Creator, Father, King #156

Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people?

OLD TESTAMENT PROPHETS OFTEN acted like prosecuting attorneys. Their job was to present God’s case of divine justice against the accused—a person, group, or nation who broke his holy laws. Such was the case with Micah, a prophet to Israel and Judah in the eighth century BC.

Look at the legal language found in Micah 6:2:

Now, O mountains, listen to the LORD’s complaint! He has a case against his people. He will bring charges against Israel.

Israel and Judah’s list of offenses was long and serious. Here is a sampling:

• idolatry (Micah 1:7; 5:13-14)
• greedy seizure of property (2:2)
• injustice and violence from rulers (3:1-3, 9-11)
• prevalence of false prophets (3:5-7)
• witchcraft and fortune-telling (5:12)
• dishonest gain (6:11)
• lies and deceit (6:12)

The people had broken their covenant relationship with God. They were guilty as charged. Tragically, because of Israel and Judah’s unrepentance, divine judgment would soon overwhelm them in the forms of the invading Assyrian and Babylonian armies.

What’s It Mean?

Thankfully, the book of Micah—and the story of God’s chosen people—doesn’t end with judgment. God doesn’t work like that. Micah ends on a beautiful note of hope:

Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love. Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean! You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love as you promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago.

The Jews experienced God’s amazing love and compassion when he restored the exiles to Judea and fulfilled the prophecy of Micah 5:2 many years later.

Today, God’s character remains the same. He still pardons guilt and overlooks the sins of his people. He still shows great compassion. He still tramples our sins and shows faithfulness and unfailing love.

How does the great Judge do this for guilty sinners? Through heaven’s Mediator—“our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation” (Romans 5:11, ESV).

Thanks to his Son, God rules in our favor when we trust in Christ. Case closed!

Now What?

Check out Micah 5:2—one of the Bible’s most famous messianic prophecies.

Did You Know?

Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah’s, and their respective “mountain of the Lord” oracles in Micah 4:1-5 and Isaiah 2:1-5 are nearly identical.