Today’s author is Prince of Peace member, Carol Swanson.
“Who Is Like God?” this God of the Bible we worship? That is what Micah’s name means (the ending –ah is for YHWH). The name Michael also reflects this question “Who is Like God?” (with the ending –el for El or Elohim, other names used for the Hebrew God). As the Lutheran Study Bible notes, ‘“Who is like the LORD?’ not the powerful.”
When I think of nature reflecting God, I tend to think of beautiful sunrises and sunsets, wildflowers in mountain meadows, brilliant autumn trees, reflecting lakes —scenes that calm my spirit and make me feel the presence of our life-giving God, divine love and goodness.
But Micah opens with dramatic and threatening images:
Hear, you peoples, all of you, listen, 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 lo, the LORD is coming out of his place, and will come down and tread upon the high places of the earth.
Then the mountains will melt under him and the valleys will burst open like wax near the fire, like waters poured down a steep place.
All this is for the transgression of Jacob and for the sins of the house of Israel.
What is the transgression of Jacob? Is it not Samaria?
And what is the high place of Judah? Is it not Jerusalem? (1:2-5)
I read this, hear this, and I can’t help thinking of the threats we face in climate change. Bangladesh and Pakistan need help. We see the devastation in Florida hit by the two recent hurricanes. In the buildup to last week’s elections, climate change was not talked of as a driving force in voting, pushed aside by the more immediate threats to democracy, personal choice, and the economy. But we can’t lose sight of the urgency of climate change. Too much is at stake. The media has now turned its attention to the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, a.k.a. COP27—at least while it is in session through this Friday. Two important topics are Adapting to Climate Change and Funding “Loss and Damage” sustained by poorer countries who suffer the most yet are least responsible for the causes. We must keep pressing the issues of climate change for the sake of our future, our future generations, and the earth.
Micah wasn’t envisioning climate collapse in these introductory verses; rather he was describing God as the majestic Creator who was not pleased with the corrupt political and religious leaders of Samaria and Jerusalem, the capitals of the northern and southern kingdoms. Coming from a rural background, from a small village in the foothills southwest of Jerusalem, Micah spoke for the common people who were exploited by the prosperous urban elite. The leaders imagined God was on their side and would always protect them from the Assyrian Empire. But Micah would preach social justice and right worship and would prophesy that God’s judgement would come first to destroy Samaria: “I will make Samaria a heap [of ruins] in the open country, a place for planting vineyards.” (1:6) And then Jerusalem: “For her wound is incurable. It has come to Judah; it has reached to the gate of my people, to Jerusalem.” (1:9) The Assyrians would come.
Rural vs urban. Thinking again about this past week of elections, I can picture the maps of red and blue, showing how the winning political parties lay geographically. Minnesota’s congressional races—so much of the land covered in red (the 4 large more rural districts) and then the 4 small districts of blue clustered in the Twin City metro area. Stark contrast. Minnesota’s governor race colored by county has a few more blue islands. But we must ask: What divides us? Where do we find common ground? What will bring us together, unite us? Micah tells us simply and clearly what is required: Do justice, Love kindness, Walk humbly with your God. (6:8)
Gracious Creator, you have blessed us with our amazing planet-home. Teach us how to appreciate the value and interconnectedness of all life and give us wisdom to adapt our ways to live in harmony with our world and for the good of all. Amen