Show Mercy, God Has: Boston Devotions Day 3
Key Scripture: Micah 3:1-7, 4:1-5, and 5:4-5
Then I said, “Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Should you not know justice, you who hate good and love evil; who tear the skin from my people and the flesh from their bones; who eat my people’s flesh, strip off their skin and break their bones in pieces; who chop them up like meat for the pan, like flesh for the pot?” Then they will cry out to the LORD, but he will not answer them. At that time he will hide his face from them because of the evil they have done. This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead my people astray, if one feeds them, they proclaim ‘peace’; if he does not, they prepare to wage war against him. Therefore night will come over you, without visions, and darkness, without divination. The sun will set for the prophets, and the day will go dark for them. The seers will be ashamed and the diviners disgraced. They will all cover their faces because there is no answer from God. (3:1-7, NIV)
In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken. All the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever. (4:1-5, NIV)
He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace. When the Assyrian invades our land and marches through our fortresses, we will raise against him seven shepherds, even eight leaders of men. (5:4-5, NIV)
Reflection Questions
#1. List or draw your own comparison between the way Israel was living (Micah 3:1-7) and the way God wanted them to live (Micah 4:1-5).
Israel's way was full of darkness, divination, and cannibalism (it was like a boiling pot)
God's way was that of security, peace, safety, and obedience (it was like a fig tree)
#2. In ancient times (and sometimes today) material prosperity was equated with godliness. "If you are rich, you're close with God; but if you're poor, you must be some sinner." How do you think such a theology and church culture affected the poor and their view of or relationship with God?
The "good christians" wouldn't want to be around the poor because they believed God estranged them (the poor). People probably didn't welcome the poor into their homes (hospitality) as readily, except under the ulterior motive of helping them get closer with God by experiencing material prosperity???
#3. We don't always want to face the facts about injustice in our lives. We don't want to feel uncomfortable or deal with hard questions. What are some hard questions stirring within you, right now?
Why doesn't God answer the prayers of the poor for help? If He really loves them, why doesn't He provide for them in the same way He provides for me?
#4. How is Jesus God's ultimate act of mercy toward us? Think of this definition of mercy: unmerited, lovingkindness—no matter what and whether or not we deserve it. Does God qualify who He give mercy to?
God wants everyone to be saved, but has only chosen a few. It's a free gift that we choose, too. God loves us, in that kind of "no matter what" way. He demonstrated this love by dying on the cross—not for repentant sinners, but for flagrant ones.
#5. How does the presence or absence of mercy in our own lives influence our realization of justice for the oppressed? Is it legitimate to qualify who we help, or the amount of compassion we give to those we serve? Why?
If we've been helped a lot, we're more likely to help others (mercy breeds mercy). It's ok to qualify how much we give and to whom because we are stewards of money, time, etc. We can discern whether we should give to the peddler or the impoverished based on the individual and the situation. Ask yourself, "Is it more profitable for me to give them money or time at this point?" Questions like that develop discernment and ensure that we are actually addressing the person's need, instead of our own conscience.
Prayer—Now it's your turn. Talk to God.
Lord, let your truth saturate my decisions. My will must be impeded as it defies Yours. Help me to be loving and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in kinds. Hep me to be like You. Amen.
Think about it
"While it seems more natural to have compassion for those closest to us, we won't find in the Bible where Jesus asked us to have more compassion for our immediate neighbors or our compatriots than for anyone else [I kind of disagree, based on Gal. 6:10, but I'd love to discuss this more with you, later...]. I believe He understands our tendency to do so but is probably eager for us to reach out, as we are able (or as we seek enabling), beyond our carnal limitations, prejudices, cultural mythologies, and convenient stereotypes. Jesus calls us to be witnesses of His love, truth, salvation, compassion, and justice "in Jerusalem (at home), and in all Judea and Samaria (nearby), and to the ends of the earth" (Acts. 1:8). Again, this is the unique, biblical hope that Christians can offer to a world groaning under the heartache of injustice and oppression: God has compassion on the victims of injustice all over the world, amon all people, without favor or distinction. We will, through our acts of compassion, give witness to our belief that what the Bible says is true, or not."
