Today’s Author is Prince of Peace member, Carol Swanson.
I’d like to share a little more background on Micah, the rural prophet from a small village called Moresheth. As The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible says, the village was “near the Judean stronghold of Lachish and close to the Philistine cities. The nature of the prophet’s home and its location may help to explain two of the prominent features of his message: (a) Micah loved poor farmers and shepherds and felt that these humble country people were the backbone of the nation…; (b) he observed international affairs in a way which was not exceptional for a dweller of a village placed on the route of foreigner invasions.”
God called Micah to go to Jerusalem to prophesy against the corruption and to warn of the devastation King Sennacherib of Assyria would bring to his rural countryside and finally to Jerusalem. ––In next Sunday’s text we hear in Isaiah 36 how King Sennacherib captured the fortified cities of Judah, including Lachish. Violent plundering and destruction! (Think of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Breadbasket of Europe.)–– In other accounts we can read how King Hezekiah made some reforms and sought the LORD’s help against Assyria (2Chronicles 29-32; 2Kings 18-19).
A hundred years later, when Jeremiah also preached against Jerusalem’s religious leaders, they sought to have him sentenced to death. But the officials didn’t agree, and elders recalled Micah’s words that “Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins….” (Mic 3:12) “Did King Hezekiah of Judah and all Judah actually put him to death? Did he not fear the LORD and entreat the favor of the LORD, and did not the LORD change his mind about the disaster that he had pronounced against them? But we are about to bring great disaster on ourselves!” (Jeremiah 26:19)
Micah didn’t preach only doom. He also offers God’s promise of restoration. No more weapons and war. People will have their own land, enough food, and security. Fittingly, his symbols of restoration reflect his agricultural roots. He imagines universal peace where nations will learn the ways of the LORD and beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more;
but they shall all sit under their own vines and under their own fig trees, and no one shall make them afraid; for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken. (4:3-4)
Out of the destruction caused by war, pollution, and climate change, we must work together towards restoration of the environment. I invite you to search on YouTube for “Nature Conservancy in Minnesota” and you will find some short videos of examples around our state where their work has renewed habitats. In honor of Micah and his farming roots, click below and watch “Saving our Soils” (less than 5 minutes).
Gracious Spirit, inspire our leaders, raise up new voices, breathe into us new life. Thank you for never giving up on us. Amen.