Hear now, O heads of Jacob, and you rulers of the house of Israel: Is it not for you to know justice? You who hate good and love evil, who strip the skin from My people, and the flesh from their bones. Therefore you shall have night without vision, and you shall have darkness without divination. The sun shall go down on the prophets, and the day shall be dark for them. So the seers shall be ashamed, and the diviners abashed. Indeed they shall all cover their lips. Micah 3:1-2, 6-7
The story of Israel is one of failure, and one of success. Israel’s failure. God’s success. Israel’s waywardness, outright rebellion. God’s faithfulness, covenant-love. The history of Israel is often sadly repeated in the history of the church.
Standing in time and space between ancient Israel and the church is the cross of Christ. The cross graphically conveys a dark picture of who we are as fallen human beings, yet at the same time conveys a bright, even glorious picture of who God is.
