Wednesday, 5 August 2020 Micah 7:1-20
“Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.” -Micah 7:8 [NLT]
The book of Micah tells the story of the people of God, who had disobeyed God and hence brought upon themselves the just punishment. It not only tells about judgment but also about the forgiveness of God. We see three cycles of judgment and restoration in Micah— Chapter 1:2-2:13; chapters 3-5 & chapters 6-7.
Think about an unforgiving God—how do you feel? The very thought itself makes us miserable. Many religions think about God as one who is sitting on the throne of the Universe only to judge us. Dear reader! Our God is the Judge of the universe but at the same time He forgives our sins if we repent. For every pardon you receive, God has paid a ransom through the life of His Son. This is the true love of our God. 1 John 4:10 says: "In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
Understanding the true nature of our God is the very basis of our existence. This is why, we see in our reading today, the fallen person boasts in his God. He knows for sure his God will bring him out victoriously. He declares with boldness that he will rise up even though he has fallen. This confidence is one of the powerful tools to fight the deceit of the enemy; who always waits to trouble us with guilt. We also need to know that this is not a license for us to keep on sinning. Instead, by understanding true love of our God, we need to abide in Him to be true to our calling and election.
Sin is never without consequences. The very next verse gives us clear understanding about this. Micah 7:9: 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. Though we bear the consequences of our sin, the punishment for the sin is pardoned by God (Romans 8:1). Paul also wrote in Galatians 6:7-8: “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
In all these discussions, we end up thinking about the unfailing love of God. He vindicates us through and through. His banner over us is love! His intention is always to bring us into eternal safety, but we always end up messing up our ways repeatedly. We fall into sin because of our fallen nature. But the way God has designed under the New Covenant is to forgive our sins and also to be with us always to guide us continuously. His Spirit resides in us to guide us and give us the strength to resist temptations.
One thing we can be sure, He will restore us if we repent. Let us go to Him boldly acknowledging our failures and weaknesses. “He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us,
And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea.” (Amos 7: 18-19)
Prayer: Lord we acknowledge our weakness; show us Your mercy and lead us triumphantly in the front of our enemy. Amen.
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