Epiphany
January 24, 2017

Scripture Reading: Micah 6:1-8

He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
   and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
   and to walk humbly with your God? –Micah 6:8

The Hebrew Bible is a record of God’s holding Israel responsible for its actions. God sent prophet after prophet to extol leaders who were not following God’s plan. It makes me wonder why the United States seems drawn to policies giving Israel a pass on most things they do. We do not do that with any of our other allies. If we truly believe in the separation of church and state, then there can be no country to which we ascribe a different status because of the nature of its dominant religion. If, however, we do not believe in the separation of church and state and choose to deal with another nation regarding its dominant religion we must be very careful as we may be playing God.

The Hebrew Bible reports Abraham’s covenant including the call to be a blessing to the nations that applies to all of Abrahams descendants. (Genesis 22:18) Dealing with neighbors as described in Leviticus 19 must be reasonable and ruled by love. The prophet Micah refreshes Israel’s memories reminding it to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God.

We in the United States take great pride in being a nation formed within the rule of law where no one is above the law, although we have not perfected that lofty vision. In the Kingdom of God, no one is above God’s law and us as individuals or as a nation are not the final executioners of God’s law.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we get so caught up in ourselves we forget your roles in our lives. Help us walk humbly with you with justice and mercy for all. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.