Is not Yahweh in the Midst of Us – Micah 3:9-12

In the podcast, The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill, an analyzer of the downfall of this megachurch notes that we are a people who wants to be led by a narcissist.  We have found this true of many churches, and of even our government.  If we tolerate narcissists as our leaders, we can only expect a downfall.

9 Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel, who detest justice and make crooked all that is straight, 10 who build Zion with blood and Jerusalem with iniquity.  11 Its heads give judgment for a bribe; its priests teach for a price; its prophets practice divination for money; yet they lean on the Lord and say, “Is not the Lord in the midst of us?  No disaster shall come upon us.”  12 Therefore because of you Zion shall be plowed as a field; Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins, and the mountain of the house a wooded height.  (Micah 3:9-12)

Have you ever tried to make a paper clip completely straight?  Tough to do.  But it is so easy to make something straight crooked.  You would think that we would love straight and hate ruining it with a bend.  But Israel’s leaders, her rulers, heads of houses and tribes, priests and prophets have detested justice, that is, what is straight.  And it is harder once you have departed from the straight path to make the crooked one straight.

But what is most difficult to stomach is when those who make the straight crooked still believe that they have God on their side.  Israel had God in her midst via the temple in Jerusalem and they thought this would protect them from disaster.  But the Holy One does not dwell with His people while ignoring their sin.  In fact, He loves us too much to leave our sin undisciplined.

And when God brings justice, He will not spare what we view as sacred.  Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins and God’s house, the temple, will be destroyed and trees will cover its footprint.  Whatever you hold sacred is grist for the mill when your heart is not a sacred place.  You cannot claim God’s favor if we do not trust and obey Him.

We are a nation that gives lip service to God.  Look to your left. Look to your right. Chances are both people you see believe in the devil and hell. We are a nation of “believers.” A Harris Poll surveyed 2,201 American adults about their religious beliefs and found some fascinating information. While most Christians–not surprisingly–believe in God (not all mind you, but most), the survival of the soul after death, miracles, heaven, the Virgin birth, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, more than half of all adults also believe in ghosts. About a third believe in astrology. And more than a quarter believe they were reincarnated from other people who walked on this Earth generations ago. 

We have no reason to believe that God will prosper our land when we don’t even really believe that we are making the straight crooked.