On equip 2016 (March 24-28) I was in strand for and tasked with preparing a short talk on Micah 1:1-2:5. I thought it would be fun to break from traditional wisdom and prepare the lesson in prose. Later I realised my folly and the lost learning opportunity that that would be and so also prepared a more verbose talk. As such the prose serves as a summary of what the contents of the talk would be.
It also occurred to me that prose would be a medium more shareable at work, so I have written and refined it a bit here.
Hearohpeople
Youwholiveinthetwentyfirstcentury.
HearthemessagetoIsraeltheancient
toJacobofold.
Destruction
theLORDcomesinanger
themountainsmeltbeforeHim.
OhIsraelyouoppressor
ohfatherofAhab,
motherofJezebel,
whooppressedthepoor
anddelightedininjustice,
whopassedfalsejudgements
andsoughtillgottengain.
Annihilationiscoming
youwillbeexcludedfromthepeopleofGod.
OhJudahthefaithless
Youwhoworshipstars,
whobowdowntoapole,
whomadeidols
andsacrificedyourchildren
whodefiledGod’sholyplace
andfilleditwithfalsegods.
Exileisuponyou
yourchildrenwillbecarriedtoadistantland.
Youwhoarepresent
seehowthesistersreact.
Learnfromtheirlives
andthehistoryoftheearth.
Israelignored
hedidnotpayattention.
SotheLORDsentAssyria,
thatnationofwarriors
TheyconsumedIsrael,
anddevouredherpeople.
ButJudahacknowledgedtheirguilt,
theyturnedfromtheirevil.
SotheLORDhadmercy,
Hemaintainedaremnant.
HekeptsomechildrenforHisservantDavid,
somedescendantsofAbraham.
Theyweregatheredagain
andreturnedtotheland.
Whatshallwelearn?
forwearenotancient,
Whatcanweglean?
forwedonotliveinthenorth.
SeehowtheLORDweeps
Heweepsattheirsin,
Hecriesaloud
Hiscreationisdefiled.
YetHemornsoverthedeathofIsrael
HeweepsatthedestructionofJacob.
WhatcanHedo?
Jacobhasworshippedfalsegods
andhasdevouredthepoor.
InjusticeGodmustdestroythem
thosewhodoevil.
YetHelovesthem,
thepeopleHechoselongago.
ButGodiswise
Heispowerful.
Hehasdonejustice,
yetsavedHispeople.
Comeandsee,
listentothefulfilmentofHisplans.
Thisisthemessageproclaimedtous,
wewhohaveseen.
Jesustooktheirguilt,
Hecarriedittothegrave
Injusticeheboretheirwickedness
Infaithfulnesstheiridolatry.
SoJesusdied,
Hepaidtheprice.
YetHepaiditall,
justicewasdone.
SoHerosefromthedead
takingvictoryfromthegrave.
Jesustookuswith
Hestoodinourplace.
AsHediedourdeath
soweliveinHislife.
MarvelwithmeatthewisdomofGod
attherichnessofHispurposed.
Rejoice
forHehatesevil
andsinisdestroyed.
Rejoiceallthemore
forthesinnerissaved
andisrobedinriches.
WhoislikethisGod?
whobearsthepunishmenttospareHislovedones.
whorescuesHiscreationfromthefire.
WhodoesHelove?
ThosewholoveJesus.
WhodoesHesave?
ThosewhoacknowledgeJesus’rule.
WhoareHispeople?
ThosewhotrustinHim.
ButwoetoyouwhorejectJesus
whodenyHiskinglyright.
BewareforHeisthefulfilmentofjustice
withoutHimthemessageisthesame.
Doom
wretcheddestruction
Yourguiltisyourown
andyouwillfacefiercejustice.