The Park Forum

May 6, 2026May 4, 2026

When God Is Not Swayed by Gold

Links for today’s readings:

May 6 Read: Micah 6 Listen: (2:28) Read: Psalms 86-87 Listen: (2:26)

Scripture Focus: Micah 6:7, 14

7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?

…

14 You will eat but not be satisfied;
your stomach will still be empty.
You will store up but save nothing,
because what you save I will give to the sword.

Reflection: When God Is Not Swayed by Gold

By Erin Newton

Expensive gifts are common throughout the Bible. The magi brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the infant Jesus. The woman poured an expensive jar of oil on Jesus’s feet. The queen of Sheba brought gold, precious gems, and spices to Solomon as a gift.

Is it the financial worth of gifts that determines their value? Sometimes. For gifts exchanged between loved ones, however, the value is something that transcends cost. And so it is with God.

Micah 6 contains the well-known verses about offering gifts to God. “With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God?,” verse 6 says. The question is rhetorical and introspective. What does God really want from us?

The assumed answer is “expensive things.” Micah’s audience is thinking like common people. We love stuff. We love costly stuff. We value that which is rare and available only to a few—the expensive stuff. Surely, we think, God wants expensive stuff too.

But the verse turns in an unexpected way. “Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?” This is generational wealth amounts! This is more stuff than any person would know what to do with. Where do you store rivers of oil? Are you ready for herds and herds of rams (or are you going to eat a thousand rams for dinner)?

No, God doesn’t really want any of this. Micah tells the people that God wants them to be merciful, just, and humble. God desires character over wealth, morality over treasure, righteousness over buyouts.

It’s not that gold is inherently problematic. Gold has been an honored gift to God, but gold offered without integrity and faithfulness is worthless. Such wealth is destined for ruin.

Do I have herds of livestock? No. Do I even know how many crates of olive oil a person can buy at Costco? Not a clue. I might read this and think I’ve been spared from acting like Micah’s community did. I’m not trying to buy God’s favor. Whew!

Yet we offer God paltry gifts of fancy words, our best dress on Sunday, and maybe a portion of our income in tithes. For many, these are worth more than we give anyone else. But without integrity and true faithfulness in how we conduct our lives, I’m afraid we too will be left with empty stomachs and war-torn losses.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

Splendor and honor and kingly power are yours by right, O Lord our God,
For you created everything that is, and by your will they were created and have thor being. — A Song To The Lamb

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle

Missing the Kingdom for the Empire

Links for today’s readings:

May 5 Read: Micah 5 Listen: (2:21) Read: Psalm 85 Listen: (1:25)

Scripture Focus: Micah 5.2-5

2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

though you are small among the clans of Judah,

out of you will come for me

one who will be ruler over Israel,

whose origins are from of old,

from ancient times.”

3 Therefore Israel will be abandoned

until the time when she who is in labor bears a son,

and the rest of his brothers return

to join the Israelites.

4 He will stand and shepherd his flock

in the strength of the Lord,

in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God.

And they will live securely, for then his greatness

will reach to the ends of the earth.

5 And he will be our peace

when the Assyrians invade our land

and march through our fortresses.

We will raise against them seven shepherds,

even eight commanders,

Reflection: Missing the Kingdom for the Empire

By John Tillman

In The Empire Strikes Back, Luke sought Yoda’s aid to complete his Jedi training and defeat the Empire. Yoda tested Luke with a bizarre performance as a childish, foolish creature. Luke was seeking a great warrior. Yoda replied, “Wars not make one great.”

Yoda was the great leader and master Luke sought. But his greatness was for a time hidden. His strength was reduced by feigned weakness. His wisdom was concealed in foolishness. His greatness was masked by small stature, great age, and social awkwardness. (Luke’s greatness was also concealed from Yoda, but that’s another analogy…)

Assyria was the first empire. An empire’s purpose is to spread its own (alleged) greatness to the ends of the earth (or the galaxy). Empires spread by war, brutality, and violence, but also by oppression, economic corruption, and worship of the emperor.

