The Promise of Restoration: Micah 7 (6)

Opening Prayer: Psalm 95.1, 2, 6
Oh come, let us sing to the LORD!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms…
Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.

Psalm 95.1, 2, 6
(Tidings: O Zion, Haste, Thy Mission High Fulfilling)
Come, let us sing with joy to God, our Savior! Let us with joy to Him, our Rock, bow down!
Come now before Him, grateful for His favor; let joyful psalms break forth from all around.
Refrain v. 6
Come let us worship, kneel to our Lord; worship our Maker: Father, Holy Spirit, Word.

Read Micah 7.18-20

Preparation
1. Why did Micah consider God to be so great?

2. What was God fulfilling by blessing His people so?

Meditation
The name, Micah, means “Who is like the LORD?” Here Micah plays on his name, lengthening it a bit, as he brings his message to a close. He has spoken hard words to the people of God. But he has also spoken words of comfort, promise, hope, and the Kingdom to them. Micah wanted the people of his day, when they heard or saw him, to think, “Who is like the LORD?” and to believe the word he proclaimed.

He closes his prophecy with a gesture toward the greatness of God. He forgives our sins (v. 18), turns from anger to mercy (v. 18), has compassion on us and helps us overcome our sinfulness (v. 19), and fulfills the mercy and truth He promised to our fathers, beginning with Abraham (v. 20).

We may fail the Lord, and we do, frequently. But He will never fail us. He will never fail His Word and promises. He will never fail to bring glory to Himself. As we think on the greatness of God, let our hearts fill with gladness, love, and hope, and let us resolve to live more fully to Him.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
As we live more fully to Him, let us all determine to be today’s Micah to our world. Since the name Micah means “Who is like the LORD?”, we can be that same question to those in our own Personal Mission Field.

Peter encouraged us as Micahs to “sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience…” (I Pet. 3.15, 16).

What are the qualities of this God? Micah tells us that He pardons iniquity and transgression, He does not retain His anger forever, He delights in mercy, He is compassionate, and He casts our sins into the bottom of the sea (Mic. 7.18, 19).

We understand fully that only this God can forgive sins through the work of Jesus Christ.

But we also understand that as His representatives on earth we have been called to these same qualities of: forgiveness, unretained anger, mercy, and compassion: “…what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Mic. 6.8).  Love for God and neighbor.

As we bear the name of Micah, we too want the people of our day, when they see or hear us, to think, “Who is like the LORD?”, and to believe the Word that we proclaim!

Reflection
1. Meditate on 2 Corinthians 3.12-18. How does this passage suggest that we are all called to be "Micahs"?

2. Why is God so great? What makes His salvation so great?

3. What can we learn from Micah about what God has called us to be and do?

The Prophet here exclaims that God ought to be glorified especially for this ― that he is merciful to his people. When he says, Who is God as thou art? he does not mean that there are other gods; for this, strictly speaking, is an improper comparison. But he shows that the true and only God may be distinguished from all idols by this circumstance ― that he graciously forgives the sins of his people and bears with their infirmities. John Calvin (1509-1564), Commentary on Micah 7.18

Closing Prayer: Psalm 95.3-11
Praise God for His greatness. Thank Him for His salvation, and for bringing you into His family. Commit your day to seeking, obeying, and resting in Him.

Psalm 95.3-11
(Tidings: O Zion Hast, Thy Mission High Fulfilling)
Great are You, Lord, a King above all nations. All of earth’s depths lie hidden in Your hand.
Yours are the mountains, Yours the sea, You made it; You by Your hands created the dry land.
Refrain v. 6
Come let us worship, kneel to our Lord; worship our Maker: Father, Holy Spirit, Word.

You are our God, we are Your sheep, Your people: Speak, Lord, and let us hearken to Your Word.
Let not our hearts grow hard through sin, and feeble, as when our fathers sinned against You, Lord.
Refrain

Long years You loathed that wicked generation, who in their hearts, rebelled against Your path.
Them You forsook, and kept from Your salvation; them You subjected to Your fearsome wrath.
Refrain

T. M. and Susie Moore

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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by clicking here.