Micah 7:14–20 - 14 Shepherd Your people with Your scepter, The flock of Your possession Which dwells by itself in the woodland, In the midst of a fruitful field. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead As in the days of old. 15 “As in the days when you came out from the land of Egypt, I will show you miracles.” 16 Nations will see and be ashamed Of all their might. They will put their hand on their mouth, Their ears will be deaf. 17 They will lick the dust like a serpent, Like reptiles of the earth. They will come trembling out of their fortresses; To the Lord our God they will come in dread And they will be afraid before You. 18 Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity And passes over the rebellious act of the remnant of His possession? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in unchanging love. 19 He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, You will cast all their sins Into the depths of the sea. 20 You will give truth to Jacob And unchanging love to Abraham, Which You swore to our forefathers From the days of old. What does today’s passage say? In today's passage, Micah passionately implores the Lord to shepherd and guide His people, to lead them like a caring shepherd tends his cherished flock (v. 14). God swiftly replies He will perform wonders beyond imagination, just as when He mighty delivered them from slavery in Egypt long ago. In the future too, He will surely regather them from far and wide (vv. 15-17). Overflowing with praise, Micah extols the Lord's great compassion and eagerness to forgive their blatant sins. Though they break faith, God remains forever faithful, true to His covenant with their fathers. He will not harbor anger, but delight to show mercy. For His promises stand firmer than mountains, His forgiveness wider than the sea (vv. 18-20). How can I apply Micah 7:14-20 to my life? God's people faced intense affliction and hardship because of their sin, yet Micah clung firmly to hope. For even in the darkest night, Micah trusted the Lord to powerfully deliver, guide, and care for His flock. Though storms may buffet us and loneliness assault on every side, we too can have confident assurance in our mighty Shepherd. Will we plead for His provision? Will we expect His miraculous intervention? For this same God who delivered His people of old stands ready to move again today! He delights in lavishing forgiveness and mercy upon all who earnestly repent and call upon His name. During trying times or seasons of rebellion, He patiently waits for us to return to Him. As recipients of such great compassion, may we too extend generous grace to others. Here are some basic principles from this passage that we should apply to our lives:
Trust In The Lord As Your Good Shepherd (v. 14): Micah passionately cries out for the Lord to shepherd His people once more. We too can earnestly plead with our compassionate God to guide, protect, and provide for us. Though storms may swirl around us and challenges assail on every side, we can find peace and joy in the Good Shepherd. For when we acknowledge Him as sovereign Lord, trusting His strong yet tender care, He leads us to still waters and green pastures. There, beside restful streams, He revives our weary souls. Even when loneliness and uncertainty threaten to overwhelm, we can be confident our cries reach His listening ear. Just as He led His people of old with miraculous wonders, so He actively shepherds all who follow Him now. Whether by His still small voice or thunderous deliverance, He cares for His flock. So let us continually call on the Lord Almighty to shepherd our lives. For He stands ready to respond with mighty compassion and guidance for all who trust in Him (Psalm 23:1, Psalm 77:20, John 10:11).
Food for Thought: What areas do you need to surrender to His leading? How can you practically trust Him more as your Good Shepherd this week?
Marvel At God's Mighty Works And Deliverance (vv. 15-17): When God brought Israel out of Egypt long ago, He performed miraculous wonders testifying to His mighty power and love for His people. In the future too, He promises to do a great work by regathering and restoring His people once more. We can stand in awe of how our awesome God intervenes on behalf of those He loves, utterly defeating their enemies. Though trials press hard against us and adversity threatens on every side, we can be confident that our God reigns. He specializes in the miraculous! Just as He made a way through the Red Sea and brought water from the rock, He still performs wonders today on behalf of His flock. Let us meditate on His mighty works of old and expect Him to move again with overwhelming love and unwavering power. As we wait patiently for His perfect timing, we can trust Him to fight for us and miraculously deliver us according to His good plans and purposes (Exodus 14:21-22, Joshua 3:14-17, Acts 7:36).
Food for thought: How have you witnessed God working miracles? What mighty intervention do you need Him to accomplish today in your life?
Rejoice In God's Compassionate Forgiveness (vv. 18-20): God delights in lavishing mercy and forgiveness on His repentant people. Though our sin is appallingly offensive, He removes our transgressions, covers our iniquities, and casts the full weight of His love upon us through Jesus Christ. What matchless grace and compassion! Even when we foolishly rebel and break trust with Him, He stays faithful, extending complete pardon to all who turn back to Him. As we bask in the glory of His patience and unfailing love, it softens our hearts to show that same grace to others. So let us rejoice and sing praise to God for His readiness to forgive us. For He cherishes mercy over judgment. Confident in His promise to remove our sin as far as the east is from the west, we can lift our hands in praise to the only God who fully forgives all who call upon His name. As recipients of such great compassion, may we forgive others in the same measure that we have been forgiven (Psalm 86:5, Psalm 130:3-4, Isaiah 55:7).
Food for Thought: How have you experienced God's forgiveness personally? How can you extend more grace to others as a result?
When hardship presses against us, we may be tempted to despair, anxiously attempting to control our circumstances. Yet Micah points us to a better way - humbly crying out for God's provision, trusting Him as a faithful Shepherd caring for His flock. Rather than relying on our limited strength and wisdom, we can confidently call upon the One with limitless power and unfailing love. As we wait patiently for His perfect timing, we can find peace and purpose in the Shepherd's leading. For though sorrow may linger during the night, joy comes in the morning. No matter how far we have strayed or how bleak the situation appears, our Good Shepherd specializes in redemption and restoration. As recipients of such faithful love and forgiveness, how can we not extend that same grace to others? For our help comes from the Lord who spoke worlds into being. He shall shepherd us until the end of our days when we shall delight in His presence forever.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray that You would make me lie down in green pastures and lead me beside still waters, trusting You fully as my Good Shepherd. I pray that I would not lean on my own understanding but acknowledge You in all my ways so You can direct my paths. Lord, please help me marvel at Your mighty works on my behalf, waiting patiently on You to fight for me. I confess I often try to force my own plans rather than surrendering to Your perfect will and timing. Teach me to wait on You. Thank You, Lord, that You take no pleasure in punishing us but delight in lavishing mercy and forgiveness upon us through Christ. As You have so graciously pardoned my sin, I pray You would enable me to extend grace and pardon to those who have wronged me. God, continue to do a mighty work in me through Your Holy Spirit until that Day I stand perfected in Your presence.
I pray these things in the most precious name of Jesus, Amen.
Micah 7:14 – “Shepherd Your people with Your scepter, The flock of Your possession Which dwells by itself in the woodland, In the midst of a fruitful field. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead As in the days of old.”With His Blessings, Pastor Corby
コメント