Day 165: Micah 5-7

Another prophecy concerning the coming of Jesus, the Messiah...another one that becomes obvious only after Jesus life is lived...

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
   though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
   one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
   from ancient times.” (5:2)

There are many passages in the OT prophets that are simply hard to read. They show a side of God that we don't like to talk about...

“In that day,” declares the LORD,
   “I will destroy your horses from among you
   and demolish your chariots.
 I will destroy the cities of your land
   and tear down all your strongholds.
I will destroy your witchcraft
   and you will no longer cast spells.
I will destroy your idols
   and your sacred stones from among you;
you will no longer bow down
   to the work of your hands.
I will uproot from among you your Asherah poles
   when I demolish your cities.
I will take vengeance in anger and wrath
   on the nations that have not obeyed me.” (5:10-15)

When God talks about all the specific things He plans to destroy in His anger and wrath I can't help but wonder what things would be listed if He spoke through a prophet today? Everything He mentions are things that the people of the day were putting their trust in...things they relied upon...things that gave them security...things that they worshiped...in other words, these are the things that took God's place in the hearts and minds of the people. What takes the place of God in my heart and mind?

Here's what He asks of us:

With what shall I come before the LORD
   and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
   with calves a year old?
Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
   with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
   the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
   And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
   and to walk humbly with your God. (6:6-8)

Micah then closes with these beautiful thoughts...

Who is a God like you,
   who pardons sin and forgives the transgression
   of the remnant of his inheritance?
You do not stay angry forever
   but delight to show mercy.
You will again have compassion on us;
   you will tread our sins underfoot
   and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
You will be faithful to Jacob,
   and show love to Abraham,
as you pledged on oath to our ancestors
   in days long ago. (7:18-20)