The prophetic turn

I read another minor prophet this morning, Micah, and began to realize there is a pattern to the prophetic writings.  There is a turn from warning of God's wrath to reminding God's people of his love and salvation.  The question was asked in Bible study two weeks ago -- what do we need saving from?  The answer, in one way or another, is God's wrath.  The Christian God is a jealous God, and he doesn't change from the Old Testament to the New.  He wants us to fear him, even as he shows love to us and asks us to love one another as he loves us.  The New Testament states that perfect love drives out fear, but that doesn't mean that love and fear can't co-exist in our relationship with God.  God is perfect love, and when we have God in us, it does drive out fear in us; however, fear of God is a natural response to knowing who God really is.  Here's Micah on the subject of fearing God:  (Micah 6:9)

"Listen! The LORD is calling to the city— and to fear your name is wisdom —  'Heed the rod and the One who appointed it....'"  

The Lord goes on to cite examples of his people's corruption and to promise to punish those who do wrong.  Still, there is the prophetic turn from wrath to mercy: (Micah 7:18-20)

"Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. You will be faithful to Jacob, and show love to Abraham, as you pledged on oath to our ancestors in days long ago."

Which means that, even as we are guilty of sin and deserve punishment for missing the mark, God is merciful and allows his mercy to rule over his just nature.  God's wrath will only be carried out after the end of time, when punishment will be handed out to those who refuse God's gift of salvation.  God's gift of salvation does not free us from the consequences of sin in this life -- murder and lying still result in painful burdens that we will carry for our entire earthly lives.  But he can save a remnant of his people from the consequences of sin -- if they trust him to save them.  God's gift of salvation is free, but it takes a lifetime to truly escape the consequences of sin -- we sin so often and so willingly that it becomes a test of wills over a lifetime to begin to live a Godly life.  That's why the prayer to strengthen my will in accord with God's will is important.  That's why the prophetic turn matters -- because God's wrath and his mercy are aspects of his character that give us many, many reasons to trust him.  We have been forgiven much.  It's time that God's wrath became something we wrestle with, as opposed to something we just ignore.