Micah told Israel that their leaders would be struck down. Micah also described a future ruler from ancient times who would oppose the empire. This ruler would be unexpected and counterintuitive.

He would come from an unimportant city and clan. He would be like a shepherd, not like a king or a commander. His greatness would reach the ends of the earth, but not by violent conquest. This leader’s followers would be “in the midst of many peoples” and “among the nations.” They will not “depend on a man” and would have peace even when armies marched over their borders.

Jesus was and is this unexpected ruler. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day looked for this leader to help them defeat the Roman Empire, but Jesus knew that war would not make him great. At least, not that kind of war. His greatness and his kingdom lay on the path to the cross, through the grave, and beyond.

Jesus’ glory, strength, and wisdom were concealed for a time. To the wise, he seemed foolish. To the strong, he seemed weak. To the powerful, he seemed unimportant. (1 Cor 1.18-25) Yet, this ruler brings down every empire, beginning with the empires of sin and death.

Don’t judge the religious leaders too harshly. We, too, can miss Jesus’ kingdom when looking for Empire-like solutions to our problems. Jesus’ kingdom is the anti-Empire, he is the anti-Emperor, and every aspiring emperor is an anti-Christ. Complete your training by following the way of Jesus. We defeat empires in counterintuitive ways, beginning with the empire in our own hearts.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

May God be merciful to us and bless us,* show us the light of his countenance and come to us. Let your ways be known upon earth,* your saving health among all nations. — Psalm 67:1–2

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle

Confrontation and Hope

Links for today’s readings:

May 4 Read: Micah 4 Listen: (2:33) Read: Psalms 83-84 Listen: (3:20)

Scripture Focus: Micah 4.1-4

1 In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established

as the highest of the mountains;

it will be exalted above the hills,

and peoples will stream to it.

2 Many nations will come and say,

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,

to the temple of the God of Jacob.

He will teach us his ways,

so that we may walk in his paths.”

The law will go out from Zion,

the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

3 He will judge between many peoples

and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide.

They will beat their swords into plowshares

and their spears into pruning hooks.

Nation will not take up sword against nation,

nor will they train for war anymore.

4 Everyone will sit under their own vine

and under their own fig tree,

and no one will make them afraid,

for the Lord Almighty has spoken.

Reflection: Confrontation and Hope

By John Tillman

Today’s passage is one of Micah’s most hope-filled.

Micah and Isaiah were contemporaries, using similar imagery and language. It makes sense that God spoke similar things to prophets speaking in the same time period.

Micah saw his nation slipping down a rebellious path to war and destruction. He saw systematic corruption and oppression of the poor, the idolatry and hypocrisy of false worship, and the misuse and misrepresentation of God’s name.

Both prophets delivered unflinching messages about coming judgments for sin. They warned of war, destruction, death, slavery, and exile. However, every warning of woe held a promise of hope.

Micah and Isaiah both proclaimed that the mountain of the Lord, where the temple stood, would become the highest mountain and Jerusalem would be like the garden of Eden. All peoples and nations would stream up the mountain to worship God.

Micah and Isaiah were also very different. Isaiah was an insider. Micah was an outsider. Isaiah was powerful, frequented the palace, and personally knew and spoke to kings, leaders, and high officials. Micah was from a rural area of Judah with no powerful connections other than the God in whose name he spoke.

Both the kings and the citizens needed to be confronted with the realities of their sins. They also needed to know the hope God had planned for them. Prophets don’t flinch from either confrontation or hope.

We need prophets from different perspectives, like Isaiah and Micah. Those close to the powerful must hold them to account. Those close to the oppressed must speak from their perspective. Too often, those in halls of power are corrupted by that power rather than confronting its sins. And too often those speaking for the oppressed forget that the oppressed also need repentance. And everyone needs hope.

Where has God placed you? Are you a powerful insider or an oppressed outsider? Most of us are somewhere in between. No matter where you are, you must both confront and inspire.

