Daily Thoughts from Micah: Idolatry, Politics, and Spiritual Change (1:1)

Daily Thoughts from Micah: Idolatry, Politics, and Spiritual Change

The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem. (Micah 1:1, ESV)

Micah served as a prophet roughly during the time of Isaiah, whose tenure includes the kingship prior to Jotham.  This was a time in which Jotham and Ahaz allowed a continuation of worship at high places, and Ahaz actually worshiped other gods, stooping so low as to sacrifice his own son in the fire and replicating a pagan altar to replace the one prescribed by Yahweh for use in the temple.

This was the time of the divided kingdom.  After Saul, David and Solomon ruled over all the 12 tribes as one nation, Solomon’s son experienced through his own fault a splitting off of the ten northern tribes from Judah, the main tribe in the south, the tribe from which David and Solomon came.  Judah continued to support the Davidic kings, but the northern kingdom, which became known as Israel, established kings from their own people.  The northern kingdom immediately fell into idolatry, whereas the southern kingdom took a while longer to get there.

Micah is prophesying to both kingdoms.  Samaria was the capital of Israel and Jerusalem the capital of Judah.  From the very get go the two kingdoms warred against each other, though later they reached a diplomatic peace accord.  Micah was prophesying during a time of political danger, not only from conflict between these two “brothers” but also because of the rise of other nation-states like Syria and especially Assyria and Babylon, whose lust for conquering other states was strong.

Micah’s message will not be primarily political, however, but spiritual.  It is spiritual unfaithfulness to Yahweh that is at the heart of Israel’s and Judah’s problems.  If we look for parallels to our own nations problems, we may locate them in the same place.  The United States is not God’s chosen nation, like Israel and Judah is.  But God certainly is concerned that we live in obedience to Him, a concern that we seem to have given up on many years ago.  We may, like Judah and Israel, give lip service to God when we suffer loss as a nation or as leadership seeks to rouse the nation to action.  There are still many in the USA who have not bowed the knee to false gods.

But even those who know the Lord will find themselves in need of correction.  The prophecy of Micah will still speak to us.  Are we, for example, looking more for answers to our nation’s problems from a political source, or are we able to see clearly that our problems are spiritual and we are seeking answers and help from the Lord?  Do we elect leaders whose character is in line with God’s righteousness or make excuses for leaders whose character is decidedly not godly?  Have we become infected with the idolatries of our day?  These are the concerns Micah will address.