Psalm 8:1.
My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Micah. The Mind of the Spirit captured the spirit of my mind in verse 1:
Micah 7:1 ¶ Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grapegleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the firstripe fruit.
Micah seems to swing back and forth between judgment (truth) and salvation (mercy): e/g/. Micah 7:2-6 (judgment), then verse 7-8 (mercy), then 9 (reproach), then 10 (deliverance from reproach), an enigmatic reference to the decree of Artaxerxes to Nehemiah to build the walls long after Cyrus’ original decree? (v. 11), then judgment in verses 12-13, mixed with blessing of deliverance (14-17). Although I am only looking at Micah 7, the entire prophecy unfolds this way, oscillating between judgment (truth) and deliverance (mercy).
One of the very odd things in this chapter appears in verse 10. Who is “she” that stood as Micah’s enemy: “Then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the LORD thy God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets” (Micah 7:10)? I would have expected the pronoun he.
As I followed my Shepherd along the still waters, the Spirit pointed out how aptly Micah concludes his prophecy:
Micah 7:18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
Micah 7:19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
Micah 7:20 Thou wilt perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which thou hast sworn unto our fathers from the days of old.
The book’s overall message: “God … pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant.” He does not retain His anger because He delights in mercy. Therefore, we hope in His mercy that He will “turn again,” and “have compassion upon us.” Going so far as to “subdue” our iniquities—like subduing an enemy—casting our sins into the depths of the sea. Then notice verse 20. It perfectly summarizes the character of Micah’s prophecy. God will perform the “truth” to Jacob, and resolve our conflicts with it by the “mercy” He promised through Abraham: As David said, “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other” (Psalms 85:10).
The remnant in America is caught in the oscillation of Micah, between truth and mercy, while events unfold that promise to fulfill Micah 4:1-5.
It was in the valley, shadowed by His Cross, that I reflected most particularly upon verse 1: “Woe is me! for I am as when they have gathered the summer fruits, as the grapegleanings of the vintage: there is no cluster to eat: my soul desired the firstripe fruit.” “Woe,” a lament, a mournful state, “is me,” said Micah! I felt the woe of his heart. For Micah described his troubled soul as one who has come late to the harvest, when all that remains are the summer fruits, over-ripe, mostly spoiled, and gleanings that remain for the poor. Desiring the “firstripe fruit,” he searched diligently the near-barren fields for a single cluster of grapes. Alas, “there is no cluster to eat.” I have felt like that! Like I’ve come into the Harvest late! I read about the clusters gathered in bygone days, and hunger for some show of such blessing, and cannot find even a cluster of good fruit! Plenty of sour grapes, few sweet! The Spirit spoke softly, Jerry, I came seeking fruit from a certain barren fig tree (Mark 11:12-14). I thought, yes, LORD, and you came for the figs when “the time for figs was not yet” (Mark 11:13). Yes, and I cursed that tree, it withered, to the amazement of my disciples, and I said, “Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou rmoved, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe …” (Mark 11:22-24). Later, I explained that the barren fig tree portends my return (Mark 13:25-29). He told me to think on these things. And I did. He said, Now, follow me, so I denied myself, took up my cross and followed Him to His table (Luke 9:23).
There, He anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy ran to catch up to us as we walked together into the Harvest. Jesus spoke to my heart about many things, but this He gave me leave to pass on to you: when you can’t find a cluster, muster the faith to move a mountain. Selah!
Praying for revival! 🙏
Going live as soon as I can set up the livestream.
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