The Song of Justice
It’s fitting that Micah’s prophecy starts with the imperative to hear. When we read through this short book, we find God’s justice to be quite a loud endeavor. There’s a lot of wailing and weeping. We hear howling like a wild dog and screeching like an owl (Micah 1:8). Not to mention the sound of the deep cracking and thunderous splitting when the LORD Himself treads upon the earth as the valleys split open and the waters pour down.
The sin that brought this deafening noise certainly wasn’t quiet either. Think for a moment about how the poor might have cried out in anguish and desperation when their fields were seized unjustly and their homes taken away (Micah 2:2). Sin brings forth the sickening sound of brokenness, and God’s justice brings forth the inescapable groan of being brought low and the bitter moaning of “we are completely destroyed” (Micah 2:4).
Together these sounds start to characterize a melancholy, poignant song. This is not a song I would want to sing, much less listen to. But time and time again in the prophets, God’s people are told to listen, hear, and pay attention. Sin is not something to be ignored. It is right for us to take time to ask the Lord to show us where we have allowed idolatry, pride, and selfishness to reign in our hearts. It takes a humble posture to sit and listen to His answer.
The Song of Redemption
The song of justice is not an easy listen, but it’s also not the only song God orchestrates in our lives. In today’s verses, Micah speaks of a song of redemption coming one day. It will be characterized by the breaking of a great breach and a great deal of noise as they are led by their Shepherd through the gate. God promises redemption for those who choose to follow the Good Shepherd. He promises to gather His people together and to lead them. Micah tells us that this will be no quiet feat.
The promise of redemption is not limited to the book of Micah. As we continue reading through Scripture, we see God’s plan and song of redemption continue to play out. The song intensifies when Mary glorifies the Lord after a shocking visit from an angel (Luke 1:46). It grows louder still one not-so-silent night with the staccato notes of cries from a newborn baby and the trills of a multitude of angels proclaiming the best of news (Luke 2:13-14). It crescendos with the melodic words of Jesus that have the power to heal the blind and raise the dead (John 11:43-44). It continues with the dissonant clash between a soft “it is completed” (John 19:30) and the grating sound of the temple curtain tearing in two (Matthew 27:51). But the pace quickens and the volume swells at the climax with the deep, resonating sound of the stone being rolled away as the Good Shepherd Himself walks out of the grave (Matthew 28:1-10). And now, we come to the noisy multitude of men as God gathers to Himself people from every language to be a part of His flock. A great multitude that no one can number, worshipping God and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7:10).
The Song of Worship
The soundtrack that accompanies the story of God’s love for His people is diverse and unique. There’s weeping and rejoicing. There’s cries of lament and cries for help. There’s the clashing of swords as God’s people are taken into exile (2 Kings 25) and the hymns sung in prison by redeemed sinners (Acts 16:25). The song of God’s justice is heard in tandem with His song of mercy, two harmonies that together give us a more complete understanding of God’s desire for justice and righteousness through His acts of love and mercy.
God is good because He is both just and merciful. One without the other simply can’t give us the full picture. Today, I encourage you to take some time to listen. Ask the Lord to open your eyes to sin and the need for repentance, but also take time to listen to the song of hope Micah promises in chapter 2 verses 12-13. Meditate on the words of hope that Jesus shares in the gospel. Repeat the prayers that Paul exemplifies for us in his letters. Sing a song of worship back to the Good Shepherd who has redeemed you and gathered you into His flock. Heed Micah’s words to listen and rejoice that you are part of the redeemed people of God.
