Photo by Adam Ernhoffer on Unsplash
Photo by Adam Ernhoffer on Unsplash
This Sunday I’m simply sharing a passage from the Bible. This one is from Micah, one of the Old Testament prophetic books. The beginning of this chapter is rather gloomy. But this part starts talking about the time when the relationship with GOD and His people is made right. The theme of this book is judgement and forgiveness. GOD’s people have been scattered because of their sin and disobedience. He was Judge because of their sin. But He was also Shepherd-King because of His covenant promises to them. He promised that a time was coming when He as their Shepherd, would gather, protect, and forgive them because of His covenant promise to them. This is talking about that time that was coming. Of course, they were going to need to repent and return to Him.
These were encouraging words to GOD’s people in the days of Micah. Eventually, they did return to their land. They are encouraging words to us now too. They apply to us as the people of GOD as well because we have been grafted into the house of Israel if we are part of GOD’s family. Be encouraged as you read about your Shepherd-King who cares for you and forgives.
Shepherd your people with your staff,
the flock of your inheritance,
who dwell alone in a forest
in the midst of a garden land;
let them graze in Bashan and Gilead. (a very fertile part of their land.)
as in the days of old.
As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt,
I will show them marvelous things.
The nations shall see and be ashamed of all their might;
they shall lay their hands on their mouths;
their ears shall be deaf;
they shall lick the dust like a serpent,
like the crawling things of the earth;
they shall come trembling out of their strongholds;
they shall turn in dread to the Lord our God,
and they shall be in fear of you.Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity
and passing over transgression
for the remnant of his inheritance?
He does not retain his anger forever,
because he delights in steadfast love.
He will again have compassion on us;
he will tread our iniquities underfoot.
You will cast all our sins
into the depths of the sea.
You will show faithfulness to Jacob
and steadfast love to Abraham,
as you have sworn to our fathers
from the days of old.Micah 7:14-20 ESV
I love that God has a steadfast love for us—it endures even though we sin and separate ourselves from him. He always reaches out for us.
you are so right Anita! It’s very encouraging, isn’t it?