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Thursday, 9 December 2021

Excerpts from Becky Lovatt’s Book - Beyond the Chocolate Window


The Voice of Micah

My name is Micah, and I was a prophet during the reigns of three kings of Judah. When God foretold his judgement on the people for their sins, he showed me visions of his vengeance, of mountains melting beneath him and of valleys being split apart — “...like wax before a fire or like rushing waters down a hillside,” I was told.


God warned about the wicked — those who wanted status or defrauded people and robbed others of their inheritance. He spoke of false prophets and those that would lead others astray. He rebuked the leaders and the rulers, and those who allowed power to corrupt them. They would be punished, he said. He had a case to bring against his people, the people he had brought out of Egypt, who had been slaves and now had been delivered.


However, amid the warnings and the judgement there was always hope — a promise that he would bring them to the safety and to an abundance of green pastures. In the days to come, the Lord promised a new Temple, built on the mountain of God. Here peace would reign; here all people would learn his ways. Swords would be beaten into gardening tools and spears would become like pruning hooks. In this time and this place, nations would no longer take up arms against other nations, and no—one would train for war. The Lord had a plan and I was to be the messenger, to reveal it to his people.


This was the plan: God would gather the lame, assemble the exiles and turn them once again into a great nation. The Lord would rule, and his people would be saved from their enemies. Out of Bethlehem, the smallest of the tribes of Israel, he would bring a man whose origins stretched back to before the beginning of time. Israel will not be discarded; our hands will be lifted up in triumph and those that follow and obey God will know salvation.


What does God want, and what does he ask of his people? Burnt offerings? Rivers of gold? A firstborn son? No! Just this: that we act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with him.


Now I wait for the holy one of God, who will call all to act justly, to value mercy, to love unconditionally, and to walk with him, our comfort and friend.


Prayer


God of mercy and forgiveness,

help me to learn what it really means

to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with you.

Help me to show your love and your mercy

to all those with whom I have contact today.

May I demonstrate your justice towards all I meet.

In your name.

Amen.


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