In today’s reading we get to see what it was like to live in a land where prophets and kings were both active in leading the nation. While the king dealt with practical matters, the prophets spoke to the people’s souls and consciences. God used both authorities to lead his people.

And in both cases words and decrees were the way they got their work done. While the king issued decrees regarding earthly concerns, the prophets preached heavenly perspectives.

Walk with God

God called to the Israelites through Micah, asking why were they estranged from him. What had he done to offend them?

“My people, what have I done to you? How have I burdened you? Answer me.” Micah 6:3

If they examined their history with God they would see that he had been nothing but good to them. In fact, when Micah thought about all God had done for Israel, he personally wanted to worship and honor him. He tried to think of the appropriate offering to bring.

“With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?” Micah 6:6-7

None of these offerings would satisfy God. What God wanted was Micah’s very soul. He wanted godly righteousness that permeated to the core of the man.

“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.” Micah 6:8

These were the things God required from those who worshiped him: Love expressed in justice and mercy, and a willingness to walk humbly with him. Justice and mercy were demonstrated in obedience to the law of love – love for God and love for one’s neighbor. A humble heart was an obedient heart that was grateful toward the Lord.

Israel’s Guilt, God’s Forgiveness

Micah knew the Israelites were not acting with justice and mercy. All he had to do was go to Jerusalem’s marketplace and see how business was conducted.

“Shall I acquit someone with dishonest scales, with a bag of false weights? Your rich people are violent; your inhabitants are liars and their tongues speak deceitfully. Therefore, I have begun to destroy you, to ruin you because of your sins.” Micah 6:11-13

What some business people thought of as just a smart way to make money, God saw as unjust and merciless behavior. He was going to put an end to these wrongs by putting an end to those who practiced them.

Micah, however, put his hope in God’s mercy and forgiveness and invited others to do the same.

“But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me . . . Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” Micah 7:7, 18-19

Micah, like so many other prophets, feared the consequences of sin. He gladly took refuge in the forgiveness of God who delighted to show him his mercy.

Assyria Invades Judah

While Micah did his job as a prophet, King Hezekiah was busy trying to keep Jerusalem safe. 2 Chronicles 32:1 says,

“After all that Hezekiah had so faithfully done, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah. He laid siege to the fortified cities, thinking to conquer them for himself.”

Back in 2 Chronicles 29-31 we read about the great revival King Hezekiah led in Judah. He reopened the temple his father had closed, cleaned it up and restored it for worship. He called the priests and Levites back into service, and led Israel in their first Passover celebration in many years. He welcomed the remnant of Israelites from the decimated northern tribes to join them. After that celebration the Judeans went throughout the land destroying their idols and tearing down the high places devoted to false gods.

After all that, God still allowed the Assyrian king Sennacherib to invade Judah and capture their fortified cities. It was a test of faith for King Hezekiah and his people.

The king realized that in order to take the city, the Assyrians would have to lay siege, which meant they would camp around Jerusalem and cut it off from the outside world. Then they would build siege works to help them break through or get over the city’s walls.

It took a long time to lay siege to a great city and the Assyrians would have to supply their army with food and water while they worked. So Hezekiah strategically blocked all of the springs and streams in the region to make it as difficult as possible for the Assyrians to get water.

Hezekiah Encourages the People

Hezekiah spoke to the people and said, “

‘Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the Lord our God to help us and to fight our battles.’ And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said.” 2 Chronicles 32:7-8

The king’s words had power. He had recently led them back to God in a great revival and they trusted him now.

The Assyrians Discourage the People

King Hezekiah paid Sennacherib all the treasure in the temple and the royal palace so he would leave Jerusalem alone, but that didn’t stop the Assyrian king from planning to take Jerusalem anyway. He sent his field commander and a large army to Hezekiah with a message to threaten and dishearten him.

The field commander challenged Hezekiah’s ability to protect Jerusalem. He pointed out that their only potential ally, Egypt, was not dependable. He had heard that Hezekiah encouraged his people to tear down their places of worship recently so he doubted their God would come to their aid.  Besides that, no other gods had been able to save a nation from an Assyrian assault.

Lastly, the field commander claimed that God had sent Assyria to destroy Jerusalem.

The field commander then promised the people of Jerusalem that if they surrendered to him they would soon find themselves living in peace and prosperity somewhere else in the Assyrian Empire.

Hezekiah’s officials asked the field commander to stop speaking in Hebrew because his words were discouraging to the Israelites. That just prodded him to address the people directly, but they didn’t respond to him because their king had told them not to answer.

The royal officials went back to Hezekiah with the message. They were distraught and they tore their clothes on the way so the king would know how bad things were.

Words Have Power

This story has more words than action so far. Micah completed his prophecies with their warnings and promises. Hezekiah spoke encouraging words to his people so they would be strong and courageous, and Sennacherib made empty promises to the Israelites if they will surrender to him. He also discouraged them by questioning every aspect of Hezekiah’s leadership and faith in God.

This is a real cliffhanger — whose words will prove to be true? Keep reading because we will find out tomorrow.