Advent Devotion: Micah 4:6–13

Micah 4:6-13, by Jim Chesson

"In that day, says the Lord,  I will assemble the lame and gather those who have been driven away,  and those whom I have afflicted. The lame I will make the remnant, and those who were cast off, a strong nation; and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion now and forevermore."

This year has been a particularly unsettling one for many of us. A pandemic the likes of which we have never seen has wreaked havoc, killing nearly a quarter million people in our country alone, disrupting every aspect of our lives, striking us with massive economic loss, isolation, and fear. Political divisions already pronounced have reached painful new levels, driving us ever further apart, causing anxiety about our ability ever to reconcile with one another. Our lives are clouded with confusion, anger, and despair. 

Today’s passage, addressed to an ancient and dispossessed people, feels as though it might have been written just for us. Like the lame and those who cry aloud, we too suffer. We have not worshipped together in person for much of the past year, and we feel much like those who were driven away. We yearn for relief from the virus and from civil and political discord, to be together again and at peace, for life to return to normal, yet we cannot make these things happen. We are a confident, accomplished, can-do people, yet we find ourselves at the mercy of forces beyond our control.

In these times of great uncertainty, Micah reminds us of God’s power, and of God’s plan. We cannot rescue ourselves, but God can and will rescue us. Micah assures us that God will act on our behalf, that God will gather in the lame and bring together those who have suffered, and that our lives will be restored. We are used to trusting ourselves and our own powers, but Micah’s message today is that we put our trust in God.

Trusting in God does not mean that we should not act. God gave us many gifts, intelligence and resolve and persistence among them. So wear a mask. Insist on honest and responsible government. Reduce your carbon footprint. In doing these things you demonstrate your love for God’s creation and all who call it home. But as we do these things, we must acknowledge the limits of our power, and in faith and trust turn to God. Advent is a season of hope, of expectation, of waiting for the appearance of the Messiah. Amid the stresses of a tumultuous year for all, let us take heed of Micah’s message, look to the one true source of comfort and sustenance, and renew our trust in the Lord.