Friday 16 August 2019

Psalm: Psalm 28:1-2, 6-9

Background

The story of Micah is one of faithlessness and faithfulness, of despair and hope. God’s people are not left crushed; they will come back. They will do so, because God remains faithful and his promise evokes hope in their hearts!

 In the poem ‘Still I Rise’ by Maya Angelou, there is a defiance that resonates for me with the prophet and his struggles. God doesn’t give up on his people, so we mustn’t. "As for me, I will look to the Lord." The thing about hope is that it’s challenging and hard work. Despair, cynicism and negativity are more relaxing! They say a cynic is a passionate person who has been disappointed. Micah is a challenge to all cynics in church and society. We sometimes feel: "Everything may be going to the dogs." "Young people these days!" "If only parents disciplined their children." "The Church has lost its way!" Micah could point to all this and worse, and yet giving up isn’t the option. Hope is the challenge of God’s promises. If this is how it is going to be in the future, then we must be and can be different now. We may have got everything wrong, and the society in which we live is profoundly misguided, but God is faithful. "Hang on in there!" No matter what others do or decide, "I will wait for the Lord".

To Ponder:

• What makes you feel despondent at the moment?
• What might Micah say to you in that situation?
• Where has the Church lost confidence in God’s faithfulness?