◄ What Does Micah 7:14 Mean? ►

God has so often been portrayed as the faithful Shepherd of His people, and in his prayer to the holy One of Israel, Micah is asking the Lord to continue to feed His flock and to graciously shepherd His chosen people. Micah knows that Israel is God's precious possession, and despite their rebellion and disobedience, Micah's request is that God will restore them and provide for them, as He did in former years.

He prays that God will graciously give them a fruitful land and that they will be nourished and provided for as in times past, when they flourished in peace and lived in prosperity in the lands of Bashan and in Gilead. He pleads that God's sceptre will be used as a staff of comfort and blessing to His people, Israel, and not as the corrective rod of judgement.

Micah knows that God is the One Who has cared for Israel and has promised to lead them beside still water pools, to restore their soul, and uphold them in the power of His righteous right arm. Throughout their history, God has faithfully watched over His people, tending to their needs and defending His little flock from many false and idle shepherds, even during those times when they strayed far away from Him.

The Lord in His grace has promised to feed His flock like a shepherd and gather the little lambs into His loving arms. He has promised never to fail or forsake them, and to gently carry them in His bosom. Yes, the Lord is indeed the good and faithful Shepherd of His people Who willingly gave His life for the sheep, and we discover Micah praying into these precious promises on behalf of the nation of Israel.

Although he is grieved about Israel's ongoing apostasy and bemoans that they have wandered far from the safety of His protection, Micah nevertheless pleads with the Lord that He will never abandon them nor cast them adrift, taking God at His word to keep His promises to a thousand generations.

It was the Lord Jesus Who was sent in answer to the prayers and prophecies of His people. Jesus was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel two thousand years ago. He came to His own people as the good and faithful Shepherd Who gives His life for the sheep. He came to save them from their sins and to restore them into fellowship with Himself, and although many rejected Him at His first coming, Jesus led many out of one sheepfold into another; Jew and Gentile together, becoming one new man in Christ during this special dispensation of the grace of God.

Jesus continues to be our great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant by which He brought us again from the dead. He is the One Who brought us out of darkness into His glorious light, and Jesus is our wonderful chief Shepherd Who has promised us the unfading crown of glory on that wonderful day when He returns to take us to be with Himself.

Christ is not only the good Shepherd of Israel, but He is our good and great Shepherd as well. All we like sheep have gone astray, but praise His holy name that in His goodness and grace He came to seek and to save that which was lost.

Heavenly Father, I praise and thank You for Your goodness and grace, that while I was dead in my sins and estranged from You, You sent the Lord Jesus to die for me so that I might live for You, to Your praise and glory. In Jesus' name, AMEN.