“Well, here we are . . .”
Dave Garroway, the original host of NBC’s Today show, opened the very first airing with these words on January 14, 1952.
They were originally spoken with anxious anticipation of good things to come, but when I read or listen to the news today, I hear the same words in my mind with very different intonation.
Here we are. Polarized, divided, violent, irreverent. God has been pushed to the sidelines. Our leaders are often lacking in Christian discipline and maturity, and the Bible has been shelved as an authoritative word in guiding laws and cultural norms.
Here we are. The world is a mess – and we know it. It’s a different time but not too dissimilar a situation to what Micah has been describing throughout his writings. There is a tension throughout the book of Micah of God’s impending, holy wrath balanced by his ultimate merciful forgiveness.
Today’s verses from Micah 7:18-19 let us celebrate God’s mercy.
“There is no other God like you! You forgive sin and pardon the rebellion of those who remain among your people. You do not remain angry forever, but delight in showing loyal love. You will once again have mercy on us; you will conquer our evil deeds; you will hurl our sins into the depths of the sea.”
Micah’s words were penned in the face of uncertainty, difficulty and an incomplete picture of how everything would turn out, but Micah’s theology about God was correct. God upheld his promises to the patriarchs and showed mercy (yet again) on Israel.
Yes, our world is a mess. We are wayward, sinful people. But, because of who God is, we know that he remains steadfast and will ultimately redeem our brokenness and disobedience. He offers unmerited grace and compassionate mercy. On this side of the cross, believers are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ, and our sins are erased.
The same NBC anchor mentioned above had a characteristic sign off on the show. He would hold up one hand, palm out and say, “Peace.”
Here we are, but peace awaits. God is fighting for us at this moment, and His peace will reign in the end.
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As our Micah study comes to a close today, we’d like to invite you to join us for our next study beginning on June 10th! Our summer study is called Walking In Victory and we will be going through the book of Joshua for six weeks!
Joshua teaches us to remember the promises God has given us and to trust God in everything He calls us to do.
Through the book of Joshua, God shows us how to walk in victory.
Walking in victory relies on God´s promises but it´s not passive. It requires action from us to believe those promises and live in them every day. Israel owned the land because of God’s gracious covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:1–5), but their enjoyment of the land depended on their faithful obedience to God.
The same God who was with Joshua and the Israelites is with us today. He has given us the same promises and He wants us to claim the inheritance He has already given us.
Invite your friends and join us on June 10th as we go through this powerful summer study!
You can order your journal and kid’s journal today through our online store!
I love the book of Micah and the desire he had to warn the people. I live in a world where sin is overlooked because is a forgiving God and He knows how I am because he created me. I hear this constantly but God is a God who loves us. He gave his life for my sins and I am to honor him by living a life in the spirit and not my flesh. Now is the time for me to seek him and his will. I do not have a church where I feel is home but I am praying for the Lord to reveal to me where I am to go. This Bible study of Micah is showing me how to wait and listen to his voice. I do not want to fall away but I want this to be a time when God says to me, it is time to come unto me with fasting and prayer and seek His face and I will find him. Fasting and prayer brings out faith and faith brings out hope.
I loved studying the book of Micah. God is so faithful in his love for his people. He gave them warning time after time and time after time they rebelled against Him. They paid the price for their disobedience. But God always rescued them again and again when they cried out to him in their distress. And He is still warning us and loving on us through his beautiful Word.
I’m so thankful that we’ve been in the minor prophets. I don’t usually read them. Hosea, Micah are favorites now.
I see a recurring theme in the scriptures of God taking a remnant that has survived by His grace and mercy to use that remnant to start fresh again. It makes me sad that so many have to perish for lack of obedience, trust and faith in Him!
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