This is the kind of 'coming down' of God you really don't want. He's coming down basically to stomp on Samaria and Jerusalem because of their sin...
Sorry for the late post... It was only as I came to look at the blog this morning that I realised it was my turn to post something...
A bit of background as we start to read Micah together:
You'll remember that God's judgement on King Solomon was that his son Rehoboam would not rule over all of the Israelites but the Kingdom would split, the Northern Kingdom, (whose capital was Samaria) consisted of 10 tribes, and the Southern Kingdom, (whose capital was Jerusalem) consisted of 2 tribes. The split in the Kingdom happened in about 930BC. Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah and wrote during the time of Kings of Israel (Southern Kingdom) listed in verse 1. The total span of these kinds reign was from 742-686BC. This period encompasses the fall of Samaria and end of the Northern Kingdom in about 722BC. The prophet Micah spoke to both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms (usually referring to them by their capitals, Samaria and Jerusalem).
Micah's vision of God's judgement is vivid and powerful. It's interesting that although the judgement concerns only Samaria and Jerusalem the proclamation is to 'all peoples' and to 'o earth and all who are in it' (verse 2). We always need to remember as we read the Old Testament that God has an eye to the whole world. In the little Genesis 12 moment with Abraham he promises that through Abraham he will bless all peoples. It seems that God's relationship with the Israelites is a witness and example to the whole world - not just a private relationship for the Israelites benefit only.
The sin of Samaria and Jerusalem seems to be their high places - they are worshipping idols instead of the true and living God. And this picture of God judging them is one of power and swiftness - he just treads down the high places, he splits the earth like it was wax! Thanks be to God that we are spared his judgement because Jesus has borne it in our place. God is an awesome and fearful God - he brings justice and judges sin - and only in Jesus can we find refuge from his fearsome judgement.
The other interesting thing about this passage is that as Micah laments, he mentions towns that are wiped out in God's judgement: Gath, Beth-Ophrah, Shaphir, Zaanan, Beth Ezel, Maroth... And these all match up with Sennacherib's (King of Assyria) account of his own march and conquering of Samaria along with many other nations, only stopping at the gate of Jerusalem (verse v12). It's very re-assuring when extra-biblical historical sources confirm our biblical accounts and it reminds us that this is not just some fairy tale someone cooked up - but it truly is the history of God's dealing with man.
So God uses the Assyrians in judgement of his people. Even in the most dire our chaotic of circumstances this ought to remind us that God is in control and working out his purposes. He can even use the most wicked people and nations to do his will.
Ben Boardman (Assistant Minister)
Tomorrows Readings: Micah 2, Ephesians 6
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