by Jeanette Leisk
Micah 4:6-13
6 On that day, says the Lord,
I will assemble the lame
and gather those who have been driven away,
and those whom I have afflicted.
7 The lame I will make the remnant,
and those who were cast off, a strong nation;
and the Lord will reign over them in Mount Zion
now and for evermore.
8 And you, O tower of the flock,
hill of daughter Zion,
to you it shall come,
the former dominion shall come,
the sovereignty of daughter Jerusalem.
9 Now why do you cry aloud?
Is there no king in you?
Has your counsellor perished,
that pangs have seized you like a woman in labour?
10 Writhe and groan, O daughter Zion,
like a woman in labour;
for now you shall go forth from the city
and camp in the open country;
you shall go to Babylon.
There you shall be rescued,
there the Lord will redeem you
from the hands of your enemies.
11 Now many nations
are assembled against you,
saying, ‘Let her be profaned,
and let our eyes gaze upon Zion.’
12 But they do not know
the thoughts of the Lord;
they do not understand his plan,
that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing-floor.
13 Arise and thresh,
O daughter Zion,
for I will make your horn iron
and your hoofs bronze;
you shall beat in pieces many peoples,
and shall devote their gain to the Lord,
their wealth to the Lord of the whole earth.
Micah speaks of God’s “remnant.” He says that those who have been afflicted, left behind, or cast off will serve as the foundation for the rebuilding of the nation of Israel. The faithful remnant are the hope for Israel.
It’s a theme throughout Scripture – God chooses those whom others have rejected.
David was rejected because of his age. He is the youngest of eight sons, but God chooses him to be king.
Esther was rejected because of her religion. She is Jewish and part of a minority group in Persia, yet she becomes queen and saves the Jewish people from destruction.
Zaccheus was rejected by the community because he was a criminal. He enriched himself at the expense of others, yet Jesus invites himself to Zaccheus’ house for dinner.
Jesus knows something about being rejected too. “The stone which the builders have rejected has become the cornerstone.” (Matthew 21:42)
If you’ve ever felt left behind or cast off, this message from Micah is for you. If you’ve ever been rejected because of your age, your religion, your socioeconomic status, your sexual identity, your race, your gender, your record, your …… this message is for you.
Over and over again God chooses the faithful remnant over those in positions of power. God chooses those who have been rejected. In you there is hope.