Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God! – Psalm 43:5
Attention! Let all the people of the world listen!
Let the earth and everything in it hear.
The Sovereign Lord is making accusations against you;
the Lord speaks from his holy Temple.
Look! The Lord is coming!
He leaves his throne in heaven
and tramples the heights of the earth.
The mountains melt beneath his feet
and flow into the valleys
like wax in a fire,
like water pouring down a hill. – Micah 1:2-4
The prophet Micah gives us beautiful descriptions of God. He assigns words that help us see the heart of God while also recognizing the power of God. We see that God’s love for us runs deep, and it is out of this deep love that He calls us to live in righteousness. He is our Shepherd who guides us for the sake of protecting us and providing for our needs. The Good Shepherd leads us in the way we should go.
DO NOT RESIST THE HEART OF GOD.
Therefore, I will mourn and lament.
I will walk around barefoot and naked.
I will howl like a jackal
and moan like an owl.
For my people’s wound
is too deep to heal.
It has reached into Judah,
even to the gates of Jerusalem. – Micah 1:8-9
“Someday, O Israel, I will gather the remnant who are left.
I will bring you together again like sheep in a pen, like a flock in its pasture.
Yes, your land will again be filled with noisy crowds!
Your leader will break out and lead you out of exile,
out through the gates of the enemy cities, back to your own land.
Your king will lead you; the Lord himself will guide you.” – Micah 2:12-13
THE LORD HIMSELF WILL GUIDE YOU.
Micah’s message to God’s people included words of hope — words that held a promise for the future. This time of exile would not last forever, and Jerusalem would one day be strong again. And the Lord Himself would be king forever! Allow this story of hope beautifully penned by Micah to wash over your soul today.
“In that coming day,” says the Lord,
“I will gather together those who are lame,
those who have been exiles,
and those whom I have filled with grief.
Those who are weak will survive as a remnant;
those who were exiles will become a strong nation.
Then I, the Lord, will rule from Jerusalem
as their king forever.” – Micah 4:6-7
Then the remnant left in Israel
will take their place among the nations.
They will be like dew sent by the Lord
or like rain falling on the grass,
which no one can hold back
and no one can restrain.
The remnant left in Israel
will take their place among the nations.
They will be like a lion among the animals of the forest,
like a strong young lion among flocks of sheep and goats,
pouncing and tearing as they go
with no rescuer in sight.
The people of Israel will stand up to their foes,
and all their enemies will be wiped out. – Micah 5:7-9
THIS SAME GOD GIVES US HOPE FOR A BETTER TOMORROW — A DAY WHEN WE WILL EXPERIENCE HIS COMPASSION AND SEE THE EVIDENCE OF HIS FAITHFULNESS.
Where is another God like you,
who pardons the guilt of the remnant,
overlooking the sins of his special people?
You will not stay angry with your people forever,
because you delight in showing unfailing love.
Once again you will have compassion on us.
You will trample our sins under your feet
and throw them into the depths of the ocean!
You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love
as you promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago. – Micah 7:18-20
Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God! – Psalm 43:5