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The Potential of Prayer
Introduction:
The Book of Micah concludes with one of the sweetest prayers in prophetic literature.
The notion that God himself would shepherd his people following the exile is a familiar theme in prophetic literature (e.g., Jer 50:19; Ezek 34:12).
The prayer here calls upon God to fulfill those promises.
The Book of Micah concludes with one of the sweetest prayers in prophetic literature.
The notion that God himself would shepherd his people following the exile is a familiar theme in prophetic literature (e.g., ; ).
The prayer here calls upon God to fulfill those promises.
Micah gives us hope and strengthens our faith by recording a prayer, and answer to prayer, and a prophecy.
Prayer for Protection and Provision
Answer to Prayer
Promise in Prayer
1.
The Prayer - Protect and Provide(7:14)
Micah prays on behalf of the people and for himself.
He asks God to protect His people.
He asks God to Provide for His people.
1.
The request for protection (7:14a).
Micah asks the Lord to “shepherd your people with your staff.”
Micah called upon Yahweh to “shepherd your people with your staff.”
The shepherds of Micah’s time would use a staff as they would guard the flock of sheep, or as they walked with the sheep.
The staff would be used to strike anything that threatened the safety of the sheep.
Snakes, small predators, thiefs.
Sometimes, the staff would also be used to correct wrong behavious by a sheep.
The shepherd would prod and guid using the staff.
Exactly what God does with His people-sheep.
Jacob was the first to speak about God as Shepherd ().
We all know that King David also thought of God as Shepherd:
David thought of God in that metaphor as well ().
For the ancient Israelite, the shepherd/flock of sheep concept was one of the important ways to describe the relationship between them and the Lord.
Other nations of that time frequently referred to their kings as “shepherds”.
So, Micah confirms that the Lord is the true King of Israel in contrast to Gentile rulers who would attempt to exert their authority over God’s people.
And in Micah’s prophecies he also confirms that the Lord is the true King of Israel in contrast to Gentile rulers who succeed in exerting their authority over God’s people.
The prayer is certainly related to the promise we found in:
.
that a ruler would go forth from Bethlehem to shepherd the flock of God.
This prayer by Micah, for the people of God, is a prayer - plea that Messiah might come (7:14a).
Micah motivates his request for the Shepherd/Saviour to arrive:
First, Israel was “the flock of your inheritance.”
This people had a long standing relationship to God.
They were His flock.
They were totally dependent on him.
An “inheritance” is a possession which needs management and supervision.
The “Inheritor” has a responsibility towards his inheritance.
The term expresses an obligation on God’s part to care for this people.
A prayer - perfectly in line with
Second, Micah noted that Israel “dwells alone” (cf.
).
A flock without a protector was doomed to total extinction (cf.
).
Third, Israel was like “a forest in the midst of Carmel.”
Some think this figure depicts the moral and spiritual isolation of Israel from surrounding nations.
More likely Micah intended the figure to describe the plight of Israel.
This flock was isolated in grazing ground overgrown by scrubby thickets.
It cannot enjoy the good pasture of Carmel, i.e., a fertile land.
Others were in possession of the good ground.
2. The request for provision (7:14b).
Since the flock has no access to fruitful Carmel land, the second petition is appropriate.
“Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead as in days of old.”
Bashan and Gilead east of Jordan were the regions with the best pasture in greater Canaan.
Some think that the hidden agenda of this prayer request is the restoration to Israel of the totality of her ancient territory.
More likely, however, is that the prophet is only asking for adequate provision for the flock of God.
Proper provision for the people of God.
The expression “as in the days of old” refers to the times of Moses and Joshua when God himself was Israel’s leader, and when the tribes first occupied Bashan and Gilead.
The prayer, while focusing on provision for the flock, it implies another request.
Carmel was west of the Jordan; Bashan and Gilead were east of Jordan.
Together the three areas represent the total the area once occupied by the people of God when they emerged from the wilderness wandering.
In 931 b.c. the northern tribes which possessed Carmel, Bashan and Gilead, broke away from Judah.
Perhaps the prayer is asking for a reunification of the flock under the one shepherd.
Certainly this is a promise which other prophets emphasize (cf.
e.g., .; ).
When we pray, we ask things of God.
The more we ask things that are important to God, the more we are blessed by hearing and experiencing His answers.
2. God’s Answer (7:15–16)
The Lord answered the prayer by promising to do more than was even asked.
First, he promised that he would show “them,” that is, the flock, “marvelous things” (niphla’oth).
This term is used of the marvelous events which transpired during the Exodus from Egypt (; ).
The plagues against Egypt,
the crossing of the Red Sea,
and the God experiences at Sinai were some of the wonders which led to the formation of national Israel.
Similar wonders would precede the formation of the new testament people of God.
All the miracles performed by Jesus and His disciples.
The resurrection and ascension of Jesus.
The outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.
Nations - other non-Israel nations would “see,” i.e., recognise or understand, the mighty works which God would perform for his people.
The nations would “be ashamed of all their might.”
They would be ashamed that the power of the Lord of Israel was so much greater than any deity which they worshiped.
Their national military and economic strength becomes useless when measured against the Lord’s awesome power.
They will be ashamed:
(1) that they had mistreated his people; and
(2) that they had not previously recognised and submitted to the unending and immeasurable power of Israel’s God (7:16a).
The shame which the Gentiles experienced within their heart would be expressed outwardly.
First, “they shall lay their hands on their mouth.”
In the Near East placing the hand over the mouth is a gesture of reverential silence resulting from astonishment and admiration (cf.
; ).
They would be overawed by power of God’s miracles on behalf of his people.
They would not have adequate words to express their thoughts.
Second, at the same time, “their ears shall be deaf.”
Does the text refer to physical deafness?
Is he suggesting that the mighty acts of God on behalf of his people are accompanied by thunderous and deafening noise?
While this interpretation is possible, it is difficult to find in the Exodus analogy, Old Testament history, or prophetic tradition any support for this view.
More likely the deafness here is spiritual, not physical.
Overawed by God’s great miracles the Gentiles no longer would wish to hear words of self-exaltation or the claims of other deities.
Having found the pearl of great price they want nothing more.
Every competing and therefore false gospel is rejected out of hand (7:16b).
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