Bible Study (9-30-2009) - Micah 3:1-4

These four verses are part of Micah's rebuke of Judah's leaders, their injustice, cruelty, and monstrous behavior.  Verses 2-3 could be largely metaphor (tearing flesh off bones), and these verses could also be pointing to some of the cult practices* under King Ahaz of Judah (2 Kings 16:1-4).  In any case, Micah promises that God's judgment will come upon those wicked rulers; "they will cry to the Lord, [and] he will not answer them."

* As an interesting side note, some of the cult practices of Ahaz may have been sacrificing humans to the god Molech (2 Kings 23:10).  This was done in the valley of Hennom, just outside Jerusalem  In Hebrew the valley of Hennom, "Ge-Hennom" is the name from which "Gehanna" comes, translated as "hell" in the NRSV (Mark 9:42-28).

Our discussion began with wondering how people could do such horrible things to each other as described in Micah 3:3.  We remembered then, how often such atrocities still occur (the Holocaust, the Spanish Inquisition, genocides in the Sudan, Cambodia, etc.).  We further thought about practices by some in authority which may metaphorically strip the flesh off people's bones (unjust laws, oppressive governments, even individuals who will lie, cheat, and steal to get their way).

What are we to do in the face of such atrocities?

Bible Study - Micah 2:8-13 - 9-23-2009

In today's study of Micah 2:8-13, we found Micah continuing his indictment of the people of Israel.  In the previous section, Micah had denounced the social evils and injustices done, and this leads Micah to discuss some of the effects of those injustices. 
The women were driven out of the homes, and God's glory was taken away from the young children. (2:9)
The people still don't want to hear his message, and he tells them the kind of preaching to which they would listen - "I will preach to you of wine and strong drink" (2:11)
Chapter 2 ends with a promise of God's restoration of the people, that God will lead them like a shepherd (2:12-13)

Our discussion began with a question:  "What are some of the false prophets of today?"  Some answers given were:  Television stations and programming, beer commercials, music, movies.  People often hear the messages given by these avenues, and they take the messages or stories as good ways to live.
Younger impressionable people, especially, may see the stories and images of TV, movies, commercials, etc., and take those messages as good ways to live or believe those presentations are the way the world is.

Is Disrespect Now Praised in Our Society?

What follows is a letter I wrote to National Public Radio regarding a story they aired on on September 11, 2009. The story was called "The Economics of Misbehaving in School." You can hear the story at: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112739889&ft=1&f=94427042

Dear NPR & the Planet Money Team.

I was both shocked and in no way surprised when, during the Plant Money story, “The Economics of Misbehaving in School”, I heard a student being praised as “efficient” for being disrespectful to his school principal. He interrupted her presentation, asking when it would be over, and we, the listening audience, were told that from an economist’s point of view, his behavior was golden. He “efficiently” told the other students that he was “brave” and a “risk taker”.

I wonder why Senator Wilson was not given such praise for his “You lie!” comment to president Obama. Rather than being disrespectful, was he not merely telling folks efficiently where he stood on the issue of health care and his trust of the president? Planet Money should applaud him for his brave, risk-taking efficiency. Perhaps he should be given an apology by NPR for any negative comments made about his outburst. After all, he was practicing golden economics, or at least he would have been if people cared as little about his disrespect as you did about the young high school student’s.