Page 17 - 7-24-15 Friday's Edition

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The lesson selected from Micah 7:14-20 is God’s restoration and mercy to- wards His people. After all they have gone through in the previous chapters and the punishment that was inflicted upon them, they are now being shown mercy by God. This alone is a message to the church and people of God that His anger will not last forever and in the end God will have mercy and restore His people. This lesson is a prayer of the prophet on be- half of God’s people.
Verse 14 - Shepherd your people with your staff, the flock of your in- heritance, which lives by itself in a forest, in fertile pasturelands. Let them
feed in Bashan and Gilead as in days long ago. The request is for God to take His place as a shepherd over His people. The people are scattered and have no leader. But if God were to take them they would be re- stored as one body. Likewise it is today, many of God’s peo- ple are scattered but if they will come to Him and allow Him to shepherd then they will be restored as one.
The people are living in the woods, in the forest, in isolation but the desire is for God to take them to a place where they can feed and be- come healthy again. There comes a time when your prayer must be for God to take you to a place where you
God’s Mercy
can feast upon His word and reside in His presence so that you can be fed and eat the goodness of His word.
Verse 15 - “As in the days when you came out of Egypt, I will show them my wonders.” God’s reply answer is YES! God will take them back as He did when they came out of Egypt. God will show them wonders of His power. God will show you things upon your return to Him that you did not think of or imagine. After a falling away from God or leaving the dwelling place of God, when God restores He again shows His marvelous wonders to- wards you.
Verses 16 and 17 depict the reaction of the world when they see the restoration of God in your life. Nations will see and be ashamed, deprived of all their power. They will put their hands over their mouths and their ears will be- come deaf. 17 They will lick dust like a snake, like creatures that crawl on the ground. They will come trembling out of
their dens; they will turn in fear to the LORD our God and will be afraid of you. When the world sees what God is doing in your life it will be shocked and amazed. When people see the change that has come over you they will not be able to say a word; all they will do is stand in awe with their mouth open. Those who tried to hurt you and do you harm will be- come like snakes; they will be humbled to that level. They will know through the change that has occurred in your life that there is a God who is strong and mighty, and gra- cious and merciful.
Verse18-Whoisa God like you, who par- dons sin and forgives the transgression of the rem- nant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry for- ever but delight to show mercy. There is no one like God who will do the things that God does. There is no one who will forgive and re- store you like God. When you do stuff to people they hold on to it forever; but not God. God does not stay angry for-
ever. A healthy relationship cannot grow when you are constantly angry about the hurts of the past.
Verse 19 - You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea. God will have compassion and show them mercy. God will take the sins of His people and put them under His feet and cast into the depths of the sea. God does not want to see them or be reminded of them. Often times when you have people who have hurt you, you must do with their sins against you what God did with yours. God put their sins under his foot, NOT THE PEOPLE!
Verse 20 - You will be faithful to Jacob, and show love to Abraham, as you pledged on oath to our ancestors in days long ago. When God re- stores you, you can be as- sured of His love and His recommitment to you as He promised on the first day you met.
FRIDAY, JULY 24 , 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 5-B