George wrote the following advent devotional which was jointly published by the Office of Social Justice, Resonate Global Mission, and World Renew. https://mailchi.mp/crcna/advent-dec-23-170558?e=1609b7fdc3
What misery is mine!
I am like one who gathers summer fruit at the gleaning of the vineyard;
There is no cluster of grapes to eat, none of the early figs that I crave.
The faithful have been swept from the land; not one upright person remains.
Everyone lies in wait to shed blood; they hunt each other with nets.
Both hands are skilled at doing evil;
The ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes,
The powerful dictate what they desire –
They all conspire together.
The best of them is a briar, the most upright worse than a thorn hedge.
The day God visits you has come, the day your watchmen sound the alarm.
Now is the time of your confusion.
Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend.
Even with the woman who lies in your embrace, guard the words of your lips.
For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother,
A daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law –
A man’s enemies are the members of his own household.
But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord,
I wait for God my Savior;
My God will hear me.
—Micah 7:1-7
During the winter of 2013-14 Ukrainians from all walks of society gathered in the center of Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, to demand an end to the rampant corruption in their government. It was called the Revolution of Dignity. After 20 years of independence, people were tired of living in a nation where one leader after another robbed them of their resources. Bribery had become a way of life. You paid a bribe for everything from the nurses at the birthing hospital to the grave diggers at the cemetery. People lived in a constant state of depression – their lives were laments against the injustice they encountered every day. When Ukraine gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, people were filled with hopeful anticipation for what their nation could become. Today the changes that came after the revolution are again fading into the shadows of entrenched corruption. Ukrainians are tired of waiting and watching for justice and peace.
Micah looks around the vineyard of Judah and laments. Society has crumbled – there isn’t a single righteous person left. Rather than loving their neighbors, they’re hunting them. Rather than creating a just society that cares for the most vulnerable, the leaders are all corrupt to the core. Even the family, the foundational unit of society, has fallen apart – you can’t trust anyone!
Even though there wasn’t a single righteous one in all of Judah, Micah doesn’t remain in the valley of despair. “But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.” Advent is a season of waiting for our Righteous One – the Lion of the tribe of Judah. While we know that he has come, that he has won the victory over sin, pain, injustice and death, we still live in the meantime. The Kingdom has already come, but not yet fully. So, we struggle against the injustice, the corruption and the brokenness all around. But thanks to the first Christmas, we can join with Micah during the dark days of advent waiting for God our Savior, watching in hope.
Prayer: Lord, we pray that you would guide us to be righteous like Christ; that you would forgive us for our own sin, corruption, prejudice and pride. Lord, we are waiting for you to come and make all things new. Help us to be your agents of justice, peace, healing and reconciliation as we watch in hope for you. Amen.