Have you ever felt like all HOPE is LOST? Today we discover that, in the middle of all this mess, there is HOPE on the horizon for those who turn from sin & turn to Jesus - the King of Hope!

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Today we conclude this mini-series in the Old Testament of MICAH. God has put His people on trial for refusing to Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with Him. God’s judgment is coming.

Micah 7:1–6 (NIV)

What misery is mine! I am like one who gathers summer fruit at the gleaning of the vineyard; there is no cluster of grapes to eat, none of the early figs that I crave. The faithful have been swept from the land; not one upright person remains. Everyone lies in wait to shed blood; they hunt each other with nets. Both hands are skilled in doing evil; the ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes, the powerful dictate what they desire— they all conspire together. The best of them is like a brier, the most upright worse than a thorn hedge. 

The day God visits you has come, the day your watchmen sound the alarm. Now is the time of your confusion. Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Even with the woman who lies in your embrace guard the words of your lips. For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.

Both hands are skilled in doing evil - These people super skilled in doing evil. (And you thought You had it bad!)

Darkness is coming, but there is HOPE on the distant horizon. While Jerusalem is going to be destroyed and many of its people taken into exile (Mic 4:9-10), Jerusalem and the rest of Israel will be restored.

Micah prays and longs for right relationship with God, when not only the Hebrews, but people from all over the world - even former enemies - will come to Jerusalem seeking Yahweh. Micah closes his writing remembering the goodness of God. 

Remember that Micah means “Who is like Yahweh?”? The answer? NONE!

Despite the depth of these sins, Micah is confident that the RIGHTEOUS JUDGE Who has judged them guilty will again have compassion on His sinful people.

2 powerful images that describe God’s desire to forgive:

Yahweh will tread our sins underfoot - language for conquering an enemy (Ps 91:13) 

Yahweh will throw these sins into the depths of the sea - these sins are NEVER to be seen again!

These last 3 verses of Micah are read in the synagogue during the afternoon of the Day of Atonement. 

C.L. Feinberg writes: “On the afternoon of New Year, the orthodox Jew goes to a running stream or river and symbolically empties his pockets of his sins into the water, while he recites verses 18–20.” 

In the middle of the mess, Micah remembers the heartbeat of God who delights to show mercy.

The LORD - Yahweh will teach us His ways and the word of Yahweh will go out from Jerusalem. It seems like this is more than a representative Yahweh teaching what He says, but looks like Yahweh Himself who is teaching His ways.

The Presence of Yahweh will bring right judgement and peace between enemies. While some of this might be FUTURE for us, there is more that might lead us to recognize that what was FUTURE for this ancient audience is PRESENT for us. In Jesus, those who were once enemies can become family.

WHO is this talking about - a King from ancient origins, who will teach God’s ways and judge righteously? 

When King Herod asked where the Messiah, the “king of the Jews” was to be born (Mat 2:1-4), the religious leaders answered:

Matthew 2:5–6 (NIV) “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”

These men were pointing back to the very passage from Micah that we are reading from as they spoke of the birth of Jesus.

After Jesus is born in Bethlehem, this describes His ministry.

This Shepherd wouldn’t just LEAD His sheep, He would BLEED for His sheep. Jesus spoke about His upcoming death several times.

After the Passover meal with His disciples, Jesus warned them of what was coming that very night.

Mark 14:27 (NIV) “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: “ ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ [Zech 13:7]

Jesus, The Good Shepherd, gave His life to pay for their sins…and yours. 

Before ascending to heaven, Jesus promised to empower His disciples to take His greatness to the ends of the earth.

Acts 1:8 (NIV) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

WE get to be part of THAT! - to carry the message about the King of Hope across the street and across the ocean! 

The Good Shepherd knows those who are His (Jn 10:14) and those who are not. The righteous judgement of the Good Shepherd WILL BE FINAL. Followers of Jesus have great HOPE, but those who reject Jesus should be concerned.

Luke 22:14–20 (CSB)

When the hour came, he reclined at the table, and the apostles with him. Then he said to them, “I have fervently desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks, he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. For I tell you, from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

And He took bread, gave thanks, broke it, gave it to them, and said, “This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”

In the same way He also took the cup after supper and said, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you.

Communion celebrates past payment and the future promise of Jesus.

1 Corinthians 11:26 (CSB)

For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.