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.

We began to lament such messages and call them out as unacceptable.  Looking back at Micah, however, we found a different message.  While some of the messages in this media may be saying, "I will preach to you of wine and strong drink," Micah was not preaching against those messages, but against the people for accepting and living by such messages.  Micah found such messages to be "empty falsehoods", but his real problem was with the people for accepting such empty falsehoods as truth.

Then, Micah reminds the people that God will return to them and restore them.  Micah reminds the people of God's goodness, that God will be their shepherd.  Micah's indictments were made not merely to chastise, but to call people back to the goodness of God.  The empty falsehoods which the people have accepted as truth will not satisfy the people.  God is what they truly want and need.

We looked back at Deuteronomy to take a look at who God is.  In Deuteronomy 24:6-22 we hear primarily about God's care for justice and mercy.  Much of the law which had been given to the people of Israel was concerned with the proper practice of their religion, keeping ceremonially clean, etc.  In Deut. 24, however,
God commands the people to be fair, just, and merciful to the poor, the traveler, the widow, and the orphan.
We then saw in Deuteronomy 28:15-68, a list of curses to the people if they did not obey God and his commandments - this is what the people were living out when Micah preached.  Further, we saw in Deuteronomy 30:1-10 God's promise to restore his blessing to the people of Israel after their punishment - this is what we saw promised again in Micah 2:12-13.

From this, we gain a picture of what God is like.  He has great concern with how we treat one another.  He wants us to treat each other well, not to take advantage, but to care for the poor and the downtrodden.  God loves us and wants us to love each other, to look out for each other.

This is largely summed up in Deuteronomy 10:12-22 which basically says love God, love each other.  In Deut.10:13, God tells the Israelites that he has given them the law and commandments "for [their] own well-being."  Like a parent caring for a child, God gave laws and rules so that his people would have a better way of life than they would find on their own.

God knows that the deepest desire of our hearts is to love and be loved by him.  God knows that our lives will be better if we treat each other well than if we don't.  So, God gave rules and commandments which constantly oriented the people towards remembering and loving God and treating each other well.

Looking back then at Micah's message and our lives, we turn again to some of the false prophets we mentioned:  TV, commercials, etc.  Perhaps we need not vilify them for uttering empty falsehoods, but hold ourselves accountable for accepting those messages as truth, and forgetting that there is something more, something better for which we are longing, God and his love. 

If we try to turn people against the media, we will likely receive resistance.  If we fight someone that person will fight back.  If we show someone a light, on the other hand, that person will likely walk toward the light.  Rather than rail against the media and tell people the messages they hear are evil, we would follow Micah's example, pointing people toward the goodness of God. 

There is, after all, much in the media's messages that is good.  Even in beer commercials, we see people enjoying their time with one another.  That is a good thing.  Getting drunk in order to enjoy time together is simply not the best way to go about enjoying time together.  It is a quick and easy way to tear down our barriers, but it comes with some negative consequences as well.  Taking the time to break down our social barriers and enjoy each others' company without getting drunk can be more difficult, but it brings greater rewards...deeper connection, more mindful interaction, fewer negative consequences.

Rather than denounce the world as evil, we are called to point people to the goodness of God.  Rather than condemn and fight against many of the messages we receive from "secular society," we are called to acknowledge the good in the world, to see the good those messages, and then point people to something even better, God and his love for us.

Turning finally to 1 Peter 1:22 - 2:3, we are reminded to love each other deeply.  We are told to put away anger, jealousy, and slander, and "long for the pure spiritual milk...[if we] have tasted that the Lord is good."  Again, our focus need not be anger over the messages we hear in the world.  We need not be jealous that many listen to those messages, and we don't need to slander those messages.  Rather, we are to long for God, the pure spiritual milk that truly feeds our souls.  We are to love each other deeply, and we are to offer this pure spiritual milk to others as the something better for which they are truly longing. 

There is good even in the false messages we hear in the media.  There is something better in God and his love for us.