“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 4:6b-7
In this week as we contemplate on the theme of HOPE, let us look at God’s hope-filled promise He speaks through the prophet Micah to his people. “Writhe and groan like a woman in labor, you people of Jerusalem, for now you must leave this city to live in the open country. You will soon be sent in exile to distant Babylon” (v. 10a). What a difficult thing to hear. Surely the people of Judah didn’t understand the full extent of Yahweh’s love for them. I know I never understood the difficulty my loving parents felt when discipline was leveled on me. Being a stubborn child, I had my fair share of discipline. Yet once I became a parent and had to discipline my own children, whom I adore, I recognize the pain the Lord felt when it became necessary to discipline Judah. These words feel harsh, cold, and unfeeling but that could not be farther from the truth. The next sentence speaks of God’s desire to relent so that discipline can actually be an education; “But the Lord will rescue you there; he will redeem you from the grip of your enemies.”
There it is…HOPE…God’s discipline is meant for their redemption and not their destruction. God’s use of other nations was meant for their purification that they might one day return different than they left. Verses 6-8 serve as a future vision for what Yahweh will ‘one day’ do and this vision is what also is the HOPE we live in. This vision speaks of the love God has for Jerusalem (meaning his holy people which we have been brought into as well) and the plan to make her whole again. I want to say to you today, if you are experiencing struggle and feel hopeless, take HOPE from Micah, “…the Lord will rescue you…” and to God you are worth saving. Then we can say with David, “I will praise you, Lord with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done” (Psalm. 9:1).
John Prichard | Lead Pastor
Pastor John has come to feel at home in Colorado where the people of Trinity have become family. Serving among people who love the Lord and want others to know His love is a privilege, and he feels blessed to lead this church as we all grow together in Christ.
Philippians 2:5-11
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