Peter Misselbrook's Blog
Jul 25 2019 - Micah 3 – Faithless leaders and false prophets

Micah tells the nation that the Lord their God is scandalised by the behaviour of those who are leaders among his people, both the rulers of Israel and those who pretend to be prophets declaring God's word.

The end of the previous chapter promised a leader who would rescue the remnant of God's people, one who by virtue of the Lord's presence with him would lead his people as a shepherd gathers together and leads his flock (2:12-13). But the rulers Micah now addresses are of a very different sort; they use their positions of power to exploit the common people, they "tear the skin from my people and the flesh from their bones" and "chop them up like meat for the pan" (3:2-3). Those who should have maintained justice among the people are leaders in injustice and exploitation.

Now that the nation is facing trouble, these leaders will doubtless cry out to the Lord in prayer and plead with him to save them. But God will not listen to them. The poor have cried to them for help and been ignored; now they will be ignored when they cry out for God to help them (3:4).

It may seem strange to us that rulers who have flouted God's law should think that God will rush to their aid when they cry out to him. But are we really so very different? It is all too easy to ignore the demands of the Lord Jesus Christ upon our lives but then to turn to him in prayer when facing trouble. The psalmist in Psalm 66 tells of how God answered his prayers but also notes that sin cherished in the heart would have meant that God would not have listened to him:

I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue.
If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened;
but God has surely listened and has heard my prayer.
Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer
   or withheld his love from me! (Ps. 66:17-20)

On the other hand, the "prodigal son" who had sinned against his father, was welcomed back with open arms when he returned with a repentant heart. Furthermore, the father not only answered the prodigal's request but lavished his love upon him. We need to live generously towards others and humbly towards God so that our prayers are not hindered.

Micah also has harsh words for the "prophets" who, instead of speaking truth to power, tell the rulers what they want to hear; "they proclaim 'peace'", pretending all will be well. Such "prophets" also will find that God does not answer them and they will be filled with shame (v.7). So, instead of speaking God's word they will "tell fortunes for money" (v.11).

The Apostle Paul, many years later, warns Timothy of false teachers "who think that godliness is a means to financial gain" (1 Timothy 6:5) – leaders who tell people what their itching ears long to hear (2 Timothy 4:3).

Pray for our nation and its leaders that they might be characterised by a concern for justice and for equity among those for whom they are responsible. Pray that their lives and personal conduct may exemplify these qualities.

Pray for Christian leaders in our churches and in our nation that they may be faithful to God's word and not give in to the temptation to say what will make them popular or gain them an easy hearing.

But let us also keep a careful watch over our own lives, ensuring that we do not spend our time identifying and condemning the faults in others while remaining blind to our own.

Father God, have mercy upon our land. Pour out your Spirit upon your church and its leaders that we may experience your reviving power sweeping through our land and throughout your world. "Restore, O Lord, the honour of your name."

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Jul 25 2020 - Mark 6:30-56 – A word to the terrified

Imagine that you have had a long, hard, but exciting day. You are probably looking forward to a good sleep but have been sent off to cross the Sea of Galilee before you take your rest. You then discover that you cannot set the sail and take your rest in the boat because there is a strong wind blowing directly against you; you must row. And so you attempt the rowing, perhaps different ones from your company rowing together in shifts. But, despite all your efforts you are making very slow progress due to the opposing wind. And it is dark, very dark, for it is now past midnight.

Then, all of a sudden, you catch sight of something off to one side of the boat. As you peer into the darkness you see that it looks like a man, walking past you, walking on the water! It must be a ghost, an ill-omen surely. The boat is now in uproar as all cry out in terror, crying out also in prayer to be saved from this thing.

And your prayers are answered; you are saved. For the figure now speaks to you, "Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid" (Mark 6:50). And immediately you recognise the voice and the figure – it is Jesus. And now he is with you in the boat. And now that he is here, the wind stops its opposition and you are soon safely arrived at the shore.

As Mark relates this story he adds, "They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened" (6:51-52). That they were amazed we can understand; it had been a day of amazements. But why does Mark link their amazement with them not having understood about the loaves? Perhaps he means that they had not yet grasped the answer to their own question, "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!" (Mark 4:41). Had they not seen in his feeding of the five thousand that here is the one who fed Israel with manna in the desert; here is the God of Israel come to his people in the person of Jesus? Here is the one who commanded the waters of the Red Sea and they parted so that the Israelites walked across on dry ground. Why should such a person not walk across a lake on the water? Why should not the presence of such a person still the wind and bring his companions safe to shore?

And, are we still slow to understand? Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. He still speaks to us as he draws alongside us in the moments of our panic, "Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid." Maybe we have known his presence and experienced remarkable answers to prayer in times past but have then failed to learn from these things – we ‘have not understood about the loaves.’

Begone unbelief, my Saviour is near,
And for my relief will surely appear:
By prayer let me wrestle, and prove that he saves,
With Christ in the vessel, I smile at the waves…

His love in time past forbids me to think
He’ll leave me at last in trouble to sink;
And can he have taught me to trust in his name,
And this far have brought me to put me to shame?

Living God, thank you that when we were struggling in the storm and finding no way forward, you came to us in the person and gentle power of Jesus of Nazareth. Lord Jesus Christ, I thank you that you have promised never to leave us on our own, but to be with us to the very end of the age. Keep me from the fear that would overwhelm me. Soften my heart by the power of your Spirit that it may receive the impress of your character. May I delight in your presence this day and serve you with confidence and joy through the strength which you supply.

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Peter Misselbrook