Read micah 7
Israel’s Misery
7 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.
2 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.
3 Both hands are skilled in doing evil;
the ruler demands gifts,
the judge accepts bribes,
the powerful dictate what they desire—
they all conspire together.
4 The best of them is like a brier,
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.
5 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.
6 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.
7 But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord,
I wait for God my Savior;
my God will hear me.
Israel Will Rise
8 Do not gloat over me, my enemy!
Though I have fallen, I will rise.
Though I sit in darkness,
the Lord will be my light.
9 Because I have sinned against him,
I will bear the Lord’s wrath,
until he pleads my case
and upholds my cause.
He will bring me out into the light;
I will see his righteousness.
10 Then my enemy will see it
and will be covered with shame,
she who said to me,
“Where is the Lord your God?”
My eyes will see her downfall;
even now she will be trampled underfoot
like mire in the streets.
11 The day for building your walls will come,
the day for extending your boundaries.
12 In that day people will come to you
from Assyria and the cities of Egypt,
even from Egypt to the Euphrates
and from sea to sea
and from mountain to mountain.
13 The earth will become desolate because of its inhabitants,
as the result of their deeds.
Prayer and Praise
14 Shepherd your people with your staff,
the flock of your inheritance,
which lives by itself in a forest,
in fertile pasturelands.
Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead
as in days long ago.
15 “As in the days when you came out of Egypt,
I will show them my wonders.”
16 Nations will see and be ashamed,
deprived of all their power.
They will put their hands over their mouths
and their ears will become deaf.
17 They will lick dust like a snake,
like creatures that crawl on the ground.
They will come trembling out of their dens;
they will turn in fear to the Lord our God
and will be afraid of you.
18 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.
19 You will again have compassion on us;
you will tread our sins underfoot
and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.
20 You will be faithful to Jacob,
and show love to Abraham,
as you pledged on oath to our ancestors
in days long ago.
Go Deeper
In this last chapter of Micah, the author in verse 18 poses the question, “Who is God like you?” Throughout this book, we see God using Micah to declare judgment on the people of Israel. God calls out the sinfulness of the entire nation, the leaders of land, and the false prophets. They are scattered because of the depravity that has infected their whole land.
But they are not without hope. Their sinfulness gives God an opportunity to reveal His character to them. God’s love toward His people is described using the Hebrew word hesed (v. 18, 20). Despite their unfaithfulness, God is revealed as One who remains constant in His mercy, goodness, and kindness. Although they have been scattered, God tells Israel that He will restore their relationship with Him. Israel has failed to remain faithful to God, but God’s faithfulness is not dependent on their character; God’s faithfulness is dependent on His own character. In the same way, God’s love toward us is not dependent on our faithfulness to Him.
Verse 9 sums up the story of the Israelites: “I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against him, until he pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me out to the light; I shall look upon his vindication.” This is just as much our story as it is the story of Israel. Understanding the fullness of God’s love begins with understanding the depth of our own sinfulness. God’s character begins to come into light when we have a right understanding of our need for Him. We were once far from God, separated from Him by choosing ourselves and our own desires. But God pledged an oath to His people long ago, and He is faithful to forgive (v. 20). Who is God like Him, a God that forgives people so prone to turning away? Why does God continue to forgive His people? Why has God forgiven us? It is because of His hesed love towards us. God delights in showing us His unwavering, steadfast, covenant-keeping love.
Who is God like our God? “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.” (v. 18) There is no other God like Him.
Questions
- How have you seen God’s faithfulness displayed in your life in a time when you were unfaithful?
- How does the word hesed help you better understand God’s heart towards you?
- How does understanding God’s steadfast love toward you change the way you approach Him?
Keep Digging
Read this article on the Hebrew word hesed to gain a better understanding of God’s love toward us.
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4 thoughts on “Micah 7”
I’m currently reading Waymaker by Ann Voskamp where she describes “hesed” as an attachment-love where God “saves me by tenderly attaching his heart to mine like a fusing”. In a day and age when everything seems to be about detachment & deconstruction, (faith or gender) it’s incredibly comforting that God chooses to bind himself to me. No matter what comes my way, I am chosen by the only One who truly matters. We can echo the words of Paul in Romans 8:31, “And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.”
God is so full of hope. That makes my heart happy. This world seems so hopeless these days. God is full of unfailing love, steadfast love, loyal love, covenant love, faithful love and CONSTANT LOVE. This is hessed but more. I love what Ella said about being fused and bound to God by our hearts. I am not sure about everyone else but when I hear read and pray and feel God’s love like this I get giddy and feel effervescent!!! I want more and to stay right here in His presence.
God You are so amazing exhilarating, faithful, loyal, and steadfast. I do not know enough adjectives to keep on but thank you for hessed that love you have for me and us!!! God thank you for helping me to show that outwardly to others, my family, my lifegroup, my coworkers, and people I meet. Let me efferves Your Love over all that I can speak, put in action, and glow that LOVE!!! in Jesus name amen
WOOHOO!!!!!
“Who is God like You?” Reading today just illuminates how great He is. How constant, perfect, compassionate, faithful He is!
Hesed Love: A faithful, loyal love!
Oh that we would have Hesed Love for others and for ourselves. That His light shine upon the wicked of the world and we would come to realization of sin (vs 16-17) Be pardoned and live. (18)
Makes me think of 1 Cor 13. What love is. What love isn’t! Amen!
Yesterday, everything I listened to was based on God’s love for us. I was reminded and educated about the depths of God’s unfailing love for us. Tim Keller made the statement based on love, that God does not use past tense–ever. He will never stop loving us—there is no end to his love–it’s everlasting–eternal–which justifies there is life/heaven beyond this broken world. You never will read in scripture where God stopped loving someone. It’s just not in His vocabulary. Everything He has created–He loves. Even this sick world will be made new as the new Heaven! All of that wisdom reminded me how my identity needs to be in who I belong to more than the person He has gifted me into becoming.
He also stated how when we start using possessive pronouns and precepts–MY God–I am His– He is mine–we take ownership and a whole new intimacy/identity with our Father because we grasp the depth of love He gives and we are willing to submit in return that same eternal love.
Let’s pray that we all take today to consume ourselves with knowledge on the depths of God’s love for His people. It’s almost incomprehensible here on earth the magnitude will be waiting for us in Heaven!!! Praise God!