©Michael Player
Chapter 7:18-20 (ESV) - Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity
and passing over transgression
for the remnant of his inheritance?
He does not retain his anger forever,
because he delights in steadfast love.
He will again have compassion on us;
he will tread our iniquities underfoot.
You will cast all our sins
into the depths of the sea.
You will show faithfulness to Jacob
and steadfast love to Abraham,
as you have sworn to our fathers
from the days of old.
Question to consider: How did the LORD show faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham and cast all our sins into the depths of the sea?
The gods of the nations and those who proclaim to act for them or to be descended from them are noted for their ability to wage war and bring destruction and death. They consider themselves powerful in the taking of life, but the one true God demonstrates His power by bringing life and salvation. Micah ends the book with the question posed by his own name, “Who is like YHWH?” He answers the question by declaring the mercy of God.
If your understanding of the scriptures focuses on the judgment of God, you are missing their point. Micah declared the truth of God’s justice in order for people to repent of their sin. Similarly, Ezekiel made known the heart of the LORD in warning of judgment, “But if a wicked person turns away from all his sins that he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is just and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions that he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness that he has done he shall live. Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the LORD God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?” (Ezekiel 18:21-23)
The LORD delights in steadfast love and mercy. If the LORD delighted in judgment, He would not have given warnings to several generations before bringing it. This mercy extended to the Gentiles as well. Jonah was furious at God for relenting from His judgment against the Ninevites after their repentance. “O LORD, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.” (Jonah 4:1-2)
When giving the land of Canaan to Israel, the LORD could have simply wiped out the people and idols and given them a land of prosperity. Instead, He had Israel confront each nation individually which gave all remaining nations the opportunity to turn to Him. There will not be a person on judgment day who wasn’t given adequate opportunity to reconcile with the LORD.
The LORD’s faithfulness to Jacob and steadfast love to Abraham was made manifest through their greater son, Jesus. He cast our sins into the depths of the sea by nailing them to the cross and washing us clean in our baptism. If you fail to see Christ in this passage, you have missed the very question posed by the name Micah.
Dear heavenly Father, help us to see Your steadfast love in the pages of Micah and all throughout the scriptures. May we understand this love as it has been made manifest in Christ and put our trust in Him to cast all of our sins into the depths of the sea. Amen.