Micah - conclusion

     We now come to the end of the book of Micah.  In general, he was a man of faith who was terribly distraught over the failure of his people to keep the covenant with God.  The people around him didn't see a problem because there was some prosperity (for the wealthy), the sacrifices were being kept, and the king was on the throne.  Yet Micah saw the land-grabbing which was creating a class of extreme poverty, the dishonest weights and measures in the market place, and the tendancy to worship other gods on the side.  These were matters of serious concern.  What does God want?  For the people to walk humbly with God, practicing, to do justice and love kindness. 
     Verses 7:7-20 may be a psalm(s) which some think was appended to the book of Micah by a later editor. It may relate to Second Isaiah and Psalm 137. Scholars disagree whether verse 7 belongs to the Psalm or to the preceding passage. Also, the Psalm may have been intended as words of liturgy for the whole nation.

      In verse 7, after Micah has described a terrible time of disentegration in families and homes, he says:  But as for me I will look to the Lord.  This is reminiscent of Joshua’s words. After he had presented the Israelites with some of the possibilities of worship, he said, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
       Vs 8 -10 Rejoice not over me... some scholars see this as later than Micah - reflecting a time of exile, as in Psalm 137. Read the laments of the psalms and we see often the taunting of enemies being mentioned. It could also be Micah’s own experiences, awareness of his own sins, and determination to remain faithful. As is common in the Bible, the words have rich application to human experience.
      Vs 10 - the enemies ask where is the Lord your God? - This theme can be seen in various ways. This was a time when people believed in territorial gods. The defeat of one nation meant that one territorial god had also defeated another. But it is a taunt that has often been raised to people of faith when bad things happen. (If anyone watches the show “House,” this was wrestled with on one level in an episode (November 22).  Read also:  Psalm 3:2; Psalm 10:4,  Psalm 21:7-8  Psalm 42:3.  All these express the experence of being a faithful person in the midst of those who taunt someone for their faithfulness.
      Vs 11-13 Does seem to refer to the rebuilding of Jerusalem and of its walls. (Compare earlier, when cities would be torn down...might not apply to Jerusalem as its primary function was not as a fortress or war fortification.) “they will come to you...” are words that have a feel of 4:1-4. The thirteenth verse, however, speaks of desolation in the earth because of their sins.
      Verse fourteen brings again the image of the shepherd and his rod or staff. The New English Version used “crook” which the Cambridge scholars admit was a free translation, since the Israelite shepherds of the time didn’t use crooks.
      Bashan was the most northern part of the region east of the Jordan. It was a wide and fertile plain which grew wheat well, was good for cattle raising and was known for its groves of oak trees. Bashan is mentioned elsewhere in the bible. The strong bulls of Bashan (Ps 22:12) become sy7mbols for the fierceness of enemies against a righteous man. Amos took aim at the pleasure-seeking women of Samaria, calling them the “cows of Bashan.” (Amos 4:1) Isaiah did the same against the proud and haughty describing them as the tall cedars of Lebanon and spreading oaks of Bashan. After Israel divided into two kingdoms, Basham was often a battleground.
     Gilead - a region east of the Jordan river. It could also be the shortened names for a community. Its hills and valleys were well watered, making it forested, also good for growing grapes and olives. The balm of Gilead was an aromatic resin believed to have medicinal powers. It was not native to Gilead, but was exported from there.
     16-17 - The nations are again pictured as turning to God, but this image is more in humility and fear. (Licking the dust like a serpent refers to an ancient belief that snakes ate the dust.)
     7:18-20 - A Psalm of adoration and praise
     “Who is a God like thee?” This is a play on the meaning of the name of the prophet Micah, which means “Who is like Yahweh?”
     A custom among orthodox Jews is to visit a body of water following worship on the afternoon of Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) to repeat the last part of Micah 7:19 three times: “You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea.” This ceremony is called Tashlik, Hebrew for “You will cast...” It is a celebration of forgiveness to begin the New Year.
     Micah conclues with a reminder of the covenant and the promise made to their ancestors.
    
     The book of Micah challenges us to live in ways of holiness today.  The high vision of peace among nations has jarring contrast with other words of sometimes vengeance and the desire for political superiority.  But in the realities of the world, it is important to keep a higher vision of justice, humility, kindness and peace.