We need both truthful confrontation and hopeful exhortation to overcome the gravity of sin pulling us down. Only then can we “stream” upward to the city of God and seek him in its temple. (Micah 4.1)

The gospel is good news about bad news. The bad news is the destiny sin has earned us. The good news is the destiny Jesus won for us. The gospel dies without truth and hope. Share both.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

God looks down from heaven upon us all, to see if there is any who is wise, if there is one who seeks after God. — Psalm 53.2

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle

Everyone

Links for today’s readings:

May 1 Read: Micah 1 Listen: (2:46) Read: Psalm 79 Listen: (1:50)
May 2 Read: Micah 2 Listen: (2:11) Read: Psalm 80 Listen: (1:58)
May 3 Read: Micah 3 Listen: (1:51) Read: Psalms 81-82 Listen: (2:36)

Scripture Focus: Micah 1.1-2, 8-9

1 The word of the Lord that came to Micah of Moresheth during the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah—the vision he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.
2 Hear, you peoples, all of you,
listen, earth and all who live in it,
that the Sovereign Lord may bear witness against you,
the Lord from his holy temple.

8 Because of this I will weep and wail;
I will go about barefoot and naked.
I will howl like a jackal
and moan like an owl.
9 For Samaria’s plague is incurable;
it has spread to Judah.
It has reached the very gate of my people,
even to Jerusalem itself.

Reflection: Everyone

By John Tillman

In the 1994 film, The Professional, Gary Oldman delivered a one-word line that became legendary. Oldman’s character tells a man near him, “Bring me everyone.” The henchman replies with a questioning tone, “Everyone?” Oldman explodes, screaming, “EVERYONE!”

Screaming the line was intended as a joke to make the director laugh. But the director, Luc Besson, used the screamed version in the film. To this day, fans will shout “EVERYONE” to Oldman when they see him.

Micah, the prophet, had dire warnings from the Lord. If you asked him who they were for, he might reply, “EVERYONE!” They are for Samaria, Judah, and all the peoples of the earth. Micah starts with Samaria, but in the course of his message, he will leave no one out.

Like the lines in a film script, we read the prophets’ words but must imagine their inflections and voices. When we read condemnatory passages, we might imagine shouts like Gary Oldman’s “Everyone!” And we might be right. When we read other passages, we might hear sarcasm, bitter irony, or an insulting sneer.

Prophets say angry, critical words and do strange and offensive things, like Isaiah and Micah walking around naked. (Isaiah 20.2-4; Micah 1.8) Today, we call people like that angry extremists. Many people dismiss such critics as “hateful” or “deranged.” This would sound familiar to biblical prophets. John the Baptizer was called demon-possessed. Jesus was called a drunkard. (Luke 7.33-35) Elijah was called a “troubler of Israel.” (1 Kings 18.7) This doesn’t, however, mean every kook is a prophet.

Angry prophets, like the God they speak for, are driven by love, not hate. Anger against corruption is not hatred of country; it is love for country. Anger against oppressors is love for the oppressed. Anger against false gods is love for the true God. We see this in Micah’s mourning. He weeps. He wails. He denies himself clothing to take on shame. These are acts of love. The Holy Spirit has gifted some to be prophets. But some prophetic responsibilities are for “everyone.” Yes, everyone.

Don’t be ashamed to weep and wail at injustice, harm, and oppression. Don’t be ashamed of making others uncomfortable so long as you are telling the truth.

Don’t be ashamed of making good trouble. Don’t be ashamed to call everyone to repentance. Don’t be ashamed to tell everyone about God’s love.

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the whole earth. — Psalm 96.1

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle

Exit the Spiritual Rollercoaster

Links for today’s readings:

Apr 30 Read: Jonah 4 Listen: (1:56) Read: Psalm 78.38-72 Listen: (7:12)

Scripture Focus: Psalm 78.35-39, 52-54

35 They remembered that God was their Rock,

that God Most High was their Redeemer.

36 But then they would flatter him with their mouths,

lying to him with their tongues;

37 their hearts were not loyal to him,

they were not faithful to his covenant.

38 Yet he was merciful;

he forgave their iniquities

and did not destroy them.

Time after time he restrained his anger

and did not stir up his full wrath.

39 He remembered that they were but flesh,

a passing breeze that does not return.

