Micah
knew the prophecies of the LORD concerning Jerusalem and Samaria were
to be fulfilled. Though the LORD promised there would be a remnant of
people who would return to Israel and be restored as a nation, they
would first suffer exile to Babylon for their disobedience against
Him. Micah prayed for the LORD to “feed” His “people
with” His “rod” which meant not only feeding them
with nourishment, but also shepherding over them with protection and
guidance as He did “in the days of old”. In answer to
Micah's prayer, the LORD promised that He would lead them “according
to the days of your coming out of the land of Egypt”, and He
said He would “show unto him marvelous things”.
In chapter seven and verse sixteen the LORD tells how the “nations
shall see” these “marvelous things” from the LORD
“and be confounded” where we read:
The nations shall see
and be confounded at all their might:
they shall lay their
hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf.
The
verse begins, “The nations shall see and be confounded at
all their might:” As Micah
considered the reaction of the nations surrounding Israel, the LORD
told him, “The nations”
or “people or people groups” “shall see”
which means “observe, give attention to, look at, regard,
look after, see after, learn about, watch, look upon, look out and
find out” “and be confounded” or “be put to shame, be
ashamed, be disconcerted and be disappointed” “at all their
might” which refers to their “strength, valor, bravery and
mighty deeds”. When the LORD pours out His “marvelous things”
upon the people of Israel and restores them as a nation again, the
nations and people of the world will wonder greatly at the strength
and might of Israel the chosen nation of Almighty God.
The
verse goes on to say, “they shall lay their
hand upon their mouth, their ears shall be deaf.”
The reaction of the people of
the nations shall be, “they shall lay”
or “put, place, set or appoint” “their hand upon
their mouth”. If we use
our imaginations we can picture them reacting with covering their
mouths with their hands as though in shock and having nothing to say,
and “their ears shall be deaf” which literally means “to
cut in, plough or engrave” and refers to when a person is “silent,
dumb, speechless and quiet”. The idea is that they will be
astounded by what they hear concerning the power of Israel, and they
will not want anyone to tell them the great things happening to
Israel.
As we think through this
verse from Micah, we should marvel at the lovingkindness and grace of
the LORD. He is sharing these blessings for Israel before they go
into captivity for their insolence. The LORD sees this returning
remnant so blessed by His “marvelous things” that other
nations are dumbfounded and aghast by their favored position. Isn't
it interesting that the LORD often blesses people who seem to be so
far away from Him? This example demonstrates the character of the
loving and gracious LORD we serve, and as others look upon our lives
and are dumbfounded and aghast by what they see, we know the glory
all goes to God. Perhaps we should pray for the LORD to bless us so
much that others who observe our lives cannot deny that the LORD has
worked mightily in us, and when they see what the LORD Jesus can do
in us, maybe they will desire to know Him as well.
Let your light so shine
before men, that they may see your good works,
Next
time Micah writes how the nations will be like serpents and worms, so
read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
http://www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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