Let us with a gladsome mind, Praise the Lord for He is Kind: For His mercies they endure, ever faithful, ever sure. (John Milton 1623, at age 15 years)
Still dwelling on the theme of Forgiveness, this time from the Prophet Micah before the destruction of Samaria, capital of Israel, 722BC.
Micah, whose name means, ‘Who is like God’, warned of coming judgement to both Israel and later Judah. Both nations were eventually carried off into exile because they refused to obey God. Though the focus of the Book is on judgement, IT ENDS WITH HOPE FOR GOD’S PEOPLE.
8 He has shown you, O man, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6
Micah 6:8 is perhaps the best known verse from this prophet and tells us very simply and succinctly what God requires of His people; JUSTICE, MERCY AND HUMILITY.
The last verses of the prophet Micah, focus on the character of God and His love for Israel, despite their wrongdoing;
18 Who is a God like you, (Micah’s name)
WHO PARDONS SIN AND FORGIVES THE TRANSGRESSION
of the remnant of his inheritance?
YOU DO NOT STAY ANGRY FOR EVER
BUT DELIGHT TO SHOW MERCY.
God’s nature is to Pardon and Forgive, He’s not a tyrant. We need to remember this and be thankful for His Great Love toward us. God has got a lot of ‘bad press’ through evangelical teachings.
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. Micah 6
These are the last recorded words of the prophet Micah. He puts his HOPE in two things. God’s willingness to Forgive our wrongs, HAVE COMPASSION, TREAD OUR SINS UNDERFOOT AND HURL OUR INIQUITIES INTO THE SEA.
The last verse speaks of God’s Faithfulness to His Covenant to the Patriarchs of long ago. No one will ever be able to say that God did not keep His Word. He is Faithful to all His Promises.
May God bless and keep you today.