Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance;
Who does not persist in anger forever, but delights rather in clemency,
And will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt?
The editor's introduction to the Book of Micah, found on the USCCB website, summarizes the book thus:
"Through the prophetic voice, the Lord announces the impending punishment of God’s people by means of military defeat and exile because of their failure to establish justice. After that punishment God will bring the people back to their land and establish perpetual peace. The will of God for human beings is that they do justice, love goodness, and walk humbly with God (6:6–8)."
Today's reading is taken from the last chapter of The Book of Micah. The Prophet recalls a peaceful era in Egypt, after Jacob and his family had settled at Bashan and Gilead, long before the "new king came to Egypt who knew not Joseph." It was a good time to be alive. But that was a long time ago in a faraway land.
The prophet considers the inevitable punishment that must follow their "wicked scales and bags of dishonest weight." God's holiness cannot abide cheating and corruption in God's holy city. The world should be admiring their hospitality to aliens and their just treatment of widows and orphans. But Jerusalem is not a city on a hill, or a light to the nations. It is corrupt, ruled by a wealthy few like any other city.
But, having announced their inevitable doom, Micah also looks directly at his Prophetic Inspiration and considers God's goodness.
You will cast into the depths of the sea
all our sins;
You will show faithfulness to Jacob,
and grace to Abraham,
As you have sworn to our fathers
from days of old.
From ancient time the Church ponders the Lord of Revelation who is the same Lord of Creation. Our Saving God created the universe out of chaos with wisdom and reason. It stands to reason that wicked scales and dishonest weights create a disorder which cannot make sense and must be harmonized. We have only to study our sciences to see beauty, wisdom, and sanity. If we discover a logic which is incomprehensible it is not illogical; it is simply beyond us.
Cynical persons, perhaps tragically harmed by abuse and violence, might cling to the false promises of chaos. They live in darkness and say they see clearly the way things are. We might sympathize with their stories of victimization -- for we have all experienced betrayal in one form or another -- but we must invite them to come home to wisdom, reason, and sanity. Their posturing is illogical and if they cling to it they will perish with it. If they think their destruction is tragic or romantic, from our safe distance we see it's only nonsense.
We know the Spirit of God because we gaze upon God's goodness, rather than upon our memories of hurt. We know the truth; it is trustworthy, good, and beautiful.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.