6 December Micah 4:1-5
Micah is among the earliest of the Minor Prophets of the eighth century [BCE] with Hosea, Amos and first Isaiah. In the first part of the book, his message is one of judgement expressed in contemporary events – the fall of Samaria, the situation in Jerusalem and the aggression of Assyria. He condemned the false religious practices in the ‘high places’, including in Jerusalem, where the worship of the Lord was diluted and life did not reflect the true faith of Israel.
Then in chapter 4, our reading today, his tone changes from judgement to hope. Amid the gloom and the threats around, Micah expresses a sort of ‘ideal age’ when God reigns, Israel triumphs and the nations are judged: ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths’ (v2).
In the time before the birth of Jesus, things were difficult – the Roman occupation, the collaboration of the high Priest and his party with the occupiers, the neglect of the real needs of the people. That’s the ‘strife’ and the ‘noise’ in the hymn of a world that has ‘suffered long’. But, like the message of Micah in our reading, the angels’ message brings good news of a new beginning with the future birth of the Prince of Peace, of hope in the eternal purposes of God: ‘For lo, the days are hastening on’. In Advent, we receive again the message of hope as we look forward, and prepare ourselves, to receive the gift of God’s presence in Jesus, the true hope of the world.
John Forster
Living God,
In these dark and difficult times, we hear again the message of the angels above the dominant voices around us. In the silence may we be filled anew with the hope and love and peace we have in the coming of the Christ-child. Amen.