Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Message of Micah – God is fulfilling his purpose of salvation

Micah 5v2 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.””

Micah lived in the 700’s BC. As a prophet, he predicted the fall of Samaria in the near future (which happened during his life in 722BC), and the desolation of Judah (which happened a century later in 586BC).

But his message of God’s judgement is blended with salvation as Micah looks further ahead. Micah is probably best known for the verse above which is read in many carol services, and also the following verses which each point to Christ:

  • “In the last days, the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains .. many nations will say, ‘Come let us go up to the mountain of the LORD.’” 4v1-2
  • “He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD … And he will be their peace” 5v4
  • “And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” 6v8
  • “But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Saviour; my God will hear me.” 7v7
  • “Who is a God like you, 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. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” 7v18-19

So, Micah, 700 years before Christ, points strongly to the work of Christ. He gives more colour to the promise to Abraham concerning “his seed”. He speaks in advance of the one who died for our sins on the “mountain of the Lord”, the one who shepherds his flock, the one who perfectly showed justice and mercy, the one who is our Saviour and the one who has enabled the complete removal of our sin.

Does this make your heart sing? That God promised so long before and fulfilled His Word to us in Christ. That is precisely how Micah finishes with the expectation, “You will be true … and show mercy … as you pledged on oath to our fathers in days long ago.”

 

With love and blessing,

Roland