-Gary A Haugen, Good news about Injustice, p. 83
Journal
"She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue"
-Proverbs 31:26
Then I said, “Listen, you leaders of Jacob, you rulers of the house of Israel. Should you not know justice, you who hate good and love evil; who tear the skin from my people and the flesh from their bones; who eat my people’s flesh, strip off their skin and break their bones in pieces; who chop them up like meat for the pan, like flesh for the pot?” Then they will cry out to the LORD, but he will not answer them. At that time he will hide his face from them because of the evil they have done. This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead my people astray, if one feeds them, they proclaim ‘peace’; if he does not, they prepare to wage war against him. Therefore night will come over you, without visions, and darkness, without divination. The sun will set for the prophets, and the day will go dark for them. The seers will be ashamed and the diviners disgraced. They will all cover their faces because there is no answer from God. (3:1-7, NIV)
In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and peoples will stream to it. Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. Every man will sit under his own vine and under his own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the LORD Almighty has spoken. All the nations may walk in the name of their gods; we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever. (4:1-5, NIV)
He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace. When the Assyrian invades our land and marches through our fortresses, we will raise against him seven shepherds, even eight leaders of men. (5:4-5, NIV)
Reflection Questions
#1. List or draw your own comparison between the way Israel was living (Micah 3:1-7) and the way God wanted them to live (Micah 4:1-5).
Israel's way was full of darkness, divination, and cannibalism (it was like a boiling pot)
God's way was that of security, peace, safety, and obedience (it was like a fig tree)
#2. In ancient times (and sometimes today) material prosperity was equated with godliness. "If you are rich, you're close with God; but if you're poor, you must be some sinner." How do you think such a theology and church culture affected the poor and their view of or relationship with God?
The "good christians" wouldn't want to be around the poor because they believed God estranged them (the poor). People probably didn't welcome the poor into their homes (hospitality) as readily, except under the ulterior motive of helping them get closer with God by experiencing material prosperity???
#3. We don't always want to face the facts about injustice in our lives. We don't want to feel uncomfortable or deal with hard questions. What are some hard questions stirring within you, right now?
Why doesn't God answer the prayers of the poor for help? If He really loves them, why doesn't He provide for them in the same way He provides for me?
#4. How is Jesus God's ultimate act of mercy toward us? Think of this definition of mercy: unmerited, lovingkindness—no matter what and whether or not we deserve it. Does God qualify who He give mercy to?
God wants everyone to be saved, but has only chosen a few. It's a free gift that we choose, too. God loves us, in that kind of "no matter what" way. He demonstrated this love by dying on the cross—not for repentant sinners, but for flagrant ones.
#5. How does the presence or absence of mercy in our own lives influence our realization of justice for the oppressed? Is it legitimate to qualify who we help, or the amount of compassion we give to those we serve? Why?
If we've been helped a lot, we're more likely to help others (mercy breeds mercy). It's ok to qualify how much we give and to whom because we are stewards of money, time, etc. We can discern whether we should give to the peddler or the impoverished based on the individual and the situation. Ask yourself, "Is it more profitable for me to give them money or time at this point?" Questions like that develop discernment and ensure that we are actually addressing the person's need, instead of our own conscience.
Prayer—Now it's your turn. Talk to God.
Lord, let your truth saturate my decisions. My will must be impeded as it defies Yours. Help me to be loving and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in kinds. Hep me to be like You. Amen.
Think about it
"While it seems more natural to have compassion for those closest to us, we won't find in the Bible where Jesus asked us to have more compassion for our immediate neighbors or our compatriots than for anyone else [I kind of disagree, based on Gal. 6:10, but I'd love to discuss this more with you, later...]. I believe He understands our tendency to do so but is probably eager for us to reach out, as we are able (or as we seek enabling), beyond our carnal limitations, prejudices, cultural mythologies, and convenient stereotypes. Jesus calls us to be witnesses of His love, truth, salvation, compassion, and justice "in Jerusalem (at home), and in all Judea and Samaria (nearby), and to the ends of the earth" (Acts. 1:8). Again, this is the unique, biblical hope that Christians can offer to a world groaning under the heartache of injustice and oppression: God has compassion on the victims of injustice all over the world, amon all people, without favor or distinction. We will, through our acts of compassion, give witness to our belief that what the Bible says is true, or not."
-Gary A Haugen, Good news about Injustice, p. 83
Journal
"She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue"
-Proverbs 31:26
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