August 21, 2026 - Micah 1-7

Micah prophesied about the same time as Isaiah, in Judah in the 8th century B.C.  Though a contemporary of Isaiah and, like Isaiah, called by God to preach, how different were the men.  Isaiah:  an urbanite, highly educated, soaring poetry and language, counselor to kings, probably well off financially.  Micah: a country boy, likely not much educated, coarser language, among the farmers and shepherds of the country side and small towns, likely not having a lot of wealth.  But, like Isaiah, he faithfully preached what God told him to preach.  How like our God, also, to employ rich and poor, erudite and not so erudite, of high standing and low standing, city dweller and country boy, whoever, to do his bidding and to preach his message.  And that message is clear:  do not be like the world, rather, turn from sin and follow after the Lord; don’t die, but live; do not trust in my own supposed righteousness or goodness, rather in the Lord.  “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression . . . You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea . . .” (7:18,19).

Great God of wonders, all thy ways

are matchless, God-like and divine;

but the fair glories of thy grace

more God-like and unrivaled shine:

Who is a pardoning God like thee,

or who has grace so rich and free?

In wonder lost, with trembling joy,

we take the pardon of our God,

pardon for sins of deepest dye,

a pardon sealed with Jesus’ blood.   -- Samuel Davies (1790)