Clothesline 275 "Give Thanks"

There is a quote from the prophet Micah that I’ve always loved:

“With what shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before God on high? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousands of rivers of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

Such beautiful words! But before these words were spoken, there was a message of condemnation.

“Woe to them that devise wickedness and work evil upon their beds! When the morning dawns they perform it, because it is in the power of their hands. I denounced those who tear the skin from off my people…and break their bones in pieces, and chop them up like meat in a kettle.”

Pretty strong words. Micah was sent to a people who abused their power…and other! So Micah was sent to chastise those who thought they could sacrifice their prize possessions to make up for the evil things they had done. But God said, No, that won’t do it! What he wants comes from the heart. A message from so long ago—700 years before the birth of Jesus, to be exact. But isn’t it the same now? Hasn’t this world turned away from God? Don’t we need such a message today? Yet even after such a strong message of rebuke, God always brings a glimmer. That where the first quote comes in.

In the days of Micah God made a covenant with his people, a lot like he did in the days of Noah. When people fall away from God, he never misses the opportunity to remind them: What you are doing is wrong, but I’m here…I still love you…I saved you from eternal death…I have a place prepared in heaven especially for you…remember?

It's a constant message of hope to people then…and people now. It’s a message of love to a people that is less than perfect, but always ripe for rebirth. It’s a message that the evil powers of the world cannot stand in the face of a righteous God.

This week we celebrate the holiday of Thanksgiving. Remember how blessed you are. Give thanks that you have been chosen by Almighty God to be his messenger of hope in this world, and never miss an opportunity to “do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God.”