Mic 7:14-15 | KingComments | STEP | The promise of salvation brings the prophet to prayer. He asks the LORD to shepherd His people with His scepter (cf. ; ). The LORD is addressed as Shepherd (cf. ), as Jacob already did ( ; ). A shepherd leads, cares and rules. The Lord Jesus will do that perfectly. This prayer will be answered in the future. We may pray this prayer for the church. Here they speak to God about themselves as “Your people” and “Your possession” ( ). The people are chosen by Him as His personal possessions. Because of their rebellion they have not enjoyed the corresponding blessings. When they now call upon Him as “the flock of Your possession”, they do not do so because of what they are in themselves, but because of what God has determined for them. They ask Him to act with them by His grace. Their next statement about living alone in a forest also belongs to this. With this they refer on the one hand to the blessing of Balaam, who said of Israel: “A people [who] dwells apart” ( ) and to the blessing of Moses, who said: “Israel dwells in security, The fountain of Jacob secluded” ( ). On the other hand, it seems to refer to the fact that the remnant is still expelled and has hidden itself in the forest from the enemy. The blessing also includes “a good and spacious land” ( ). They see that land from their hiding place around them and look forward to enjoying its fruit again. Bashan and Gilead are located in the area on the other side of the Jordan and are also areas rich in pastures ( ). Their longing is that everything will be “as in the days of old”, by which they mean the days of David and especially the days of Solomon.

‏ Micah 7:14-15

Prayer to Shepherd the People

The promise of salvation brings the prophet to prayer. He asks the LORD to shepherd His people with His scepter (cf. Psa 23:4b; Lev 27:32). The LORD is addressed as Shepherd (cf. Mic 5:3), as Jacob already did (Gen 49:24; Psa 80:1 ; Psa 23:1). A shepherd leads, cares and rules. The Lord Jesus will do that perfectly. This prayer will be answered in the future. We may pray this prayer for the church.

Here they speak to God about themselves as “Your people” and “Your possession” (Deu 7:6 ; Deu 9:26 ; 29 ; Deu 14:2). The people are chosen by Him as His personal possessions. Because of their rebellion they have not enjoyed the corresponding blessings. When they now call upon Him as “the flock of Your possession”, they do not do so because of what they are in themselves, but because of what God has determined for them. They ask Him to act with them by His grace.

Their next statement about living alone in a forest also belongs to this. With this they refer on the one hand to the blessing of Balaam, who said of Israel: “A people [who] dwells apart” (Num 23:9) and to the blessing of Moses, who said: “Israel dwells in security, The fountain of Jacob secluded” (Deu 33:28). On the other hand, it seems to refer to the fact that the remnant is still expelled and has hidden itself in the forest from the enemy.

The blessing also includes “a good and spacious land” (Exo 3:8). They see that land from their hiding place around them and look forward to enjoying its fruit again. Bashan and Gilead are located in the area on the other side of the Jordan and are also areas rich in pastures (Num 32:1). Their longing is that everything will be “as in the days of old”, by which they mean the days of David and especially the days of Solomon.

Answer to Prayer

God’s answer goes beyond the question. He refers again to His miracles at the exodus from Egypt (Mic 4:10 ; Mic 6:4). The exodus from Babylon was not accompanied by miracles, the exodus from Egypt was. He starts as it were again with them according to His original thoughts. The need is so great, that miracles are needed to get out of it. The LORD promises that He will perform them.