Pointed Texts - Devo#3: Micah 4: 2

 

And 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; that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.’ For out of Zion shall go forth instruction and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.   --- Joyce’s pick

 

 

Chapter 4 of Micah is a three-part poem that describes the prophet’s understanding of an ideal age. It is an oracle of hope. The concepts expressed (especially verse 1-4) are nearly identical to Isaiah 2. Micah is conveying words that have spoken before his time and repeated after his time.

 

Verse two – the pointed text- points to an idea of pilgrimage to the mountain of the Lord and points to an ideal of instruction. In prophetic text of this time, instruction, refers to being taught the Law and Covenant made between God and the people.

 

·         What is a pilgrimage? Have you ever been on a pilgrimage? Would you consider going on a pilgrimage?

·         What does it mean to value instruction?

·         Are pilgrimage and learning connected for you?

 

An ‘ideal age’ – or what I would describe as the reign of God, or kindom of God- requires two things: a turning or returning to God and a learning of the Law (adherence to the covenant).

In further verses of Micah’s poem, readers learn that returning to God and learning to live into the covenant (loving God and loving neighbour) brings about a change in the world; a place where:

Vs. 3 – swords are beat into plowshares, spears into pruning hooks; nations do not go to war or learn to war;

Vs. 4- people will sit under their own vines and fig trees; no one will make the people afraid.

 

·         Does our returning to God and learning to live the covenant change the world around us?

·         Do you have an example where you changed something in your life and it changed you, and consequently the people around you?

 

Micah, known for his judgmental tone, was a prophet in the late eighth century BCE (759-687BCE). He prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem, yet his writing articulates a deep seeded hope and faith in the future.

·         When you look at the world around you – a world where there is war, destruction, system-failure- do you have deep seeded hope and faith in the future? If so, where does hope and faith in the future come from? How is it nurtured or shared/taught to others?

 

 

At the beginning of the week, I will post a devotion on a pointed text from scripture. I will include commentary and questions for reflection. Answers and other questions and comments can be sent to me at halifaxlutherchurch@gmail.com ,put in the comment section of this blog, or on FB where the link to this devotion was shared. Fridays I will share the messages (conversation) received via the email list.