52 But he brought his people out like a flock;

he led them like sheep through the wilderness.

53 He guided them safely, so they were unafraid;

but the sea engulfed their enemies.

54 And so he brought them to the border of his holy land,

to the hill country his right hand had taken.

Reflection: Exit the Spiritual Rollercoaster

By John Tillman

Israel has spiritual ups and downs. Depending on where you start or stop the story, it’s inspiring or tragic.

The second half of Psalm 78 begins in the wilderness with Israel rebelling against God. They forget God’s goodness in bringing them out of Egypt and they suffer the consequences. Despite being oppressed in Egypt, the wilderness struggles caused Israel to recall enslavement fondly. They were willing to go back to slavery just to get some cucumbers. (Numbers 11.4-5) If the story stops there, it’s a tragedy. Israel needed their hearts, not just their bodies, freed from enslavement.

Psalm 78 closes with Israel in the promised land, settled under David’s rule. Stopping the story there gives it a happy ending, but we know dark things happened during David’s reign and the rest of the story wasn’t pretty.

Our stories also have ups and downs. Our faith oscillates, turning fully toward Jesus then turning away again. We might turn away because of sin and shame, or due to tiredness or burnout, or when experiencing suffering or struggle.

Jesus bears with us and understands our sufferings and our temptations. As God did for the psalmist and Israel, Jesus does for us. He remembers that we are “flesh…like a passing breeze.” (Psalm 78.39) As he said to his disciples in the garden, “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.” (Mark 14.38) He is merciful, forgiving our iniquities (Psalm 78.38). Jesus awaits the moment we turn to his face in repentance to be healed, restored, and accepted.

This does not mean that God does not grieve our wandering, our failures, our sin, and our rebellion. He does. Jesus works in us to destroy and eliminate sin and its influence. Like Israel, we need our hearts, not just our bodies, freed from sin and death.

With maturity, our roller coaster of rebellion and repentance smooths out to higher highs and fewer drops and dives. Eventually, Jesus, the true and better David, comes and we exit this rollercoaster for good. Instead of up and down, it will be, as CS Lewis wrote, “further up and further in.”

As desires for Egypt still affected Israel, desires for sin still affect us in our wanderings. Reflect on the destruction of Egypt described in Psalm 78.42-55 as you imagine God destroying the pull and power of sins in your life.

Moses told Pharaoh to let Israel go. Speak to your sins, saying “Let me go.”

Divine Hours Prayer: The Prayer Appointed for the Week

I thank you, heavenly Father, that you have delivered me from the dominion of sin and death and brought me into the kingdom of your Son; and I pray that, as by his death he has recalled me to life, so by his love he may raise me to eternal joys; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

– From The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle

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Posts

When God Is Not Swayed by Gold

Links for today’s readings:

Scripture Focus: Micah 6:7, 14

Reflection: When God Is Not Swayed by Gold

Divine Hours Prayer: The Greeting

Read more: Leaders Sent by God

Read more: State of Our Souls

Missing the Kingdom for the Empire

Links for today’s readings:

Scripture Focus: Micah 5.2-5

Reflection: Missing the Kingdom for the Empire

Divine Hours Prayer: The Request for Presence

Read more: Representative Combat

Read more: The Cultivating Life

Confrontation and Hope

Links for today’s readings:

Scripture Focus: Micah 4.1-4

Reflection: Confrontation and Hope

Divine Hours Prayer: The Refrain for the Morning Lessons

Read more: A Hill That Defeated the Mountains

Read more: The Mountain of the Lord

Everyone

Links for today’s readings:

Scripture Focus: Micah 1.1-2, 8-9

Reflection: Everyone

Divine Hours Prayer: The Call to Prayer

Read more: Wail-Patterned Baldness

Read more: When Temples Fall

Exit the Spiritual Rollercoaster

Links for today’s readings:

Scripture Focus: Psalm 78.35-39, 52-54

Reflection: Exit the Spiritual Rollercoaster

Divine Hours Prayer: The Prayer Appointed for the Week

Read more: Hardest Words to Say: “I’m Sorry”

Read The Bible With Us