come to my mind here with your references from the O T and the stirring of the hornets’ nest. Although Israel struggled at times with obedience from the outset, it seems their situation changed for the worse when they exchanged their theocracy for monarchy, because all their neighbors were already doing it that way; and then ratified that decision hundreds of years later at Pilate’s judgment hall when they cried “We have no king but Caesar.” The talk of fleeing the scene makes me wonder how someone like Edwards would function in the feel good worship climate so prevalent in many churches today. No doubt for many there would be a mad dash for the front door. Praise God that we know there is only one King of kings and Lord of lords and that we can trust in the truth of His every word, stings and all.
Tom Felten on July 21, 2017 at 11:33 am
Well said, minkjh. And praise God that His discipline flows from the perfect love of a perfect Father (Hebrews 12:6,10-11).