An Obscure Prophet with a Great Message

In sports, whenever you play at the same time as someone great, your accomplishments tend to go unnoticed. In basketball, for example, Karl Malone dominated for years, but as a contemporary of Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, no one talks much about him even though his stats were often better. Same for every soccer player who played with Pelé or every business leader who led companies the same time as Donald Trump. Some people get all the press while others do great things without much recognition.

If you have ever suffered such injustice, Micah the prophet feels your pain. He was a contemporary of Isaiah the prophet, living and preaching in Israel around 500 BC. In fact, Micah's writings are so similar to Isaiah's that scholars disagree about who was more influenced by who. Some suggest both may have been influenced by an even more unfortunate third prophet who is now forgotten by history.

Although he is one of our more obscure prophets today, Micah was evidently not all that obscure during his time. He spoke boldly and did not pull any punches as he spoke to Israel on behalf of the Lord. One very famous passage is in Micah 6:8 where he boils it all down for the people of Israel and for us today many centuries later. He says, "This is what the Lord requires. That we act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with the Lord."

Today we will talk about the 2500-year-old challenge and ask whether the people of God are doing any better at meeting God’s "requirements". How much do we focus on justice and mercy and humility? Or are we sometimes known for being bullies (the opposite connotation of what "acting justly" implies), being hard line and being just a little bit arrogant about the fact that we "walk with God"? If we were truly convinced that justice and mercy and humility were at the top of God's list of things he wants to see, how would it change our daily "walk" with Him?

Mark

Perseverance

It was a little, wooden, black train engine. He wanted it so badly. As he grappled with the side rails of his changing table -- reaching with tiny fingers to sit up and grasp the prize, face filled with determination, I just stood there and cried. "O Lord, why does it have to be so hard?" my mind pleaded. "Why can't he be like other little boys?" Other little boys. Like the one I assumed I had. Little boys who roll all over the floor, who pull up on the furniture. Little boys who could sit up and grab the little, wooden, black train engine, with much less effort. "Why does he have it so hard?" I ask the Almighty God, the maker of heaven and earth.

Zeke is crying now and has resolved for the moment just to lie back down and give up the struggle. I am tempted to just give him the toy, but I think better of it and instead place my hands on his little limbs and pray for him. I pray that his brain will be whole and healthy, that his arms and legs will be strong. I pray for his little spirit -- that it will also be strong and not be crushed under the challenges he faces. I pray that one day the little, wooden, black train engine will be easily in his reach. Then, we try again. I place my hand under his neck and gently coax him. "We're going to try it again," I said with enough determination for the both of us. His hands grasp the side rails. His toes curl and legs raise up off the table with the effort. His face is red and a small vein rises in his forehead. And then, he sits up. He sits up and grabs the little, wooden, black train engine.

A giant smile covers his face as he chews on the much desired prize. Life is filled with these kind of moments, I suppose -- moments when perseverance is put to the test; moments when we are tempted to just throw in the towel; moments when it just feels easier to lie back down. These are our spiritual work-outs. God at work. I smile too. Surely, God is cultivating an amazing young man . . . . "And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope" (Romans 5:2-4).

Copyright 2006 by Melanie Simpson. Permission hereby granted to reprint this gracEmail in its entirety without change, with credit given and not for financial profit.

Psalm 67

May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face shine upon us,

Selah

that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.

May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you.
May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you rule the peoples justly
and guide the nations of the earth.

Selah

May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you.

Then the land will yield its harvest,
and God, our God, will bless us.
God will bless us,
and all the ends of the earth will fear him.
(1-7)

Psalm 66

Shout with joy to God, all the earth!
Sing the glory of his name;
make his praise glorious!
Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power
that your enemies cringe before you.
All the earth bows down to you;
they sing praise to you,
they sing praise to your name.” Selah

Come and see what God has done,
how awesome his works in man’s behalf!
He turned the sea into dry land,
they passed through the waters on foot—
come, let us rejoice in him.

Praise our God, O peoples,
let the sound of his praise be heard;
he has preserved our lives
and kept our feet from slipping.

If I had cherished sin in my heart
the Lord would not have listened;
but God has surely listened
and heard my voice in prayer.
Praise be to God
who has not rejected my prayer
or withheld his love from me!
(1-6, 8-9, 18-20)