Series: Just Mercy Part 1: Embrace Justice
Series Memory Verse: 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.” (Micah 6:8)
Micah 3:5-12
5 This is what the Lord says:
“As for the prophets
who lead my people astray,
they proclaim ‘peace’
if they have something to eat,
but prepare to wage war against anyone
who refuses to feed them.
6 Therefore night will come over you, without visions,
and darkness, without divination.
The sun will set for the prophets,
and the day will go dark for them.
7 The seers will be ashamed
and the diviners disgraced.
They will all cover their faces
because there is no answer from God.”
8 But as for me, I am filled with power,
with the Spirit of the Lord,
and with justice and might,
to declare to Jacob his transgression,
to Israel his sin.
9 Hear this, you leaders of Jacob,
you rulers of Israel,
who despise justice
and distort all that is right;
10 who build Zion with bloodshed,
and Jerusalem with wickedness.
11 Her leaders judge for a bribe,
her priests teach for a price,
and her prophets tell fortunes for money.
Yet they look for the Lord’s support and say,
“Is not the Lord among us?
No disaster will come upon us.”
12 Therefore because of you,
Zion will be plowed like a field,
Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble,
the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets.
What would the prophets say to us about the American prison system?
Did you know: The United States incarcerates its citizens more than any other country. And mass incarceration disproportionately impacts the poor and people of color.
25% The U.S. has 5% of the world’s population but nearly 25% of its incarcerated population.
2.2M In 1972, there were only 200,000 people incarcerated in the United States. Today that number has grown to 2.2 million.
750% From 1980 to 2017, the number of women in jails and prisons in the U.S. grew 750%. Over 225,000 women are incarcerated today.
Today, nearly 10 million Americans—including millions of children—have an immediate family member in jail or prison.
(Find these stats and more at https://eji.org/criminal-justice-reform/)
What would the prophets say?
Abraham Heschel says this about prophets: “The major activity of the prophets was interference, remonstrating about wrongs inflicted on other people, meddling in affairs which were seemingly neither their concern nor their responsibility.”
Embrace Justice (Micah 3:1)
Micah would say: “Embrace Justice.” Micah was calling the leaders to “be intimate with justice”, to “wrap your life around making things right.”
How do we Embrace Justice?
Be bothered by the injustice in the world.
(Stop denying and admit that there is injustice.)
Be bold in God and His justice. (Micah 3:8, 7:18-19)
Start meddling: Act justly and love mercy. (Micah 6:8)
Keep meddling: humble yourself and be a servant (Matt 23:11-12)
Receive His justice in order to extend His justice
Ways that You Can Join In Good News Jail and Prison Ministries
Pray. For the chaplains, volunteers, prison staff and the men and women in prison.
Stay Informed. Join the Good News email list to hear regular stories and ways to join in.
Volunteer. Join the team in helping with Bible studies or writing to those in the Pen Pal program. The next volunteer training is Monday, Nov 13 from 6:30-8:00 at New Fairview Church.
Give Financially. Good News is entirely funded and supported by the community. You can give through Stillmeadow by writing “Good News” in the memo line. Or you can give monthly to Chaplain Irvin at (https://goodnewsjail.org/givecash/).
Reflection Questions:
Read Micah 7:18-19 and then be quiet for two minutes.
If prophets were to come to America and speak out against injustice, what injustices do you think that they would address?
Why is both internal change (heart) and external change (action) essential for addressing the injustice in the world?
Read Micah 3:5-12. What is the problem that Micah is calling out about?
Read Micah 5:4 and 7:18-19. How do these verses connect with Jesus’ character, ministry and purpose?
Reflection: What stood out to you about ministry to the imprisoned that was discussed in Sunday’s message? Which way are you feeling led to join in? (Pray, stay informed, volunteer, giving financially?)
Confession: What is an injustice that you are aware of that you wish that you were doing more about?
Explore: How can we live out Micah 6:8? Which of the three steps (Act justly, love mercy or walk humbly) do you struggle with most? Take time to pray for God’s help in that.
Pray: Take time to pray for the inmates, staff and chaplains of York County Prison.