It appears that the news will be bad. A crime has been committed, and God will be the chief witness for the prosecution-who is also God. The accused, the people, must listen. But unlike a normal criminal trial, God never forces people to listen, and these people certainly had a choice. Why choose to hear bad news?     The answer lies in the character of the speaker. God announces no bad news, only the truth about our human condition and His own provision to repair the damage. Yes, this news is not good-people have sinned terribly. Consequences will surely follow, a worst-nightmare scenario of fear and pain. But even then, despite the sin and loss, God has a heart to redeem and save. That’s why people must listen. Without God’s hope, pain is just pain. But in God’s plan, pain recedes into restoration and blessing.

MICAH 1:2- Here, all ye people; hearken, O earth, and all that therein is: and let the LORD GOD be witness against you, the Lord from his holy temple.