The prophet speaks from days gone by (website only)
The prophet speaks from days gone by
for your truth spans all time;
help us to hear your voice and live
your justice and your peace.
Help us to love the way you love,
your mercy, kindness, joy;
help us respect the world we’re given
and treasure it as yours.
Help us to recognise our gifts,
alongside others’ skills;
to find our place, our role in life,
and humbly walk with you.
Words: © Andrew Brown – January 2021
Suggested tunes: St. Fulbert (StF 73i); new tune by Jo Beesley – download as a PDF
Metre: 86.86. (CM)
Inspired by the Revd. Roger Walton preaching on Micah 6:8 at the British Methodist Conference in 2016
Ideas for use
These are words that fit well with the current (2023) reflections by the British Methodist Church on Walking with Micah. They will also be applicable to Vocations Sunday and other occasions when we wish to examine the shape and route of our calling and commitment. And as a hymn for “sending out” at the close of a service, it could hardly be bettered.
More information
Andrew’s text effectively creates a trio of StF hymns that all begin with the voices of speaking prophets. Dan Damon’s When listening prophets dare to speak (StF 163) alludes to words of Ezekiel and Jesus in challenging us to be prophetic, as well as to the unexpected example of Samson. Alan Hinton ranges more widely in The prophets’ voice comes down the years (StF 162), reflecting on the past, present and future of the prophetic task.
Here, the prophet Micah takes centre stage – in particular, the verse that inspired the hymn in the first place, Micah 6:8:
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
Andrew learns from Micah’s vision a divinely-inspired way of living (“Help us to love the way you love”). However, he also brings a different thought to the table: that to walk humbly with God is about being part of a community of gifts and skills. It’s about recognising the talents of others as well as being confident in our own abilities. Justice is cooperative venture. We “find our place, our role in life” not alone but in community.